We made it to California!

Yesterday we made it in the Golden state, limping at 45 mph under an alien tractor beam, which sucks in cool beings as they cross the Silver state.  Luckily Dolores (our van's new name, discovered from rock images above a hot springs in NM,) had enough power in reserve to putt her way up and over the numerous passes on route 6.  We took a rest stop at Warm Springs, junction of Hwy 93 and Rt 6.  A beautiful hot springs, (I guess 93' F) flowing into a swimming pool behind barbwire, chain link.  We found the hole in the fence that Scott and Patricia, friends in Albuquerque we visited, told us about.  Perfect for soaking and cleaning up, for tired canyoneers.  

We are fresh out of Utah's canyon country.  We drove thru Page, AZ on route from Durango in search of Paria Canyon.  This is a 30 mile slot canyon which feeds into the Grand Canyon.  The backcountry permits needed to overnight in the canyon were all taken (thankfully says Julie as she has been hot to get to Cali,) so we only geared up for a full day hike.  We made 3 # of burgers, roasted garlic, and steamed mustard greens for lunch, and went to bed as the 50 mph wind blew in a 70' F weather change with snow squalls.  Waking up a 5:00 am to clear cold skies we dressed and drove 3 miles to our trailhead.  3 boiled eggs and left over elk stir fry got us going for a 7:00 am start.  (No the speediest of a.m. starts but perfect as you  shall see.)  The trail into Paria (pronounced par-ee-uh) is the river bed.  We are so thankful to have our muck boots as most hikers are traveling in low boots or sneakers with neoprene socks and expecting cold feet.  We crunch along the frozen river edge and water with warm feet witnessing the spectactular dessert dawn unfold over the red rock canyons.  This is a magical day and something that has been on my "life list" since I read about it in a hiking magazine years ago.  (I really don't have a formal life list but having now see this canyon that I dreamed about has turned me on to making one.)  I will not be able to describe the whimsical flow and shape of what I experienced in color, texture, and depth in the slot canyons of Paria and Buckskin.  Here are some pictures.

     
.   The day ended at 5 pm back at Dolores after 20 miles in the sandy Paria river.  Our feet hurt and our legs were sore.  Julie's knee is still tender and stiff.  We loved every minute of it.  Our camp site that night was 1/2 mile away under some old cotton woods along the Paria River, and we slept for 13 hours!  Fantastic adventure.  love zach.