This weekend

[Aldaron]

Anyone doing anything in southern Utah this weekend?

 

[Nick]

Floating!

 

[Aldaron]

Oh, yeah, that's right. And, now, it looks like I could have gone. Going with you guys might have been exactly what I needed, too. Dang it.

 

[Nick]

We're on the water Friday through Monday. You are always welcome if you can swing it!

 

[Aldaron]

That'd be great. Unfortunately, I've managed to be able to get away starting tomorrow in exchange for being back on Monday...I guess I need to get while the getting is good. I'd really like to be going with you guys, though.

 

[Nick]

That's too bad. Don't worry, it's just going to be a bunch of water, rocks and little bushes. Booooorrrrrriiiiing.

 

[Aldaron]

Yeah, whatever! I've done that trip, and I really want to do it again...taking it a little slower.

It's 10:30, though, and I can't decide what I want to do. I'm thinking about a few days exploring Mancos Mesa, but I also kind of want to find a big canyon with some nice cottonwoods in it, but I can't think of one. And googling "utah canyon cottonwood" doesn't give me the right end of the state... And searching my own trip reports is proving to be tedious.

 

[Nick]

...but I also kind of want to find a big canyon with some nice cottonwoods in it, but I can't think of one.

PM coming at you.... I know just the spot. Right up your alley.

 

[Aldaron]

Maybe I could do Horseshoe Canyon and we could meet up at the mouth one night!

 

[Nick]

Lower Horseshoe doesn't look that bad. Have you seen this?

http://forrestmccarthy.blogspot.com/2013/10/labyrinth-canyon.html

Although trying to time that on a float schedule could be interesting since we'll probably be measuring our distance in beers...

 

[Aldaron]

That's the guy who's quickly leading me to an expensive new backcountry hobby...

 

[Aldaron]

Although trying to time that on a float schedule could be interesting since we'll probably be measuring our distance in beers...

But we've never tried the direct inReach messaging!

 

[Dave]

They were lucky to find Barrier Creek flowing. That hike would be an absolute slog without the running water.

 

[Aldaron]

It was just this past weekend, wasn't it?

 

[Nick]

First week of October I think. Is lower Barrier Creek typically dry? I know the upper is but the shots in there make it look somewhat perennial.

 

[Dave]

First week of October I think. Is lower Barrier Creek typically dry? I know the upper is but the shots in there make it look somewhat perennial.

It was absolutely bone dry when I was at the mouth in April. It's obviously a significant drainage because the mouth is very wide where it joins the Green but I've never heard of it running regularly.

Of course, I also hiked a good portion of the Virgin Narrows dry this summer, so take my experience for what it is.

 

[Aldaron]

Maybe you're the evil anti-water, just like my wife and I are the evil anti-animals.

In my personal experience, I'm barely convinced that wild animals exist outside of Yellowstone.