cmgz
Member
- Joined
- Jul 16, 2014
- Messages
- 100
Last week three of us did a lollipop loop of about 27 miles. Starting from the Bill Hall Trail at Monument Point, North rim. The week had been rainy and we still weren't convinced of clearing. The original plan was to car camp on the trail head road the night before but it was rainy and cold. We're only a few hours away in St. George so we got an early start on our drive instead. Since temperatures were moderate, we thought it was a reasonable option. Starting the trail we looked down to a canyon filled with clouds. Our trail head start.
![P1040469.JPG P1040469.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36064-ee2de3f7994b6db0feaad34a9266ee16.jpg)
![P1040470.JPG P1040470.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36065-1dd145a69f7cd36f2fc1b2768a6c1f6e.jpg)
Down to the Esplanade where we could drop off our caches of water for the last night's camping. Funny thing it was full of water in the potholes but who knows if it would last that long.
![P1040480.JPG P1040480.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36066-2495c1930575329eff55d47395a4bb37.jpg)
Our first glimpse of the Colorado
![P1040484.JPG P1040484.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36067-ac9dfd705c4bb6560a366e50c39a3dfe.jpg)
Then the winding up and down of Surprise Valley
![P1040488.JPG P1040488.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36068-8c6f9cd61e0803f0e121d0d730cac281.jpg)
Almost to Thunder River
![P1040490.JPG P1040490.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36069-ebc1a94a836875a0daae372699b50d54.jpg)
Thunder River coming right out of the canyon walls. Impressive! And the weather, after just a couple drops of drizzle, clearing up!![P1040492.JPG P1040492.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36070-075285019fbdb067515a0fc47a796f17.jpg)
![P1040498.JPG P1040498.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36071-7f03e4f0bf91bef30959bbc1bceeba07.jpg)
We camped at Upper Tapeats, under the gaze of Owl's Eyes
![P1040511.JPG P1040511.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36072-922a470d47b22514c4b815cf441fd6c5.jpg)
Next day, heading down to the Colorado with two cold but manageable creek crossings.
![P1040520.JPG P1040520.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36073-9742188a45847d633a5c4f197e15b3e2.jpg)
The canyon drops away as the trail winds around it's walls.
![P1040523.JPG P1040523.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36074-1193e9937aca8d73a37ce8021bd977bf.jpg)
![P1040525.JPG P1040525.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36075-c573d80f064a8811ac3b7d411d9ccb29.jpg)
Coming to the confluence of Tapeats Creek and the Colorado which was full of sediment from the recent rains.![P1040532.JPG P1040532.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36076-8e92535ccea77df75bf41edeae4467d7.jpg)
After hiking along the Colorado a ways, a section of downclimb which a handline was very nice for.
![P1040541.JPG P1040541.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36077-cb8cd3a002e164bb7d02b3bf7bfd0be5.jpg)
Then up again to get to our Deer Creek campsite.
![P1040548.JPG P1040548.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36078-4daa3fd553127be48ee6465837bc1495.jpg)
After dropping our packs at the campsite, we headed through the Deer Creek Narrows to the waterfall by the Colorado.
![P1040552.JPG P1040552.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36079-fbf073c302f99b7ae9e2e6615e898996.jpg)
![P1040553.JPG P1040553.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36080-9348470786dc7263aa59687b5344195b.jpg)
![P1040560.JPG P1040560.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36081-21132b896ab075e0fef6bc91633238ae.jpg)
Next day, time to start working on that 5000 feet back up to the trailhead. Leaving Deer Creek.
![P1040575.JPG P1040575.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36082-36d07a3d117693c9a5e5c146c7a14b42.jpg)
Passing Deer Creek Spring
![P1040572.JPG P1040572.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36083-4be1834c7cb085ce4c261c9dbda006b4.jpg)
We'd climb 3000 feet this day, 2000 the next.
![P1040582.JPG P1040582.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36084-1a00ba35270cca1ee82eb14366b8857d.jpg)
Back on the Esplanade with plenty of rest time, I took off my shoes and socks for some stretches. This guy comes along and walks up to my socks, gets defensive, then acts paralyzed for a bit. Hey, I get the hint!
![P1040584.JPG P1040584.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36085-0e1cd5605f96bbcace8c1dc2dfc72f4f.jpg)
Moon reflections in one of the few potholes that still has water.
![P1040589.JPG P1040589.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36086-96b34ce807eca359f951a13e4a112b59.jpg)
Sunset![P1040590.JPG P1040590.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36087-70cf47be7e471a653770966544a3253b.jpg)
Our last climb
![P1040594.JPG P1040594.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36088-fd7c9a6eda66d0187a87b5acee2dab18.jpg)
![P1040595.JPG P1040595.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36089-2adc6240259efeb2c5da02c48f9f49bc.jpg)
Jeremy and Tiffanie celebrating the top!
![P1040599.JPG P1040599.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36090-b47a90912d24bfd3ea9766123f06a354.jpg)
Featured image for home page:
![slide.jpg slide.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36206-15f1b826aae306e71296b7e45b170591.jpg)
![P1040469.JPG P1040469.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36064-ee2de3f7994b6db0feaad34a9266ee16.jpg)
![P1040470.JPG P1040470.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36065-1dd145a69f7cd36f2fc1b2768a6c1f6e.jpg)
Down to the Esplanade where we could drop off our caches of water for the last night's camping. Funny thing it was full of water in the potholes but who knows if it would last that long.
![P1040480.JPG P1040480.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36066-2495c1930575329eff55d47395a4bb37.jpg)
Our first glimpse of the Colorado
![P1040484.JPG P1040484.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36067-ac9dfd705c4bb6560a366e50c39a3dfe.jpg)
Then the winding up and down of Surprise Valley
![P1040488.JPG P1040488.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36068-8c6f9cd61e0803f0e121d0d730cac281.jpg)
Almost to Thunder River
![P1040490.JPG P1040490.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36069-ebc1a94a836875a0daae372699b50d54.jpg)
Thunder River coming right out of the canyon walls. Impressive! And the weather, after just a couple drops of drizzle, clearing up!
![P1040492.JPG P1040492.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36070-075285019fbdb067515a0fc47a796f17.jpg)
![P1040498.JPG P1040498.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36071-7f03e4f0bf91bef30959bbc1bceeba07.jpg)
We camped at Upper Tapeats, under the gaze of Owl's Eyes
![P1040511.JPG P1040511.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36072-922a470d47b22514c4b815cf441fd6c5.jpg)
Next day, heading down to the Colorado with two cold but manageable creek crossings.
![P1040520.JPG P1040520.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36073-9742188a45847d633a5c4f197e15b3e2.jpg)
The canyon drops away as the trail winds around it's walls.
![P1040523.JPG P1040523.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36074-1193e9937aca8d73a37ce8021bd977bf.jpg)
![P1040525.JPG P1040525.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36075-c573d80f064a8811ac3b7d411d9ccb29.jpg)
Coming to the confluence of Tapeats Creek and the Colorado which was full of sediment from the recent rains.
![P1040532.JPG P1040532.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36076-8e92535ccea77df75bf41edeae4467d7.jpg)
After hiking along the Colorado a ways, a section of downclimb which a handline was very nice for.
![P1040541.JPG P1040541.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36077-cb8cd3a002e164bb7d02b3bf7bfd0be5.jpg)
Then up again to get to our Deer Creek campsite.
![P1040548.JPG P1040548.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36078-4daa3fd553127be48ee6465837bc1495.jpg)
After dropping our packs at the campsite, we headed through the Deer Creek Narrows to the waterfall by the Colorado.
![P1040552.JPG P1040552.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36079-fbf073c302f99b7ae9e2e6615e898996.jpg)
![P1040553.JPG P1040553.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36080-9348470786dc7263aa59687b5344195b.jpg)
![P1040560.JPG P1040560.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36081-21132b896ab075e0fef6bc91633238ae.jpg)
Next day, time to start working on that 5000 feet back up to the trailhead. Leaving Deer Creek.
![P1040575.JPG P1040575.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36082-36d07a3d117693c9a5e5c146c7a14b42.jpg)
Passing Deer Creek Spring
![P1040572.JPG P1040572.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36083-4be1834c7cb085ce4c261c9dbda006b4.jpg)
We'd climb 3000 feet this day, 2000 the next.
![P1040582.JPG P1040582.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36084-1a00ba35270cca1ee82eb14366b8857d.jpg)
Back on the Esplanade with plenty of rest time, I took off my shoes and socks for some stretches. This guy comes along and walks up to my socks, gets defensive, then acts paralyzed for a bit. Hey, I get the hint!
![P1040584.JPG P1040584.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36085-0e1cd5605f96bbcace8c1dc2dfc72f4f.jpg)
Moon reflections in one of the few potholes that still has water.
![P1040589.JPG P1040589.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36086-96b34ce807eca359f951a13e4a112b59.jpg)
Sunset
![P1040590.JPG P1040590.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36087-70cf47be7e471a653770966544a3253b.jpg)
Our last climb
![P1040594.JPG P1040594.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36088-fd7c9a6eda66d0187a87b5acee2dab18.jpg)
![P1040595.JPG P1040595.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36089-2adc6240259efeb2c5da02c48f9f49bc.jpg)
Jeremy and Tiffanie celebrating the top!
![P1040599.JPG P1040599.JPG](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36090-b47a90912d24bfd3ea9766123f06a354.jpg)
Featured image for home page:
![slide.jpg slide.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/36/36206-15f1b826aae306e71296b7e45b170591.jpg)