Friday, October 18 -- Fall Canyon Hike

Mike said he “saved the best for last” and that this was the closest we would come to being in church all week.  We again rode in the vans for the short drive to Lee’s Ferry where a small boat met us and shuttled us up the river for a short ways to a beach on the south side of the river at the base of the Echo Cliffs where we began our hike.  Of course we first had to negotiate our steep climb from the beach to the start of the canyon.  As the program description reads, “Prepare for scrambling up and down hillsides with uneven footing and loose rocks at times.”  Once again, we saw no people other than those of our own group as we explored the canyon.

The first part of the hike was relatively flat as we walked deeper into the canyon. Mike pointed out various plants and even fossilized dinosaur tracks. 

Mike slices us each a section
 of a tuber that he dug up.

 A Halloween mushroom 

Dinosaur Tracks

Soon the canyon narrowed and the boulders got bigger.  At the end of the canyon, we climbed over the rocks and into a spectacular red rock amphitheater.  The canyon walls towered above us as we enjoyed our lunch in this very special place.  Much too soon it was time to retrace our steps back to the river. 

Welcome!

 

We still had time for a couple of final explorations.  We hiked upstream for a short distance in order to explore “Hislop’s Cave,” a naturally occurring arch or alcove in the sandstone cliff above the river. 

For our final exploration for the day, Mike took us upstream to the next canyon, which even he had not yet explored.  Again the high canyon walls surrounded us until even Mike was stopped by a high pile of boulders. 

 
 
We made our way back to the beach where we could relax or cool our feet, until the boat arrived for our shuttle back to the vans. 

After an delicious dinner of barbequed ribs and chicken at the motel restaurant, we all gathered to discuss the week and share wonderful memories.  It is always sad for a program to end.  We will miss the guides, our fellow hikers, the scenery, and the hiking.  Many of us are already planning and trying to decide on our next Road Scholar adventure.