Time for a Roadtrip!

May 30, 2005 1:13 PM

Slot Canyons of the American Southwest
posted by LarryC (13 comments total)

Also for your armchair trip to the desert, the Southern Utah Wilderness Alliance's clickable map of Utah wilderness photographs.
posted by LarryC at 1:35 PM on May 30, 2005

I love the Southwestern US. Nice photos. Thanks.
posted by WolfDaddy at 1:43 PM on May 30, 2005

Despite warnings of flash floods and pygmy rattle snakes, I've ventured into a few of these canyons. It's been a while, though, and these photos make me really want to go back. Thanks for the post.
posted by Staggering Jack at 2:24 PM on May 30, 2005

Why am I vaguely aroused looking at these pix?
posted by Elim at 2:25 PM on May 30, 2005

Gorgeous! I love slot canyons.
posted by LeeJay at 2:32 PM on May 30, 2005

The greatest backpack trip I ever took was doing th Paria river, from buckskin gulch down to harpers ferry, 35 miles, in 5 days. We arrived at the tail end of a storm (storms in slot canyons can kill and do) so it was deserted, and we had perfect ankle-to-knee deep water and sunny 80-90 degree skies the entire week.

It was beyond sublime.
posted by mathowie at 2:37 PM on May 30, 2005

we had perfect ankle-to-knee deep water and sunny 80-90 degree skies the entire week.

And having wet feet for a week in fun how? Compared to what, the week long Gitmo Experience?
posted by Keith Talent at 3:51 PM on May 30, 2005

Wow, that's good.
posted by Wolfdog at 4:29 PM on May 30, 2005

There is a slot canyon at Kasha Katuwe/Tent Rocks in New Mexico. It is part of the trail up to the top, and as both a trail and a slot canyon, they warn you off of it during wet weather. I hiked it in the snow, which is probably the safest precipitation.

This is probably the most "slot canyony" picture of all the ones I've posted. I've got some more that show the canyon better that I haven't posted yet. Maybe I will.
posted by Happy Monkey at 7:25 PM on May 30, 2005

Zion is definitely on my list.
posted by shoepal at 8:19 PM on May 30, 2005

Great pics. I miss the southwest. Thanks for the post. "And having wet feet for a week in fun how? Compared to what," well better than the flash floods. ;-)
posted by arse_hat at 9:03 PM on May 30, 2005

Took a trip up a canyon like these west of albuquerque. Awesome sandy floor, and cool too!
posted by kuatto at 12:36 PM on May 31, 2005

I've tried to do the Paria twice, but It's always been flooding just as we get there. A number of my freinds have done it though. Apparently one of the best parts is the awesome old lady that runs a shuttle for people exiting the canyon.

I've spent weeks in the canyons of the Escalante however.

The wet feet are the best part. There's no trail. Just a wash, then as you walk in, it turns in to a creek, the walls rise around you, the creek turns into something more substantial, carving it's way through the landscape, leaving arches and ampitheaters. Then you start to get closer to Glen Canyon Dam, and you see the bathtub ring. Only then do you really understand just how we've raped the west. There's a special place in hell for the Army Corps of Engineers and the BLM.

Playing in Quicksand! No tent too. If it rains, you have way more to worry about than getting wet. Those canyons are probably my favorite place on the face of this earth. Seriously.
posted by blasdelf at 2:41 AM on June 1, 2005