At 5 am I checked out from my Motel in Tuba City. I could reduce the price of the room by 50% because the shower provided only cold water. My first stop should be the Blue Canyon, located 40 miles off Tuba City. I had seen so often the photo of this white brown mushrooms that I wanted to go to this location myself. It is a 26 miles dirt road which leads into the Blue Canyon where these formations can be found.
On the way back I took a wrong turn and ended in a dead end of rock slabs. The whole way up to there I thought myself – “this i not the route which I came from”. I had to drive backwards for half a mile cause it was not possible to turn.
Then I continued my road trip towards my next hiking destination; Canyonlands N.P. Needles District. A long drive and I had still to hike 5 miles on this evening to my campground.
Once again I passed Monument Valley, like the year before. Of course one cannot pass without taking a photo.
I left Arizona and entered Utah, noticing weather gets worse. The blue Sky changed to black clouds.
I arrived around 3 pm in Canyonland N.P. Needles District. The characteristic two Tit Buttes (that’s how i call them) are welcoming the visitors.
I went to the Back country office to get my permit for Peekaboo Camp in the Salt Horse Canyon and started my 5 mile hike at 3:30 pm. It was a short distance, but I had a heavy pack (including tent , sleeping bag, camera and tripod, and water for 2 days, and a glass bottle of Bud Lime Light) . Thus I was very tired when I arrived after approx 3 1/2 hours. But the hike was very beautiful and the clouds amazing. I took many photos during the hike.
The trail lead also through a bird shaped hole in the rock.
Just before arriving at the Campground, below the name giving Peekaboo Hole in the rock there is this ancient Indian pictograph at the wall.
When arriving at the Campground the view into Salt Horse Canyon showed a unremarkable water-level. But at this point of time I even did not evaluate its importance for the next hiking day. I build up my tent and ate some dry fruit and Beef Jerky and drank my single bottle of Bud Lime light.
I went to bed as soon as it got dark, at around 8pm. Nobody else was in the camp. I noticed that this was the first time in a remote location overnight without any other person close by in a neighbor camp. Must admit it was a little bit scary. Every strange noise outside makes you chill.
In the night it began to rain. No good.