Boondocking
The gang arranged for us to hike Little Horse Slot Canyon for my actual birthday today. It's an 8+ mile hike. You hike up one side of the mountain through Little Horse Slot and take a dirt road that connects to the other side which is Bell Slot Canyon. I promise, the pictures are amazing!
You start out walking up an open wash then quickly come to the split. We're glad we chose Little Horse first. It was more impressive so if you can only do one, I'd suggest Little Horse.
This hike was just down the dirt road from where we were boondocking.
The colors throughout the slots change dramatically depending on where you are and the time of day. The sun can wash out some of the color, but if you can get into the shade you can catch some more intense colors. Some were more grays/blues/purples and other parts were brighter orange, reds and pinks.
We also played around with the settings on our phones, but it was too much work.
The slots were very long. Sometimes they were wider in parts and you were walking mostly in loose pebbles and sometimes it was much more narrow. The pebbles actually made it more difficult to hike in. Like walking in sand. Most of the hike was flat with the exception of some spots where a little bouldering was required.
In some spots the walls were smooth and colorful and in some there were holes were long ago oceans swirled about.
The colors were spectacular!
Steve going through part of the slot canyon.
Cori!
Most areas you just hiked, but some you had to crawl through openings.
Some were very tight!
Some you had to duck and hike under.
This section snaked and swirled around.
Most of the time you are concentrating on your footing but you have to remember to look up. The beauty of these slots is all around you.
Just loved the crazy shapes.
This section reminded me of walking through a dinosaur skeleton.
Doesn't even look real, does it?
The Swiss Cheese Wall.
I always find hearts when I'm hiking.
We've left Little Horse Canyon and are now connecting to Bell Canyon on the other side.
The portion of the off-road connecting the two was a bit uphill and much warmer!
There were some of the most amazing colors here though.
Another heart worn into an old piece of wood that must've washed down the slot from who knows where.
Steve, Greg, Cori, Lee and Trace.
We carefully walked along this wall to get past the large boulder Trace is standing on.
It's much bigger when you're up close! Now you can see why we didn't jump down. There was no way to climb down either. It was too smooth.
Sometimes it was a graceful slide, other times not. There was a little butt scooting too!
Lee had a little slip coming down a previous rock. It happens. Well, this time he was prepared!
If you want to see his previous mishap, go to their blog to see it HERE.
Getting closer to the start. Bell side seemed longer and it was more open. As the day went on the clouds cleared and it warmed up.
And here we are. Almost out of the stream bed and back to the cars.
This is my favorite all time slot canyon!
What a great birthday!
Beautiful! Perfect birthday!
ReplyDeleteIt really was!
DeleteSo glad we got to experience it with you and it was nice seeing your pictures!
ReplyDeleteThanks again for all you guys did!
DeletePerfect way to spend a birthday!! Love the slot canyon hikes, added this one to the list.
ReplyDeleteSure was the most fun!
DeleteAbsolutely amazing!!! Looks like you had a fabulous birthday!
ReplyDeleteI sure did!
DeleteSlot canyons and their formations are so fascinating. Looks like you almost had to lube Steve up to get his through that one tight spot!
ReplyDeleteThey were so long and that made them so fun! Def was some skinny parts!
DeleteOMG you aren't kidding the photos are amazing!! That one wall looks like crypts and many of those slots looks like they're flowing as you hike through them - incredible.
ReplyDeleteYes, some of the walls looked like they were melting into the ground!
DeletePromise kept on the photos, Debbie! Wild Horse did not disappoint!
ReplyDeleteThanks Jim. Great hike!
DeleteWOW!! I bet it was hard to narrow down the photos as they're all spectacular :-) Such a great way to spend your birthday too!
ReplyDeleteIt was hard to decide. I don't like to make the posts too long, but it was just a fascinating hike!
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