Part three- Bargain Basement

[ram]

The following day plus, involved working our way up toward the rim, but not so focused on task to miss several mini-slot opportunities. After ascending and descending a lovely non tech canyon, we found a camp for the night. Rich knew where water was. Over an hour later he came back, having climbed way up a slot to get the precious liquid. While he worked, I moved 20 feet at a time, following and soaking in the afternoon sun. Spring had very much arrived way down in the ditch and after a long winter, I was grateful. One redbud tree had hundreds of honey bees working it. I mean it was LOUD! Twas unnerving approaching it, yet the bees were quite focused on the lavender flowers.

A pleasant eve huddled about, in conversation, was followed by sleep. For the 3rd day in a row, Jenny brought a birthday celebration to Rick Demerest. One day it was party hats, then mocca mousse and this day? A Mylar balloon. Did she really carry an inflated balloon all the way through our adventure? No, but she did FIND one in the canyon and it was for a birthday, no less. Some people just have the touch. And it wasn't even Rick's birthday yet. That would be 4 days after the trip was over. I am humbled by what he is able to do. Such rugged passage with such huge pack, on the cusp of 70.

The next day, we headed up another faulted canyon. Two separate Redwall sections? The rock is blue toned and we are delighted. Following a theme we named it Toofer, as in "Two for one." We ate lunch after heading cross country toward another short canyon
To be continued
Pictures

What is this called?

The man, the myth

Go girl!

Leader of the pack

Dance steps

More dancing

In Toofer

Colorful

masterful

Falcon?

Happy Birthday man

Slideshow
https://picasaweb.google.com/108034287150978265447/BargainBasementPart3

 

[Bob]

Nice report....... some big stuff
Ocotillo cactus.......

 

[uintahiker]

Ram- I've been reading your reports- good stuff! And welcome to BCP!
@Bob is right, you've found some ocotillo.
It's more common as you get further south. It'll be blooming here in southern Arizona pretty soon and have nice reddish "flags" of flowers at the top of the stems.

 

[Yvonne]

cool Ocotillo with leaves in the first shot.
Great report and awesome pictures again

 

[baltocharlie]

Very nice, with excellent photos. One of your group was wearing gloves to climb. I guess it was cold. I can't climb rock in gloves. I really liked the yellow pants.

 

[ram]

Very nice, with excellent photos. One of your group was wearing gloves to climb. I guess it was cold. I can't climb rock in gloves. I really liked the yellow pants.

The Atlas garden gloves are so grippy as to be as good and at times better for climbing, when you are not on crimpy holds. Especially good on friction downclimbs, they also help slow cubicle splitting and tenderness, by creating a bit of moist atmosphere. Canyon water and limestone in particular can be quite rough on the hands