Short Video: Backpacking/Packrafting Dark Canyon Wilderness, Utah. April 2019

Mikjik86

Member
Joined
Apr 22, 2018
Messages
80

This is the short video of an 8 Day/7 Night Backpacking/Packrafting trip in April 2019 in the Dark Canyon Wilderness.

This was a Huge trip, being the longest backpacking trip of my life. We had huge canyons, flowing water nearly everyday, waterfalls, fresh springs, bighorn sheep, lizards, birds, frogs, intense spiders, quicksand, snow, HUGE exposure, ledge walks, pack rafting, constant route-finding, mental and physical engagement 8+ hours a day, great company, and amazing views.

Day 1 we started at the Sundance Trailhead East of Hite, Lake Powell in Southern Utah. We dropped down 1400 feet in .8 of a mile into Dark Canyon where we hiked a couple miles up the canyon and camped for the first night.

Day 2 we hiked Dark Canyon to the mouth of Young's canyon which we would be ascending the next day. This day really showcased the beauty and layers of Dark Canyon. Flowing water and multiple colored layers of rock.

Day 3 we hiked up Young's Canyon, up on top of the Plateau, over and down into Fable Valley for the 3rd night. Fable Valley is very secluded, with multiple ancient ruins and pictographs. This was a huge day with no water up top and full sun exposure.

Day 4 we woke up to 4 inches of snow in Fable Valley. We took our time getting ready and started on the trail later than usual. It continued to stay cloudy with spotty rain/snow throughout the day as we headed north through Fable Valley to our destination in Gypsum Canyon. The descent into Gypsum Canyon had no trail/cairns/or even footprints, where it started to dump rain on us.

Day 5 we started down Gypsum Canyon towards our ultimate goal of reaching the Colorado River. This day was a huge day, and probably my favorite day of hiking that I have ever experienced. There was no trail, 100+ foot waterfall drop-offs. Constant route finding on ledges with hundreds of feet of exposure. The main goal was to reach the bottom of the canyon and towards the river. Truly an amazing experience. We found a beautiful camp spot a mile or so from the Colorado River.

Day 6 we hiked down Gypsum Canyon to the Colorado River. We inflated our pack rafts and headed down the 5 mile stretch to Bodie Canyon. Floating the Colorado River with backpacks in the warm sun was an absolute highlight of this trip. We floated and got out at Bodie Canyon where our plan was to head up the canyon a few miles and find camp. Route finding proved more difficult than expected and time constraints made is reconsider the route and deciding to float the river again the next day to where Dark Canyon meets the Colorado River.

Day 7 we floated 8 more miles of the Colorado River to Dark Canyon where we hiked up nearly back to where we hiked in the first day. We found a great camp spot for our last night, with open views of the canyon next to the creek.

Day 8, we hiked out and back to the cars. This was in absolute stunner of a trip and the most wild experience of my life. This place is very very remote, and more diverse than one could ever imagine in Southern Utah
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
Mikjik86 Halls Creek Narrows Short Video Backpacking 0
DiscGo Jenny's Canyon - Short Video Hiking & Camping 1
Joey A short highlight video from 2015 General Discussion 22
OldBill Short hike at the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania Hiking & Camping 1
Bob Short Motor Trip Thru Cody, Cooke City Off Road 6
Bob Wind Rivers - Short Trip to Cook Lake Trip Reports 9
kwc Another short jaunt in the southern Adirondacks Hiking & Camping 0
kwc Short Snowshoe Hike today, Southern Adirondacks Hiking & Camping 2
P A short hike on the AT in Shenandoah National Park Hiking & Camping 0
kwc Short hike to a fire tower Hiking & Camping 3
kwc Short jaunt to Broomstick Lake, southern Adirondacks Hiking & Camping 2
OldBill Short Bear Basin exploration, Wind Rivers Trip Planning 7
Bob A short Escalante trip end of April Backpacking 5
GramaNana Seeking Short Overnights in Utah General Discussion 5
J Short time in Greater Bears Ears. Couple Dayhikes April 5 and 6, 2021 Hiking & Camping 5
D Advice for short backpacking trip in Robbers Roost Trip Planning 2
Jackson A Bechler Trip Cut Short Backpacking 13
S Short time reader, first time writer... Noobs: Introduce yourself! 2
Hiker Seth Short getaway to Baxter State Park Trip Reports 11
kwc One More Short Adirondack Hike ... Hiking & Camping 0
kwc Short Adirondack Hike ... Hiking & Camping 0
Kullaberg63 Super short notice: Looking for Winds partner Meet Up (Members Only) 4
Jazzy Joe Looking for Escalante Area Short Backpacking Suggestions Early Spring Trip Planning 21
Rockskipper Short Vid of Grizz Chasing Motorcycle on the Dempster General Discussion 7
kwc Short Hike Close to Home June 2018 Southern Adirondacks Hiking & Camping 1
K TR SEKI 3-25-2018: A Short but Memorable Trip Hiking & Camping 6
Dreamer Summer 2012: trip 1: a short visit to a small corner of The Great Wasted Forest of Northern Colorado Backpacking 11
K TR: 8-5-2017 Short Trip up to the Sequoias Backpacking 3
swmalone Uintas Short Hikes Trip Planning 4
Jammer Boulder Creek NON Short-cut General Discussion 15
F Short Overnight hikes near Salt Lake City Trip Planning 2
Bob Grand Gulch, Short Trip Backpacking 6
jdgibney Short(ish) Yellowstone/Tetons Road Trip suggestions? Trip Planning 32
uintahiker Three Short Hikes at Gila Cliff Dwellings Hiking & Camping 1
Archbishop Short hike around Deam Wilderness Indiana Backpacking 6
Archbishop Going on a short bike tour next weekend. Trip Planning 9
Nick Short backpacking trips in the Escalante/Boulder area Trip Planning 20
Yvonne short escape in April Trip Planning 0
Tyler Kanarra Creek (short hike) 05.10.11 Hiking & Camping 0
Bob Glaciers of the Winds video General Discussion 0
napatony13 DEATH & DESTRUCTION-Incredible Video of Rockslide in Northern India General Discussion 1
Tomaswmitchell Cuberant Lake hike, Bigfoot tracks? Video Hiking & Camping 2
Mikjik86 FULL Video Part 2 Backpacking Glacier National Park "North Circle Route" Backpacking 0
Mikjik86 Backpacking Glacier National Park - North Circle Route Part 1 Preview Video. Backpacking 1
NorthwestWanderer My Yearly big timelapse video 2019 General Discussion 10
regehr Allen-ish dark canyon loop video Backpacking 5
Mikjik86 Video Hiking/Camping San Rafael Swell/Goblin Valley/Horseshoe Canyon - Feb 2019 Hiking & Camping 2
seekinglost Continental Divide Trail Thru Hike 2018 - 31 Episode Video Series Backpacking 40
Nick Arch and Hoodos Destroyed on Video General Discussion 29
Outdoors24 Best computer for picture/video editing? General Discussion 26

Similar threads

Back
Top