Kanab, Utah (Separation Canyon, Yant Flat, White Domes, Powell Point, Bull Valley, Petrified Forest, Bisti Wings)
Top left: Bisti Wings, Bisti Wilderness, New Mexico. Top right: White Domes, Canaan Mountain Wilderness, Utah.
Lower left: Chinle and Black Forest Tuff (the white foreground), Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona. Lower right: Janet Jacks at the White Domes.
Trip Report
Personnel: Stan Wagon and Joan Hutchinson, Katie Larson, Elke Dratch, Janet Jacks, JeanMarie Mendesh and Bob Portmann.
Oct. 15, 2023. Joan and I drive to Kanab via Richfield. Uneventful.
Oct. 16, 2023. Katie, Elke, JM, Bob, Janet and I did the Separation Canyon/Checkerboard Canyon loop, with a side trip to Nippletop Summit for Katie, Janet, Elke, and me.
Oct. 17, 2023. Katie, Elke, Janet and I went over to Yant Flat N of St. George and rambled on the nice Navajo sandstone. We returned to Kanab via the road through Zion National Park.
Oct. 18, 2023. Katie, Elke, JM, Bob, Janet and I went to the White Domes from Water Canyon north of Hildale, Utah. This was a strenuous day.
Oct. 19, 2023. Rest day. Joan and I hiked the Canyon Overlook trail near the tunnel.
Oct. 20, 2023. Katie and I went to Powell Point. This was long drive, but the point itself, and the trees en route, were spectacular.
Oct. 21, 2023. Katie, Bob, Janet and I did a loop in Bull Valley Gorge.
Oct. 22, 2023. Joan and I drove to Flagstaff, first doing a short hike in Walnut Creek National Monument.
Oct. 23, 2023. Joan and I drove to Gallup, doing the route to Onyx Bridge in Petrified Forest National Park along the way.
Oct. 24, 2023. Joan and I drove to the Bisti Wings area in the Bisti Wilderness, and then drove home via Farmington, Durango, Pagosa Springs, Wolf Creek Pass, and Leadville.
Summary: This was the first time to Kanab for this group and it took a bit of research to find hikes suitable for good photography, good exercise, and interesting terrain. Prior to the trip Katie and I planned five long hikes, and we did them all.
Highlights: 10/17: A strenuous hike to the White Domes over widely varying terrain.
10/19: To Powell Point, a spot I have thought about reaching for 20 years.
10/20: Bull Valley Gorge, using a tripod for slot canyon photography. Entered the way I knew a mile down the rim, but exited through the nice upper section of the canyon.
Photos and Commentary
Separation Canyon, Nippletop, Checkerboard Canyon
Water Canyon and the White Domes
Walnut Canyon National Monument