If you are confident in your route-finding ability and can accept the real possibility of never being heard from again, follow your compass north-northwest, then north, then northwest across the Red Benches.
~from The Hayduke Trail guidebook about this section
March 24
Up a class 4 chute, up over and yonder on an old Chinese route long gone, down Fiddler Cove Canyon, and up the Dirty Devil River through brush, mud, sand, and fording the cold river many times – 20.8 miles
BIG DAY!
It was the kind of day that the last hour or 2 of hiking, you are bound determined to get to a destination no matter what. Out of it, thankful and hungry you stumble into camp with high winds and blowing sand as your buddies. In the end, all that is remembered after downing a good meal and slipping into a warm sleeping bag is, “I am alive and wouldn’t trade this day for anything.”
Wow, the beauty and scariness of it all! Terrified and awed for sure. Just amazing photography. Glad you all are fine and safe. Loved the photo of the flower. I’ve started noticing flowers the last 3-4 years and they really bring me joy when I find one in a place without some/many. God’s little gems for sure.
It’s been a beautiful trek so far. Great photos.
Thank you Janet. I hope you have some cool upcoming trips planned.
Rockin’, I mispelled your name. I should add the chimney was an interesting challenge. We ended up going cross-country or off-route a couple times because we didn’t think other climb ups or downs were safe for us; we tried to walk around the Dirty Devil, for instance, but couldn’t climb out of that canyon; we had to backtrack 4 mi and walk the D D afterall. The HT is my dream hike, and we got jaded on the views.
That chimney was pretty intimidating! The guidebook added to the drama also. Did you had rope to haul packs. That made all the difference. There was a cairn there and it was right on the map, so we felt certain we were at the correct exit out. The drop into Fiddler Cove Canyon was no picnic either. It took us awhile to locate how to descend the second half. It was not straight forward.
Dune Evening Primrose. aka desert primrose. The leaves are often lobed
,toothed, grooved or cleft
Right on!
The flower is an Evening Primrose. They are all over our Mojave desert. The Yellow Evening Primroses were going gangbusters this year. The white ones are just starting with our cool spring. They should smell divine, especially in the eying when they open.
Hello Alexia,
I should have known!!!!!!! After seeing the yellow evening primrose at Red Rock, I should have recognized it straight away. Light had faded and it was so beautiful. Sheer exhaustion from the day often makes my hiker stupid. Hope you are well and enjoying the beautiful spring!
That is an AMAZING tutu! Ahhh you’re killing me with these pictures!! The hubs and I are planning a hiking trip in TN/NC in May but I’ve never gotten to hike in a dessert like you are! (p.s. I only recently found your website and I can say I’ve happily spent the past 2 hours on it lol)
Ah the desert, it has a whole other feel to it. Big, extreme, dry, unforgiving, but oh so fulfilling. Love that you had fun checking out my site and welcome. Thank you for commenting.
Nope, not a prickly poppy; got one growing under my Big Bend TX clothesline right now, but too early for blooms.
Rocking, thanks for the memories; Fireweed and I did E Terminus/Arches to Escalante last spring; we’ll finish in spring ’17.
You have to be a truly hard core hikers to do this route. Congratulations on the first half completion!
Thanks for keeping it real, Rockin’! As always, your photography perfectly captures the stunning views and rugged trail. Stay safe out there.
Keeping it real. I like that. Thank you Lynda!
I have never seen that flower or anything very close to it. A Google image search produced nothing, as did a search in my library. Were there many of them or was this a loaner? Would be interesting to see if one of your followers knows.
It was a loaner on the banks of the Dirty Devil River. It was so unique and bold. I just had to take a photo .
Maybe a Prickly Poppy flower?
The colors and size are similar to a prickly poppy, but the petals, leaves, and stamen are all differently shaped.
Jackpot. It was Evening Primrose.
It is Evening Primrose, I have only seen yellow in person and forgotten, there are also white Evening Primrose.