The wind is whipping around strong this morning and it has been cold enough over night that we have ice in our water bottles. We decide that we will forego Round Valley Draw and Hackberry Canyon because of the rain and wind and instead hike the Cottonwood Wash road to our car.
I am disappointed that we will miss Hackberry Canyon but we will come back. We actually have been in Round Valley Draw before. Ray even taught a class called “Shots in Slots” and took students there. We haven’t hiked Hackberry Canyon but discuss coming back in the Fall. Maybe we will take our time and explore the side canyons. That may be a better way to see it anyways.
The Cockscomb was named because the steeply tilted sedimentary layers along the East Kaibab monocline looks like a rooster’s comb. Just another great geologic feature along the Hayduke Trail.
A power line crosses the road back and forth. Ray and I identify many sounds from the dance between the power lines and the more assertive wind. We hear recorders, coyotes howling, blowing air across coke bottles half full of water, someone gargling, monks humming. I will probably never look at power lines the same.
It has cleared up today but the river is running high so it is probably just as well that we didn’t go into the slot called Round Valley Draw.
By 7pm we make it to the car after hiking for 28.4 miles. The last time I hiked 28 miles I was 19 years old. I am kind of amazed and surprised by what I can do now. And Ray, well he is just a hiking machine. He sets a good pace.
Great Post! Where did you find that map?
The map is USGS topos on the Gaia App. We track each day on the app so it is a picture of our track that day from the app. Let me know if you want more details.