Nate, this is fantasic! Just getting to this now --was away in Iowa this wkend for a wedding. It's hard to capture the wonders of the Maze, but you did it -- you're a real artist. You can be my designated photographer any time! Cheers. Adam
Excellent, Nate! I had just posted right before you, but with text only (having some glitches getting some shots included -- a digital immigrant! Brings back great memories!
I’d been wanting to get into the Maze for several years, since hiking out to the Confluence Overlook in the Needles about ten years ago with my then-teenage son Phil and reading about all the adventures out there of Ed Abbey and the Monkey Wrench heroes. Phil and I came close last September...
Oh well. Only thing we found along the way was an empty iced tea bottle, which we used to gather water from puddle/spring at Picto Confluence, and an empty beer can at Spanish Bottom!
Great photos and descriptions, Nick. Nate and I camped right at that first turn in Picto overlooking your route up to the Choc Drops. Your photo from up there shows the campsite. Phenomenal site. It was awesome looking through the mesh of my tent at first light and seeing the Drops up there...
I agree with Nate. Water never tasted better. The platypus worked fantastically. And the Picto Confluence spring was great -- it kept filling up as we drew water out. Lasted us the next day up and out of the Maze and the morning after down to the Spanish Bottom and pick up. But good thing...
Great photos and descriptions, Nick. Nate and I did this route he week before, and each of us has pledged to do our trip reports soon. That initial slog up to the Doll House is a tough way to start the trip!
That spring at Water Canyon was incredible, and we each vied to fill the gravity...
Very phenomenal and very gruelling! I'll be working up a trip report, sans photos, since Nate was the designated photographer and got some incredible shots. We followed your suggested itinerary, camping the first two nights under the alcove right above the Water Canyon seep, then up to Chimney...
Thanks, great advice. Better/easier to climb out of Shot Canyon or out of Water Canyon?
And how hard is it getting into Surprise Valley? I climbed up to the Dollhouse from Spanish Bottom last fall and didn't see the trail off to Surprise Valley --guess I wasn't looking hard enough. I've...
Thanks, ibenick. Sounds like very wise advice. I was hoping to avoid carrying a backpack along the full route and that's why I've been considering the base camp for 3 nights on the mesa. But if hauling water up and down is such a hassle and isn't readliy available anyway, I think you're right...
Yes, I was thinking of setting up camp on the mesa NW of Chimney Rock right before the canyon going down to Pictograph Fork. The Rangers and folks at Tex's suggested that there's usually water down at the bottom of the side canyon going down to Pictograph Fork, about 45 minutes from Chimney...
Hi all:
I'm AdamE from New York and just joined the forum. I found you guys reading ibenick's great trip log and photos about a Maze trip and have been in touch with Philippe. Turns out, I'm planning 4 nights in the Maze in mid May, via jetboat. We canoed Stillwater last September and made...
Hi all:
I'm Adam and just joined after seeing some great postings about a Maze trip from ibenick and corresponding with Phillippe. I'm from NYC, but try to get to Southern Utah as often as possible -- did a great canoe trip down Stillwater Canyon last Sept. and fantastic backcountry camping in...