Back to the Canyon

So began my return backpacking trip into the Grand Canyon. This time Ian, my son, was able to make it with me. I had gotten backcountry permits for three consecutive days.

You have to get up early to go into the canyon.

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Zion National Superhighway

Over the last couple of days you may have noticed how Ian’s footwear kept changing, and how he went barefoot on the Angel’s Landing trail.

There’s a tale to tell.

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Angel’s Landing

On our last day at Zion it took us a while to figure out what to do. I was a bit footsore from doing 8.5 miles two days previously, and 5.4 miles yesterday. Ian’s knee was acting up. Our choices were to just hang around soaking up scenery, trying the Narrows (upcanyon where the walls close in on you), or Angel’s Landing, a knife-edge mesa.

Eventually we decided we’d go for the challenging Angel’s Landing, with a nearly 1500 foot climb and a 5.4 mile round trip.

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Huber-Terrific

When I go hiking around Central Ohio, I often look for a more out-of-the-way place. Sure, I also hit the main attractions, but I also have a yen for the different.

So, here in Zion, after hitting Observation Point, we went to Huber Wash.

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The Blue Monk

So, we (my son and I) are at Zion National Park. It’s time for some serious hiking. Our plans were to do the 8-mile round trip to Observation Point. Our neighbors (next campsite over) had mentioned that much of the trail was “paved”, but what did that mean?

And would it be a problem to hike it barefoot?

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Tryin’ Zion

After we left the Colorado National Monument, we kept going west on Interstate 70. It rained the whole time. We then turned south on Interstate 15. It rained about half the way.

However, by the time we cut back to Zion National Park, it had cleared and the sun was out.

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Out and Above

Well, I’m off again on a long hiking trip. I’m out west again, and this time my son, Ian, was able to join me.

Our first stop was the Colorado National Monument.

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Hiking Packs

In I’ll Need a Crane for That I talked a bit about how for that hike I’d transitioned from my “fanny” pack to my full-on backpack. http://ahcuah.wordpress.com/2013/04/06/ill-need-a-crane-for-that/#comment-4169″>In a comment, Paul talked a bit about how they used to be called “belt packs” and how nowadays even full backpacks have belts designed to carry 40-60% of the load.

I thought I’d discuss my pack preferences.

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Clear Creek: Spring Continues

On May Day I headed back to Clear Creek Metro Park just to work out a few kinks in my system, and to experiment with my pack a bit. This time I was carrying about 38 pounds.

Spring was continuing to pop.

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Make Like a Tree . . . And Leaf

Yesterday, of course, was Earth Day. So I spent most of my day in direct sole-to-soul contact with the Earth. (And, if truth be told, a bit of time in butt-to-butte contact during a rest break.)

It was an 8-mile barefoot hike at Tar Hollow.

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I Like the Unpath Best

When I wrote about The Old Ways, by Robert MacFarlane, it included a small bit from Nan Shepherd’s The Living Mountain.

I thought I’d write some more about her book.

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April Dapples Bring May Apples

I made my way out to Alley Park on Wednesday.

Spring has Sprung, the Grass is Ris. I wonder where the Flowers Is.

Well, there they were.

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O’Meara O’Vencha Hike: Spring

I’m still catching up from the weekend. On Saturday I went on another of the monthly Adventure Hikes with John O’Meara, the Executive Director of Columbus Metro Parks. Spring is finally arriving (or at least pretending to arrive) in central Ohio.

And that meant there really aren’t any more issues about whether it’s too cold to do the hike barefoot.

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And The Point Is . . .

Well, sometimes the point is underfoot. In a comment to We Go Out Into the Woods . . ., lilsayan described how she’s stepped on “one too many mesquite thorns”, and davewalkinfo wants to know “how you discern between places where you go with or without shoes.”

Let me try to tackle that.

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I’ll Need a Crane for That

I spent the winter hiking carrying my fanny^* pack. It has mainly water, a little medical kit, a spare windbreaker, and my camera tripod. The extra weight totals about 20 pounds.

Yesterday I took a shot at my full-on backpack.

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