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Stevens Canyon 2009 – Day 5

Synopsis: Dayhike to top of Waterpocket Fold via Baker Trail. April 20, 2009.

This would be a longer dayhike, with the goal of excellent views atop the Waterpocket Fold. We were following the Allen multiday loop description, which led us up the Baker Trail and then continued along the crest of the Fold (which we would not do).

This is a lizard, on a rock.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Charles hanging up the Rat Sacks while Ben lurks.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Tentage.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Andy wonders when he’s going to get paid.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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We left camp about 11:30 (real early, I know).

Andy found a friend – a cricket of some kind.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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We ascended the Baker “Trail” and reached the Wingate bench.

Andy, Katie, and Ben decided they’d rather spend the day relaxing and turned back.

Andy on the way back to camp.

Photo by Katie Panciera.
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The Baker Trail goes along these slickrock benches into this side canyon.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Sibyl has requested this rock, but Joel was too lazy to get it for her.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Along the Baker “Trail”.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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The route led along Wingate and Kayenta benches and then up the bed of the side canyon. Soon it exited up a short Class 4 cliff and ascended to a bench on top of the Kayenta.

This was supposedly a cattle trail. Go figure.

We traversed along the Kayenta and then returned to the canyon bed after a large fall.

Atop the Kayenta, looking downstream along the Baker Trail side canyon.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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A field of cactus.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Lunch spot.

Photo by Erin Tatge.
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Meanwhile, back at camp...

Camp in daytime.

Photo by Katie Panciera.
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Dinner, I suppose? Glad Ben wasn’t in my cook group.

Photo by Ben Miller.
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Andy wins!

Photo by Katie Panciera.
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The landscape changed to open, dry, and desolate. We continued upstream, still following the Baker Trail, which we lost once the next phase of ascent (through the Navajo Sandstone) began.

Continuing up the hot, dry wash.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Juniper against blue sky and brown dirt.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Juniper against blue sky and red dirt.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Navajo Domes that we came through.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Once on top of the Fold, there were, as we hoped, some excellent views. It was a wide, flat summit, and we wandered to a couple of different places so we could see in different directions.

We could see the Henry Mountains to the northeast, Navajo Mountain to the south, and the Straight Cliffs (Fiftymile Mountain) to the west.

Mount Hillers.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Mount Pennell with Mount Ellen (snow-capped) and the rest of the Henry Mountains behind.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Pennel/Ellen, Hillers, and Ellsworth and the somewhat flat crest of the Waterpocket Fold.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Scraggly juniper with Stevens Canyon behind.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Charles, Erin, Reid, Sibyl, Joel on top of the Waterpocket Fold.

Photo by Andy Wilson.
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Lake Powell, Bullfrog, and lots of canyon country beyond. The Bears Ears in Natural Bridges National Monument, near Dark Canyon, are visible on the horizon.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Navajo Mountain.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Charles contemplating the Henry Mountains.

Photo by Erin Tatge.
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Stevens Canyon.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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I believe Joel has just ripped a gigantic fart.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Joel adds: I deny this.

We retraced our steps to return back to camp.

The way down was hot, and dry. Most of us ran out of water.

Water. Fill up? We decided no, since we were not quite dry and there were known better sources not too far ahead.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Descending back through the Kayenta.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Cowboyglyph. Reads: C. Baker 1942 with a symbol to the left that looks like a lower-case T.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Big Navajo Sandstone walls.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Big Wingate Sandstone benches.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Descending the slickrock back down to the bed of Stevens Canyon.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Indian Paintbrush.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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For the last bit of descent back to the bed, we took the route Charles, Erin, and I had used the previous day, because it was easier than the remnants of the constructed Baker Trail.

Not-so-cute caterpillars in a giant grody web.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Stevens Canyon just above camp.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Our tower.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Arriving back in camp.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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We got home at 6:00. The folks remaining in camp had worried a little about what to do if we didn’t come back – and I should have led this discussion at the beginning of the trip – but fortunately we did.

During the day, Ben and Katie finally folded and enjoyed the Jacuzzi. They were the last ones.

Your Mom dinner was curry cooked by Katie (yummy).

Please continue reading on Day 6.

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