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Stevens Canyon 2009 – Day 6

Synopsis: Dayhike exploring vicinity of camp. April 21, 2009.

This would be another shorter day, with a dayhike exploring some small side canyons and benches near camp.

Breakfast for Your Mom was yummy breakfast burritos cooked by Erin and Sasquatch had pancakes.

The Sasquatch group cooked pancakes this morning.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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We left camp and went up through the spring area to the lower parts of the Baker Trail side canyon that we’d bypassed the previous day.

More disgusting worms in a web.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Disgusting worms floating dead in a pool.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Disgusting worms in trees.

As you can see, there’s quite an infestation going on; most of the trees in this spring area were nearly stripped of leaves. I hope they did OK; I’d be curious to hear what the place is like next year.

If you stood still and listened, you could hear the plop... plop... plop as the worms fell out of the trees.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Disgusting worms on a rock. Apparently they liked to be in the shade. In some places, it was hard to find a handhold that wasn’t covered in worms.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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It was a steep, rocky canyon and we weren’t able to get too far, though there was some fun scrambling on the way.

Crawling up and over some rocks.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Reid crawling up and through some rocks.

Photo by Erin Tatge.
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Here is a different worm which is not quite as disgusting.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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After returning to Stevens Canyon proper, we went upstream a little to see what was beyond the springs.

The bushwhacking near the springs was pretty epic.

Dr. Andy making his way through some underbrush.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Looking up through the spring area near the foot of the Baker Trail.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Yet more gross worms! Last one, I promise.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Hanging out in the shade just beyond the brushy spring area.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Ben Miller.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Charles Yeamans.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Erin Tatge.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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We decided to go up a minor side canyon to see if there was a nice spot for some lunch.

A tree.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Up and over some slickrock in search of lunch.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Andy Exley.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Charles and Erin pumping some water.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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There was some lunch.

We headed back to camp atop the Wingate sandstone to see if it would go. Charles and Andy had seen a possible route down just above camp, and there were some other places below camp that we knew would go.

Heading back towards home.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Funky balanced rock.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Reid approaching from far away over the Wingate bench.

Photo by Ben Miller.
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Indian Paintbrush.

Photo by Reid Priedhorsky.
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Hiking over the slickrock.

Photo by Charles Yeamans.
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The way down went. It was a steep friction slope, becoming exceptionally steep near the bottom, but there was no exposure. It might be too steep to ascend (we had to slide down the last few feet).