Thanksgiving ramblings

[Daymoth]

Hi desert rats!

We missed DV last year (boo I missed lake manly) and we had big cravings to get back. We both had been too busy and had no time to plan so I hoped that all the points my past self had put on a map made sense.

The rangers as usual mentioned that cottonwood marble road would not be great for an SUV but they said Echo and HITW were good and we havent been to those roads yet. 

Took of wendnesday and drove to the park. Ah... I forgot to bring Digonnet...bummer.

Thursday we head towards HITW. The road is fine but the camping thing is very stupid. There is nowhere to park for day use. Can I park in a camp turnout during the day? This is all really silly. We throw the car in the gap in a stupid place across a stupid camp turnout and head towards the slit. 

The gap is really something



Undertaker looking pretty


The first dryfall is very pretty with marble stripes. We take the bypass wich is loose but not bad. 
At the top we enjoy the smooth marble canyon with fun obstacles


I noticed a lot of ground cherries in this wash


Cool rocks embedded in the polished marble




We get to the slit and husband struggles with the chockstone. I climb down and boost him up and then I go and climb the 10ft fall. 

And I have no idea how to downclimb that. 

Husband stays below until I figure how to downclimb. I have a handline but nothing but smooth marble to attach it to. I cant see any bypass. I end up downclimbing in a very uncontrolled and unconfortable way while husband spots me and gives me a foothold. If I cant downclimb this without help he wont be able either so its time to turn around. Im disapointed. Very disapointed, I was having so much fun and got filtered out so soon. 
I was so sad I didnt even remember to take a photo of the slit. 

We head out and since we have plenty of time we start thinking what else we can do today. 



The gap is glorious in the mid morning light



To be continued....