Into the Wild: Solo Camping in Canyonlands National Park Part II (8/4 - 8/5)

-      As I sit in a coffee shop in Atlanta three months after my solo trip to Canyonlands I feel far away from my summer adventures in the southwest.  Far away in terms of physical distance - around 2,000 miles - but also in terms of time.  Far away, yet determined to continue to capture and share my experiences.  

           On August 5th I woke early after a good night's sleep at the Needles Outpost.  With afternoon temperatures exceeding 100 degree Fahrenheit in the unforgiving desert, I rose early with the sun and was out hiking by 6:30 am.  Here are some early morning views - the first of my campsite and second the view of the Needles from my campsite.

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-       From the Needles Outpost I drove a ways into the park and then took about a three-mile gravel road to the Elephant Hill trail head.  I was glad to have 4-wheel drive Hi-Ho Silver as my stead and no company along the windy, hilly, often one-lane road.  I parked in a lot big enough for 20 cars, but only housing about three others at the time I set off - probably back country campers overnighting on the trail or super early risings already off on their adventure.  Here is a view from the trail head and of the trail sign that let me know I was on track even though I felt very off-the-beaten-path.

   
     My friend Nicole equipped me with a map and instructed me that Elephant Hill would be the best trail for me.  I planned to hike about six miles, but ended up doing about four miles round trip.  I only saw one other person on the trail that morning.  He was heading out as I was heading back to the trail head.  It was a little nerve-wracking, but mostly amazing to have the place to myself - to experience the desert meadows and needle formations on my own and to only hear the sounds of my own feet hitting the desert sand, my own breath and the scurrying little creatures, which I hope were mostly tiny lizards.  Again, I followed the buddhas set out by park service staff.  When I got turned around, I followed my method from the previous day of taking a breath, taking a look around, locating a buddha, walking to it and then locating the next.  About two miles in I was enjoying myself, but also feeling a little tired and nervous.  I knew I had a six or so hour drive ahead of me back to Flagstaff after my hike back to the car, so I called it quits and turned around.  As I've indicated in previous blogs, I believe in erring on the side of caution in wilderness situations.  Here are some photos of the hike and amazing Needles District.

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       I left Canyonlands satisfied with my two-day visit and the amazing views my hikes and campsite afforded me.  I packed up my campsite, bought some expensive gas at the Needles Outpost to make sure I could make it 50+ miles to Monticello, Utah and started the journey home to Flagstaff.  It was an amazing drive back as it had been the day before.  I took a slightly different way to get in more views and visit Navajo National Monument - cliff dwellings in northern Arizona.  I also managed a visit to Sonic for happy hour, which definitely hit the spot after many hours of driving and some left to go.  Here I'll let the photos and videos of the drive and Navajo National Monument speak for themselves.

      After sunny, sunny Utah and far northern Arizona, the clouds started to turn mean when I was about a hours drive from Flagstaff.  Although a little ominous, the dark skies made for amazingly dramatic views from highway 89 and along the road through Wupatki and Sunset Crater Volcano National Monuments.  How could I resist more photo opportunities?

     So, after the long and beautiful drive I arrived in Flagstaff safe and sound with two more National Park passport stamps and my first solo camping trip complete!

  

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