forward to Day 7 : back to Day 5 : up to Main Index

Lake Powell Adventure 2006 – Day 6

Synopsis: Morning dayhike, then motor to Camp V at the Waterpocket Fold, then dayhike up the Fold. (Friday, November 24.)

In the morning, we went out for a short explore of the rocks near camp. There was a triple arch, and we wanted to climb up to it.

Map of our Cottonwood Canyon hikes. Today’s was the short, squiggly hike near camp.

medium (193k), full size (745k)

Remains of my multi-megawatt tumbleweed bonfire. The large cleared area (which extends behind the tamarisk to the wash heading towards the camera) was totally choked with tumbleweeds before I cleared them into a pile.

medium (152k), large (411k), full size (1566k)

Leaving the boat. The high point in this photo is what some of us later climbed.

medium (114k), large (307k), full size (1223k)

Multiple arch we were trying to reach.

medium (88k), large (234k), full size (974k)

We wandered in and out of canyons, but it was soon clear that we couldn’t reach the arch. We headed up a nearby ridge for a view instead.

Our camp, the Kaiparowits Plateau, and Hole-In-The-Rock.

Photo by Erin Tatge.
full size (367k)

Several of us (including Erin and me) stopped partway up because it was too scary, but reportedly the view was very fine.

Karl at the summit.

Photo by Bill Priedhorsky.
medium (91k), large (251k), full size (653k)

Dad, Karl, and lots of Cottonwood Canyon.

Photo by Kathleen Gruetzmacher.
medium (157k), large (466k), full size (753k)

Descending back towards camp.

medium (172k), large (488k), full size (1870k)

Our houseboat and the fabulous canyon country beyond.

medium (85k), large (215k), full size (1363k)

I’ll take the high road, you take the low road... Karl and I were so busy watching the others and admiring the view that we missed the way down from this ridge and had to backtrack.

medium (160k), large (436k), full size (1646k)

We piled into the houseboat and headed back north.

First Mate Bill K. at the helm.

medium (140k), large (356k), full size (1328k)

Impending doom.

Photo by Erin Tatge.
medium (66k), full size (265k)

We stopped at the Waterpocket Fold with only a couple of hours of light left, so we quickly packed and headed up.

Camp and the massive Waterpocket Fold beyond. This monocline begins here and snakes more than 100 miles northward.

medium (665k), large (1844k), full size (3571k)

Map of dayhiking at the Waterpocket Fold. Today’s hike was the one westward from camp.

medium (236k), full size (595k)

Melissa and my dad ascending from camp.

medium (111k), large (308k), full size (1286k)

Tilted rock layers. Mount Ellsworth is visible in the background.

medium (96k), large (258k), full size (1053k)

Karl silhouetted at a false summit ahead.

medium (66k), large (180k), full size (844k)

Kathleen on top of the Fold.

Photo by Bill Priedhorsky.
medium (136k), large (370k), full size (654k)

At the top of the Fold was a wide plain dotted with scraggly bushes. Erin, Petey, and I climbed up a final lobe of rock and found awesome views, the best of the trip in my opinion.

Looking southeastward from our little summit, with The Rincon and Navajo Mountain at center.

medium (358k), large (1004k), full size (1933k)

Brothers.

Photo by Erin Tatge.
medium (63k), full size (305k)

Escalante Country.

Photo by Erin Tatge.
full size (358k)

Looking roughly northward, along the line of the Waterpocket Fold.

medium (256k), large (697k), full size (1410k)

Sunset over the Waterpocket Fold.

medium (113k), large (334k), full size (988k)

Please continue reading on Day 7.

forward to Day 7 : back to Day 5 : up to Main Index