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Dave Beedon | profile | all galleries >> Places >> Utah >> Moab (environs) >> Shafer Trail >> Shafer Trail: Cross-Country Descent to the Colorado River >> River Hike, Part 1: Descent to River Bench tree view | thumbnails | slideshow | map

River Hike, Part 1: Descent to River Bench | River Hike, Part 2: The Bench | River Hike, Part 3: Amphitheater | River Hike, Part 4: The Return

River Hike, Part 1: Descent to River Bench

Getting from the plateau to the bench was the challenging part of the hike; the
remainder of the jaunt was just walking in open terrain where getting lost was
impossible. The "cliffs" and outcrops of sandstone on the descent were somewhat
disorienting, so I took care to mark my route with white streamers, which I
collected on the return. (It's suprising how much one can forget about "where
to turn right" in the space of a few hours.)
.
Just after leaving the car
Just after leaving the car		 Terrain gets interesting
Terrain gets interesting		 First steps
First "steps"		 Unnamed canyon far below DHPSP
Unnamed canyon far below DHPSP
Inspection of destiny
Inspection of destiny		 The colors, they are a changin'
The colors, they are a changin'		 Break in the drop-off
Break in the drop-off		 Vegetation on the mini-plateau
Vegetation on the mini-plateau
Close-up view (of mountain mahogany?)
Close-up view (of mountain mahogany?)		 Mini-plateau
Mini-plateau		 Mini-plateau fades into rubble and a cliff
Mini-plateau fades into rubble and a cliff		 Goal is far below
Goal is far below
Picture of a fateful decision
Picture of a fateful decision		 Traversing towards the canyon's head
Traversing towards the canyon's head		 Panorama #1: Looking' good!
Panorama #1: Looking' good!		 Panorama #2: Upper floor to lower floor
Panorama #2: Upper floor to lower floor
Panorama #3: Lower canyon floor
Panorama #3: Lower canyon floor		 Panorama #4: Mouth of the canyon
Panorama #4: Mouth of the canyon		 Panorama #5: River and rock bench
Panorama #5: River and rock bench		 Descent through a cliff band
Descent through a cliff band
Another challenge awaits
Another challenge awaits		 Look but don't touch
Look but don't touch		 Eureka---a route down to the canyon floor!
Eureka---a route down to the canyon floor!		 I have arrived (almost)
I have arrived (almost)
View down the canyon
View down the canyon		 Split boulder
Split boulder		 Cleared for final approach
Cleared for final approach		 A few more steps...
A few more steps...
Route of final descent
Route of final descent		 Success at last!
Success at last!		 Mouth of the canyon
Mouth of the canyon		 Terrain that blew my mind
Terrain that blew my mind
Typical boulder
Typical boulder		 Texture of the boulder
Texture of the boulder		 Slope I descended
Slope I descended

comment | share
exzim01-Jan-2009 23:11
Great gallery Dave, as has already been said - thanks for the trip.
1moremile20-May-2006 23:19
Awesome trip, Dave. Thanks for taking us along.
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