cmgz
Member
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2014
- Messages
- 100
I was lucky enough to be invited along on a Dark Canyon trip. Located in the Bears Ears area of Utah, its' remoteness was more than my route finding skills were comfortable with. A group of four, we set off from Woodenshoe trailhead. This section was more gradual downhill with wooded areas. Water would be available at spots but the first two nights were dry camps.
![P1070269.JPG P1070269.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48280-572949f8e50301c58b1b824f0f86295e.jpg)
We found some nice ruins in an alcove.
![P1070274.JPG P1070274.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48281-27a64965e631d1c9e5030460c507f441.jpg)
By Black Steer Canyon
![P1070333.JPG P1070333.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48282-cc23208cbbde94e9f19ac9abc3ffa4e7.jpg)
Crescent moon at sunset. The stars were absolutely breathtaking.
![P1070343.JPG P1070343.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48283-07554e211e69132878ea480084527948.jpg)
Young's Canyon. Lots of poison ivy going up canyon.
![P1070369.JPG P1070369.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48284-43edc9f844ac13e2d950a4bb2c3d0e89.jpg)
A beautiful, deep pool.![P1070370.JPG P1070370.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48285-d438235670149c7b0b68719213d9eaa4.jpg)
The waterfall at the start of Young's.![P1070381.JPG P1070381.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48286-319bf7dc662ea76d1489966d2c0c4fe6.jpg)
Sunset from camp
![P1070397.JPG P1070397.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48288-5aa91e05492900e27024d89acdbd6b73.jpg)
Hiking alternated from streambed to benches of varying height.
![P1070409.JPG P1070409.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48289-7ca6c94ff14d1477eb5b32f042512035.jpg)
Another side canyon-Lean To. Interesting patterns on creamsicle colored rock.
![P1070440.JPG P1070440.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48290-b76b82234edf36fc5bdea3c1dec0cb88.jpg)
![P1070441.JPG P1070441.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48291-2cdf7c425000174aabb79d71b7e7bdb2.jpg)
The canyon deepened as it made it's way to Lake Powell.
![P1070454.JPG P1070454.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48292-f20b7ed31142f5651c0258c8e63c1607.jpg)
Fossils embedded in the rock.
![P1070459.JPG P1070459.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48293-36feb26ef256ddc3dcb301ef71c618b8.jpg)
The trail wound high in the benches.
![P1070461.JPG P1070461.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48294-ed11add0a5d80516fbe6f7408c75d3e8.jpg)
We had camped close to our exit hike and were day hiking the portion to Lake Powell. We carried water that was filtered in camp but the sun was warm and the route finding gave us some challenges. The water was picking up more sediment as we went and I had just an emergency filter which I used to drink from a ziplock bag after collecting in my storage bag. Mmm, tasty mineral water, anyone?
![P1070464.JPG P1070464.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48295-4a142afe0022698ae42336a93360e779.jpg)
![P1070484.JPG P1070484.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48296-60bd7fbba04081f4e93c607200ba5f1b.jpg)
Reaching the sand benches left behind by a dropping water level in Lake Powell.
![P1070468.JPG P1070468.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48297-6cdfb75865bcd44b46211e96b736dc97.jpg)
And finally a slurry where the waters met.
![P1070471.JPG P1070471.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48298-29376d5823c8611e6df3ea818bba6fb9.jpg)
Finally the confluence.
![P1070473.JPG P1070473.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48299-c80cf91705870fe900ac1e243dca356e.jpg)
After one more night at camp, the climb up the Sundance trail. 1100 feet up a surprisingly stable slope.
![P1070493.JPG P1070493.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48300-df2512ae9cfbea821d1df90e754742fa.jpg)
2 and 1/2 miles with 300 more feet of elevation gain to the trail's end.
![P1070269.JPG P1070269.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48280-572949f8e50301c58b1b824f0f86295e.jpg)
We found some nice ruins in an alcove.
![P1070274.JPG P1070274.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48281-27a64965e631d1c9e5030460c507f441.jpg)
By Black Steer Canyon
![P1070333.JPG P1070333.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48282-cc23208cbbde94e9f19ac9abc3ffa4e7.jpg)
Crescent moon at sunset. The stars were absolutely breathtaking.
![P1070343.JPG P1070343.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48283-07554e211e69132878ea480084527948.jpg)
Young's Canyon. Lots of poison ivy going up canyon.
![P1070369.JPG P1070369.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48284-43edc9f844ac13e2d950a4bb2c3d0e89.jpg)
A beautiful, deep pool.
![P1070370.JPG P1070370.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48285-d438235670149c7b0b68719213d9eaa4.jpg)
The waterfall at the start of Young's.
![P1070381.JPG P1070381.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48286-319bf7dc662ea76d1489966d2c0c4fe6.jpg)
Sunset from camp
![P1070397.JPG P1070397.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48288-5aa91e05492900e27024d89acdbd6b73.jpg)
Hiking alternated from streambed to benches of varying height.
![P1070409.JPG P1070409.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48289-7ca6c94ff14d1477eb5b32f042512035.jpg)
Another side canyon-Lean To. Interesting patterns on creamsicle colored rock.
![P1070440.JPG P1070440.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48290-b76b82234edf36fc5bdea3c1dec0cb88.jpg)
![P1070441.JPG P1070441.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48291-2cdf7c425000174aabb79d71b7e7bdb2.jpg)
The canyon deepened as it made it's way to Lake Powell.
![P1070454.JPG P1070454.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48292-f20b7ed31142f5651c0258c8e63c1607.jpg)
Fossils embedded in the rock.
![P1070459.JPG P1070459.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48293-36feb26ef256ddc3dcb301ef71c618b8.jpg)
The trail wound high in the benches.
![P1070461.JPG P1070461.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48294-ed11add0a5d80516fbe6f7408c75d3e8.jpg)
We had camped close to our exit hike and were day hiking the portion to Lake Powell. We carried water that was filtered in camp but the sun was warm and the route finding gave us some challenges. The water was picking up more sediment as we went and I had just an emergency filter which I used to drink from a ziplock bag after collecting in my storage bag. Mmm, tasty mineral water, anyone?
![P1070464.JPG P1070464.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48295-4a142afe0022698ae42336a93360e779.jpg)
![P1070484.JPG P1070484.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48296-60bd7fbba04081f4e93c607200ba5f1b.jpg)
Reaching the sand benches left behind by a dropping water level in Lake Powell.
![P1070468.JPG P1070468.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48297-6cdfb75865bcd44b46211e96b736dc97.jpg)
And finally a slurry where the waters met.
![P1070471.JPG P1070471.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48298-29376d5823c8611e6df3ea818bba6fb9.jpg)
Finally the confluence.
![P1070473.JPG P1070473.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48299-c80cf91705870fe900ac1e243dca356e.jpg)
After one more night at camp, the climb up the Sundance trail. 1100 feet up a surprisingly stable slope.
![P1070493.JPG P1070493.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/48/48300-df2512ae9cfbea821d1df90e754742fa.jpg)
2 and 1/2 miles with 300 more feet of elevation gain to the trail's end.