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Grand Canyon 2005
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Post Backpack
the Round Valley Draw Slot Canyon
The next day we drove north into Utah, where Andrew had chosen a slot canyon for us to explore in the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument . It was a long drive out there, but we saw some spectacular geology along the way, such as Cockscomb, an interesting jagged ridge of rock that extends for tens of kilometres.
The Cockscomb
Color rocks along cottonwood road
Cottonwood Road
We were driving on some rather twisty dirt roads, which didn't sit well with weak-stomached Shannon . Along the way, we stopped and tried to do a tumbleweed-in-action shot! Hmmm,...it was much harder than one would think. Those tumbleweeds aren't as co-operative as one would think (as Caroline and Brian found out). The little side road leading off to the parking spot was a bit washed-out in spots. The road took a rather deep dive into a dry creek bed. It didn't look like our rental van would be able to negotiate this stretch. Despite valiant efforts and much debate, we abandoned ship, and parked the van just before this section. We were therefore forced to walk an extra couple of kms to the head of the slot. There were lots of nice rocks to collect around here, and I took advantage of it! My pack was getting a little heavy, but compared to the previous 5 days of backpack weight, this seemed like nothing.
courtesy CDoucet
Don't think she'll go
Plan B
Round Valley Draw
I hadn't ever seen a slot canyon [this one was called the Round Valley Draw slot canyon - ed], and I was extremely impressed by it. It is amazing to think of water rushing through the high walls of this canyon, 10's of feet up over your head! You wouldn't want to be in this thing when it rains! The water had smoothed out the surface of the rock, leaving behind beautiful patterns...almost like walking through an artist's brush stroke.
courtesy BConnell
Round Valley Draw slot
The Round Valley Draw slot
Looks pretty tight
courtesy BConnell
Andrew scouts it out
Connell takes the plunge
Its a tight one!
Our group in the slot canyon
Delightful route
Nature's artistry
Light and Shadow
Indications of Fury
Jenn in Round Valley Draw
There was lots of rock to climb over and under, and at one point I made the unfortunate mistake of not bending my knees properly when I jumped down, causing my left knee a great deal of pain. From then on, as long as I didn't jar my leg on anything, it was fine, but boy was that hard to do as I was climbing over rock. Shannon took my pack for me (even with all those rocks in it!).
courtesy CDoucet
Brian gazes about
Occasional scramble
Crawling through
We continued on a bit further to what looked like the end (to me, anyway), and we started to head out. The exit route involved a steep scramble up a bouldery side-drainage.. Once out of the canyon and back on the flat ground above, there was no marked trail, so with Andrew's GPS, he safely navigated us back to the van after a rather lengthy walk back. All in all, it really was an impressive sight and well worth the journey to see it.
Jenn in boulder tunnel
Navaho Texture
Dwarfed
courtesy BConnell
Sandy slot
Nearing the exit
The exit route
Video Clip: Round Valley Draw Slot Canyon
A video accounting of the nice little slot known as Round Valley Draw, in Southern Utah (Grand Staircase-Escalante NM)
Length: 3m:12s
275 Kbit/s video stream

Macromedia Flash required
(Click on the black square to the right to start playing the movie)
courtesy BConnell
courtesy BConnell
courtesy BConnell
Climbing out the exit route
Nearing the top of the exit route
Back on top
The Aquarius plateau
Annotated Topographic Map
Interactive Trackmap with photo points - Round Valley Draw - click map to view
Interactive Trackmap with photo points - Round Valley Draw - click to view
Round Valley Draw - Hike Data
Start Time: 1:27p.m.
End Time: 2:33p.m.
Duration: 1h5m
Distance: 3.46 km (2.15 mi)
Average Speed: 3.2 km/hr (2.0 mph)
Start Elevation: 6170ft (1880m) *
Max Elevation: 6171ft (1881m) *
Min Elevation: 6015ft (1833m) *
End Elevation: 6015ft (1833m) *
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain: 1ft (0m) *
Total Elevation Loss: 132ft (40m) *
 
 
* : +/- 75 feet
Elevation Graph
RVDSlotReturn
Start Time: 4:13p.m.
End Time: 6:20p.m.
Duration: 2h7m
Distance: 5.39 km (3.35 mi)
Average Speed: 2.5 km/hr (1.6 mph)
Start Elevation: 5808ft (1770m) *
Max Elevation: 6223ft (1897m) *
Min Elevation: 5790ft (1765m) *
End Elevation: 6193ft (1888m) *
* : +/- 75 feet
Total Elevation Gain: 495ft (151m) *
Total Elevation Loss: 162ft (49m) *
 
 
* : +/- 75 feet
Elevation Graph
We decided to head to a motel this night instead of camping. It was dark now, and we were all pretty tired. Not far to the north was the [very] small town of Tropic , Utah , population 300. We went for dinner at probably the only restaurant [not quite, but close - ed] , and seeing as it was almost 9 pm , we were virtually the only customers there. Brian ordered a beer, to which most of us laughed knowing what the answer would be, and the waitress informed him that they didn't serve beer....this was Utah.
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