Hike Info:
Type:
Hiking
Trail:
Golden Canyon-Red Cathedral, Crossover to Gower Canyon, Gower Canyon
Destination:
Loop
Distance:
5.33
miles
Start
Time: 9:28
End
Time: 2:20
Travel
Time: 4:52 (1.10 mph)
Moving
Time: 3:07 (1.71 mph)
Elevation
Rise: 745'
Descent: 670‘
Maximum
Elevation: 521'
Description:
I
got up a bit earlier, just before the sunrise-actually, well before
the sun came over the top of the ridge to our east, but it was light
enough. Sherri said that I was snoring lost night-the sleep of the
tired. But that is not what kept her awake. There was hum of a
generator someplace in the distance which bothered her. Anyway, when
she got up to go to the bathroom, I got up-she went back to bed. I
was rested.
 |
| Side Wash to Golden Canyon |
Breakfast
is pancakes this morning. First time with this new mix. Not bad. We
brought two cups of mix and mixed with almond milk, it only slightly
was over-filling. We got everything put away and left the campsite
around 9:15.
 |
| Rocks above Golden Canyon |
It
is only a short drive to the trail head for
Golden
and Gower
Canyons, about 4 miles
or so. The parking lot is also close to being full. After I changed
into my boots-Sherri is walking in her tennis shoes-we take off.
Neither of us are taking our poles. So far what we have seen is that
the poles will get in the way.
 |
| Looking back down where we came |
The
walking us pretty easy; it is a gradual incline. I calculate the
first mile is about a 350’ elevation gain, But the differentness
from what we usually hike in makes it an interesting and walk-worthy
of noticing the incline of Golden Canyon. Also at one time, now
under boulders and up some sand there was a paved road up this-we see
remnants of it here and there. (As a note: there was some scenes
from the original Star
Wars filmed in this canyon.)
 |
| A bit steep |
 |
| One way down |
When
we get to the trail junction for Gower Canyon, we decide to take a
trip up to the Red
Cathedral. It starts our as more of the same. But after about 0.4
of a mile, it narrows and we start to do a bit of scampering under
some boulders. Or up and over 3-4’ rises in the path. Sherri takes
it like a trooper. I am left wondering how to get down these when we
return. Also the path is getting steeper. Sherri is charging right
up these, leaving me to bring up the rear. As we come along, we have
passed people coming back down the path, all of whom said it was
doable. But then the final rise comes along. It is really steep with
scree on top of the path. There is a narrow path up to a wide space,
but I decide that this was as far as I was going-I was having some
balance issues. Sherri went up to the higher level-and she said that
I was able to be helpful to her climb down.
 |
| A trail friend coming down from Sherri's perch |
 |
| Red cathedral |
We
devour a Clif Bar break before we reach the Gower Canyon junction.
That was nice being able to stop there. For whatever reason, I do
better going down than Sherri. I do not think it takes away for her
doing fantastic going up. Still there is a bit of niceness that I
was able to help her down-call it my old fashion chauvinism.
 |
| Us on our way to Gower Canyon |
After
we pass the side of Manly
Beacon, it goes downhill pretty good. There is another loop
around the Badlands
area-the part which we saw last night from Zabriskie
Point. But she did not want to go to that one-and I agree with
her, I am getting tired. We crab crawl down the couple of steep
places. This is where the boots came in handy. Even with the scree, I
am able to get a descent grip on the path.
When
we enter Gower Canyon, Sherri and I find some shade and stop for
lunch. This is a bit late, but it does help to revitalize us. I am
not sure if it is the stop or the food, but I will take it. The walk
down is not as relaxing as in the other canyons. It seems like the
stones under foot are of different sizes, so when I set my foot down,
I am careful not to twist an ankle. There are places a bit above the
flow where the rocks are fewer and the sand is harder. I try to pick
my way on them. When I can, my stride becomes more normal.
As
we approached the end of the canyon, two things happened. The first,
two ladies from Texas and a daughter, who is entering college next
year. We walk with them all the way to the car, about a mile more.
The interesting thing is that one of the ladies had a leg brace so
she could do little more than swing her leg forward. Going over these
rocks I was not pleasant for me. I can only imagine what it was like
for her.
 |
| Sherri marching down Gower Canyon/Gulch |
 |
| Chocolate topped mound |
Then
the second thing is that there started to have some drop offs, not
bad, but enough that some scrambling was needed to get over them.
Evidently this is called the Lower Knickzone. But this brings me
back to point one, how in the world is the lady with the brace going
to get over and down? I offered her some help, but there was no need
to fill any macho need I may have. She struggled a little, but made
her way down without my male help. There was several of these little
3-5’ drops to get down. Not too much of an issue for any of us. As
we traveled along, we talked with the ladies. They are from Texas and
had come to Vegas for a wedding. The daughter, Luna, is an adventurer
herself. We walk with them all the way to the cars.
 |
| Gary and the ladies in Gower Canyon/Gulch |
But
before we get back to the cars, there is one more obstacle of note.
When we came out the mouth of Gower Canyon, there is a 30’ drop
off. Now what do we do? Well there is a ledge to wrap us around the
opening of the canyon and this hooks us into the trail. The ledge
looks more scary than it really is. Once we start around it, piece of
cake. A few steps along the trail, I look back and our campground
neighbors was rounding the bend. When they catch up, we talk for a
few minutes. For a person who is in some pain from a nerve, the
father is moving pretty fast.
Now
it is about ¾ of a mile back to the car. It feels good to get into
the car and sit for a few minutes. Then it is back to the campground
at Texas
Springs. It is our last night, so we are concentrating on left
overs. So our dinner is like the rest of our dinners, We get to rest
a bit, not that we are going out to hike.
 |
| Our camp friends exiting from Gower Canyon |
As
the skies darken, we get ready to go out to the Harmony
Borax Works. The volunteer at the Visitor Center said Friday this
is where they do their dark skies talk. The better place is the
Mesquite
Sand Dunes, but neither of us feels like driving 30 miles for
this. It was hard driving in without bothering others and I do not
think I was successful in this. I know that others were not. Still
when our eyes got adjusted, the skies were a beautiful sight. Layers
of stars above other stars as far as I could see. When I got my
telescope focused, the sight was jaw dropping. No pictures-sorry.
We
got back to camp by 8:30. I wrote and read. Then it is off to bed.
Tomorrow will be a long day as we drive back to Fresno.
Breakfast
|
Lunch
|
Dinner
|
Snacks
|
Pancakes
|
Sandwhich: Peanut Butter,
Nutella
|
More burrito’s.
|
Clif Bar, Scratch, Coffee
Candy, Jelly Belly
|
Distance:
5.33
miles
No comments:
Post a Comment