Camping and Backpacking GEAR thread

Very nice!

Waiting patiently for pics from Zion...

 

Canyonlands feels like another, different planet, even though it is only about 30 miles away form Arches.

Just past the gates you are greeted by the Shafer Canyon Trail and overlook:







The Neck Springs trail also starts here, which is a 5.8 mile loop that explores the canyons around Neck Spring:



There must be water here somewhere:



Eventually after a STEEP climb back up the canyon wall following only cairns, you are back on the mesa top for the hike back:



There were several of these water trough things that were used to collect water when the area was used for ranching:



The trail is only marked by cairns for much of the way over the slickrock:

 

All of these pics make me homesick, but in a good way!

 

Scenic Byway 12 starting in Torrey, UT, just west of Capitol Reef is a fantastic drive.

You make your way in and out of the Dixie NF, with nice view along the way:



You can see the Henry Mountains to the Southeast:



I stopped and ate at the Burr Trail Grill in Boulder, UT. It was tasty. Just south of Boulder is the start of Hell's Backbone road. It is a 38 mile unpaved road that connects the towns of Boulder and Escalante. Of course I had to drive it.

Eventually you reach the high point, and the Hell's Backbone bridge, which is at about 9200 feet.

For some reason I didn't take a photo of the bridge itself, but here's my truck:



This area overlooks the Box-Death Hollow Wilderness area. It is steep:

 

ZION! I started out in a big way, doing Angel's Landing on the first day. The lighting was...difficult for these pictures but oh well.

From the top, looking at the Big Bend toward the Narrows:



Another view at Big Bend and the Organ:



Are you scared yet?



Very unhappy with this one but it is the only one I have from Scout Lookout looking at Angel's Landing:



The start of the climb (remember, this is AFTER you've hiked up 1000 feet of elevation in the past 2 miles) :



Refrigerator Canyon on the way down:





Some of the approximately 213434647547452 switchbacks:



A view of Angel's Landing on the way back down:



The lower Emerald Pool:



Zion Canyon from Emerald Pools trail:



The walk-in entrance from Springdale with the Watchman in the background:

 

YES!

Tell meet you stopped and had a beer and a burger at Oscar's...

 

To get to Hidden Canyon, you actually have to do a steeper climb than the beginning of Angel's, but this one is only for a mile and 850 feet.

Oh hey, there's Angel's Landing and the Organ across the canyon:



Eventually you get to the exposed part. Not nearly as scary as Angel's:





Make your way around and you're now at the mouth of Hidden Canyon (see, it's kinda hidden!):



Head down the canyon a bit:



And have a nice look back:



There are many obstacles to cross, such as this log:



This tree:



This other log (after climbing through a hole under another tree):



And this big guy:



I went maybe halfway down. I would have gone further but had to turn around, because the Narrows were waiting for me!

 

The Narrows are an interesting beast. They aren't "hard", but they beat you up.

The start:



This I believe is the exit form Mystery Canyon, which is a canyoneering route. No one was rappelling down today:



As you make your way though you cross the Virgin River several times, and make your way across rocky sand banks:





This is at or near the junction of Orderville Canyon and the Narrows (the entrance to Orderville is just off screen to the right):




This is as far as I went, approximately 3 miles in. The Virgin rumbles it's way through Wall Street:

 

BONUS PHOTOS!

This is the exposed ridge of Angel's Landing taken from the shuttle bus:



I also did some space-time travel:





My tent, the MSR Hubba Hubba NX. It was absolutely fantastic:



The Glen Canyon Dam:



The Glen Canyon Dam Bridge:



Lake Powell:



Horseshoe Bend near Page, AZ:

 

I didn't. But I had plenty of beer haha.

 

That's the important thing!

 

I just realized that somehow some of my pictures aren't on Flickr. The ones from Grand View Point specifically. I will work on those when I get home.

 

A few last ones.

Canyonlands:

 

Also, here is the link to the full Flickr album with full res copies if anyone is interested!

https://flic.kr/s/aHskCUPX14

 

^^ Awesome shots. Those are definitely lung busting hikes!

 

Mesa Arch is one of my favorites, even if it is just right off the pavement!

 

hey Ive always seen the enamel camping cups floating around and cant seem to figure out why theyre so popular. can anyone fill me in on what im missing?

 

You must be younger than I am. Back "in the day", everyone who was anyone carried the Sierra Cup.

 

We always used these when I was a kid


And I still do, admittedly.

The only reason really is that it's light and durable and cheaper than titanium, lol.

 

Metal cups are nice but they sure do lose heat quick.

My go to camp mug

http://www.seatosummit.com/product/?item=Delta+Insul-Mug+&o1=0&o2=0&o3=305-21