Exploring A Very Cool Slot Canyon Down Pleasant Creek (Part II)

Pleasant creek was becoming more "pleasant" by the mile, slowly morphing from a run of the mill meandering stream, to a waterpark-like channel of grooved red slickrock. Note to self: Add inflatable flotation device and towel to backpack.

Just beyond the waterpark, Maikel led us away from Pleasant Creek up into the wide open mouth of adjoining side canyon. About three hundred yards in, the "mouth" began to close... its rocky pursed lips going from oval to a tight vertical slit. Maikel and I managed a way over a few choke-stones and around mud puddles, then lent helping hands to our vertically challenged mates. Nothing like a little mud on shoes to turn slickrock scrambles into accidents waiting to happen. 

There's seldom another soul to count on for help hiking as deep as we often do in Capitol Reef; add to that that the only reliable thing you can count on here is zero bars of Verizon and it can be a recipe for disaster. Any kind of immobilizing injury would require double digit hours of waiting for some kind of rescue, one that would likely involve a helicopter… and as a result, a large chunk out of the bank account. In Colorado, purchasing a fishing or hunting license grants the holder "rescue insurance." For a smaller fee, Colorado backcountry enthusiasts can buy the rescue policy separately. I could not find a similar policy for Utah.    

Maikel demonstrates how to overcome canyon floor obstacles… if the canyon is narrow enough.

Maikel… between a rock and a hard place.

Ahhhhh….

Fall in Capitol Reef