5-21
Approximately 10 miles
There were 42 in my store at 5:30 and 37 when we left at 7:30. Interestingly, the temperature in the canyon continues to drop after first light because the sun doesn’t reach the bottom of the canyon until around eight.
«I have a little problem. I lost my shoes!» Cappuccino murmured as he passed my shop. SlowBro had already found a shoe when I started helping search. Using a Boy Scout approach, we created a search line and SlowBro found the second shoe higher up near the rock outcropping. Cappuccino hugged his shoe as he left Let’s walk 13 miles in flip flops! Apparently, one or two unidentified creatures snuck away with each shoe in the night.
I felt a little sad leaving our two-night camp in Hells Hole, a large, pristine place. We started up the hill with most of our warm clothes on. The climb felt good in the cold morning air. The first river crossings were particularly cold and long. Many crossings made the speed slow, but we had a short day.
Rock chimneys towered over the river valley along much of the hike. The canyon was similar to the Middle Fork but perhaps a little wider.
Around noon we stopped for lunch at a riverside campsite with wooden chairs. Looking for the house on the cliff I met two backpackers who were doing the same circuit in the opposite direction. One was from Silver City and the other from Black Hills, SD. I shared common hiking spots with them, like the Winds, Beartooth, and Bighorns.
We climbed up to the cliff dwelling when we arrived. 800 years later, a surprisingly large portion of the wall is still standing. It must have been an arduous existence on those cliffs.
SloBro in the home
Cappuccino Going up to the Housing
We decided to camp at the base of the homes, adding only half a mile to tomorrow’s hike.
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