Lower Spring Canyon - 9.20.2010
We did this 9.5 mile thru-hike from east to west... leaving a bicycle at the Chimney Rock trailhead... then driving to and parking at a paved turnout near milepost 83 on Hwy 24.
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We left a bicycle at the Chimney Rock trailhead... located 3 miles west of the Visitor Center on Hwy 24.
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After leaving a bicycle at the Chimney Rock trailhead we parked at this paved turnout near milepost 83 on Hwy 24... then walked east along Hwy 24 for .1 miles and found a cairn on the shoulder of the highway... where we left the highway and bushwhacked a short distance to the Fremont River.
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Denali Girl fording the Fremont River... check with the Visitor Center for river conditions before doing this hike.
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After fording the Fremont River the first quarter mile of hiking is a little brushy.
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Denali Girl in Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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Clay that looks like rock.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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Flower and bug in Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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Paintbrush.
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Reflection.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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Solution cavities.
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Clay that looks like leaves.
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Canyon walls.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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Doing the best with what you have.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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Canyon walls.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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Canyon walls.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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Denali Girl in Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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~6 miles into the hike the canyon narrows.
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Denali Girl at the narrows.
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Denali Girl in the narrows of Lower Spring Canyon.
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In the narrows of Lower Spring Canyon.
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We probably could have negotiated this 10 foot dry waterfall... but there is a more difficult 15 foot waterfall just beyond this one... so we will backtrack 150 feet and see if there is a bypass.
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Denali Girl on the waterfall bypass.
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The slot just beyond the dry waterfalls.
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Denali Girl got past the dry waterfalls.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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Denali Girl in Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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In Lower Spring Canyon.
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After 6.5 miles of hiking we have reached the confluence of Upper Spring Canyon, Lower Spring Canyon and Chimney Rock Canyon.
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Only 3 miles left to reach the Chimney Rock trailhead.
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The Wingate Sandstone cliffs in Chimney Rock Canyon.
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The Wingate Sandstone cliffs in Chimney Rock Canyon.
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In Chimney Rock Canyon.
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Denali Girl in Chimney Rock Canyon.
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In Chimney Rock Canyon.
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The Wingate Sandstone cliffs in Chimney Rock Canyon.
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Out in the open now... almost back to the car.
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Finally on a real trail... a half-mile from the car... this trip was 9.5 miles, gaining 1120 feet of elevation... and I will bicycle 6.5 miles on Hwy 24 to get the car.
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