Little Bridge, Crack, Brimstone, but not Corkscrew

[Bluegreen kayak]

Friday I tried a canyon from one Kauri's trip reports, Brimstone, and I enjoyed it a lot. I parked about the 11 mile marker on Badwater Road, where the road for Devil's Golf Course begins, and hiked up the wash toward the Black Mountains. Kauri's report has a marvelous panoramic photo with an arrow to the canyon, so I felt pretty sure about where I was headed. Mine is a bit washed out, but the entrance is on the right side of the black triangular hill, not hard to find.


Came across this piece of wood on the way up.


Brimstone showed some nice colors right from the start.


Then I arrived at a dryfall that was a bit higher than I can handle. The rock on the right with the scatter on it, above my pack and sticks, looked like the only way up. It was a bit intimidating and I'm still surprised that I climbed it, but I did. Spent the rest of the hike trying not to think about going back down - how hard can down be, anyway?


Here's a view from the top of the dryfall; the bypass looks more vertical in this shot (and it sure felt that way going up).


A short walk then to the fork; I went left at first.


I stopped at this gorgeous spot because I was running out of time, but it's so intriguing what might be around the corner.


The right fork was delightful as well, but I'm slow and the clock was ticking, so I ruefully turned around again.


Beautiful setting sun illuminating the canyon walls as I walk - wait, the sun is setting? - hurry out.

Successfully got down the dryfall with one glitch - I had forgotten to bring a rope which I could have used to lower my pack before descending. I improvised by hooking one of the pack side straps to my trek pole handle and managed to lower it at least halfway before dropping it. Must remember next time.


Going in and up, I followed the gravelly wash in the center and south of the entrance, but coming back out and down I took to the wonderful desert pavement on the north side of the wash, which helped me make better time getting back. I mention this because when I come back here (as I intend), I'm going up this way too. There were shelves near the canyon mouth which made it easy to climb up to the pavement.


Found another piece of wood going out. Where the heck did they come from?


And although I didn't beat the setting sun, there was enough twilight that I didn't have to pull out my flashlight.