The plan is to make the ridge in the background. There
is a road that we should be able to connect with
for our return trip.
You would never know by looking at
this canyon from a distance that
it's so lush in here.
It's cold, I'm guessing under 40 if not closer to 35.
The climbing starts in a minute so we'll warm up.
The waterfall crossing ahead can be a real problem. It's
narrow and slimy without much to hold on to.
But the water level is low so we should be ok..
I figured if he made it I'd climb up.
He made it.
Lots of dead trees and poison ivy at the lower end
of the canyon. Of course I have shorts on.
We were following somewhat of a trail. Now
we're following bear tracks. He thinks the bear is running from us
and if we hurry we'll catch him. What a character.
And now he's got me crawling through the tunnels
the bears make through manznita bushes. Pretty amazing how
they just plow right through making these paths.
We made the saddle but the brush is so thick.
We could stand up but we couldn't go anywhere
unless we crawled.
No bear (oh darn) and no where to go so we turned around
to head back down. Problem, we can't find the trail back.
everything looks the same.
We end up crawling around for almost an hour looking
for our tracks.
Some bushwacking through the manzanita.
The exit from the bear tunnel. Yes!
Finally, the so called trail.
We're getting near the bottom and the large waterfall.
Just above the waterfall. After
that we're home free.
The only snake we saw all day.
6 hours after we started we exit the canyon.
At least 2 of it on my hands and knees.
My shins are a mess but we
had a good time.
