Thursday, March 31, 2011

THE PUCKER FACTOR

After driving on various trails around here, all of us have noticed that some have more of a pucker factor than others.  With that in mind I have developed the "PUCKER RATING".  There will be a score from one (_*_) to 5 (_*_) depending on how frightened we get.  The Pucker Rating can also apply to hikes.  So far here are the scores:

Shafter Switchbacks -      (_*_)(_*_)(_*_)(_*_)
White Rim -                    (_*_)(_*_)(_*_)
Onion Creek -                 (_*_) Normally Onion Creek wouldn't get a score at all, but since we had to cross the stream so many times, and we could have been splashed by cold water, it gets one (_*_).
Pucker Pass -                 (_*_)(_*_) (Yes that's the name)
Delicate Arch -               (_*_)
Corona Arch -                (_*_)(_*_)


PUCKER PASS

Pucker Pass is a narrow steep canyon that starts near Islands in the Sky and ends at the Colorado River. While going down hill the views down the canyon are beautiful.




After a drive through Pucker Pass, we hiked to Corona Arch, one of the largest arches in the area.  Getting there involves walking on slickrock, climbing moki steps with the assistance of a cable placed next to them and climbing a ladder to get to a higher level.  The route is part of the reason for the pucker rating, but most of it is because of the crazy people who were repelling on a rope from the top of the arch.



CRAZY, JUST CRAZY

Spring Canyon Bottom:  (_*_)(_*_)(_*_)(_*_)(_*_)

This not a pretty drive like the Shafer Switchbacks.  This was one heart pounding 1000 ft decent from the plateau to the Green River along a road, such as it is, chiseled out of the rock into the side of a sheer cliff.  If the Pucker Rating went higher, this road would get it.  The road was soooooo narrow that loose rocks where push off the side of the cliff by our tires.  Talk about pucker.  We read in a guide book about the views, by we didn't notice them, all we saw was our white knuckles gripping steering wheel while our wives were whimpering in the passenger seat.  It was one hell of a ride.

With relief we finally reached the bottom and upon reaching the Green River we decided to have our last meal.  Because now once at the bottom, we had to go back up.  After our lunch, we conjured up enough nerves to retrace our route back to the plateau.  Back on level ground, we looked at each other and in our macho way said, "a piece of cake".


ON THE WAY DOWN

THE BOTTOM,  1000FT BELOW

LUNCH, OUR LAST MEAL

WHY ARE THEY HAPPY? WE STILL HAVE TO GO BACK

THERE ARE 3 BIG HORN SHEEP IN THIS PHOTO
HIGH PLACES DON'T BOTHER THEM

WE MADE IT TO HAPPY HOUR

Tomorrow morning bight and late, we head south toward Bluff, Utah.  We plan on staying in the tents for a couple of days, while exploring the local area looking for Indian ruins.  The Adventure continues.

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