ALL HIKERS

DAY 2: DAY HIKE UP INDIAN HOLLOW

     Keith is going back up Ojojojo Canyon this morning to help Bob, so it looks like I'll be on my own trying again to get to Racetrack Knoll.  After breakfast, we say goodbye and each head our separate way.  My plan is to hike about 1.6 miles up Indian Hollow to a side drainage, take that to the top, walk over to Racetrack Knoll, and climb to the top of it.

     The going up the bed of Indian Hollow is initially pretty easy with only some minor boulder hopping.

   
  Indian Hollow
10-8-2012 @ 8:20
 

     I come to a series of slightly more challenging obstacles pictured below, but pass those with no problem.  I then reach a large pour-off that is not pictured with no obvious easy way past it.  I decide to go up the right side, which requires some serious bush-whacking and climbing.  After about ten minutes, I finally get to the other side.  Maybe I'll get lucky and find a better route past this on my return.  When I am nearly to the place in Indian Hollow where I will exit up a side drainage, the walls of the canyon narrow to about four feet wide and the entire area is filled with water.  I am not about to take off my boots and wade through that.  No telling how deep it is.  I back-track a little and see a way that I can climb up and maybe get past the water.  The rock sides on the way up are slanted at about forty-five degrees, so the climb up this is is not a pleasant experience as a fall here would be serious.  I reach the top, find a trail, and follow it to the other side of the water hazard. 

A minor obstacle
10-8-2012 @ 8:29
Water pool
10-8-2012 @ 8:30
Another water pool
10-8-2012 @ 8:35

     It has taken me a lot longer to get here than I thought it would.  Of course, I didn't expect to have the obstacles I encountered.  I take a break and have some snacks while I ponder what my next course of action will be.

Near the exit of Indian Hollow
10-8-2012 @ 9:35
Near the exit of Indian Hollow
10-8-2012 @ 9:35

     Below is the side drainage that leads to the top.  I calculate the elevation gain to the top of the side drainage is 600', it is about a mile over to Racetrack Knoll, and then another 400' of elevation gain to the top of it.  It also looks like I have some more pour-offs to get past in this side drainage.  Out of an abundance of caution, I decide that I should have had an earlier start and having someone with me would be prudent, so I abort my attempt to reach Racetrack Knoll and start back to camp.  I pass all the previous obstacles with few problems.

   
  Side drainage to the top
10-8-2012 @ 9:35
 

     As I am lounging around camp, a group of nine students and one instructor from Northern Arizona University come through as part of some Adventure Leadership class.  We chat a while and then they head up Ojojojo Canyon. 

     Later this afternoon Keith comes into camp carrying my old tent that got swept away two years ago when a huge thunderstorm caused a flash flood when I was solo in Ojojojo Canyon.  I was lucky to escape that event with only some lost gear.

   
  My old tent
10-8-2012 @ 5:02
 

     Keith reports that Bob is still sick and is remaining in Ojojojo Canyon one more night.  Tomorrow Keith plans to go up Ojojojo and help Bob get out while I walk down Indian Hollow and around to Sowats Canyon.  I'm still hoping to complete that loop hike north of Mountain Sheep Spring.

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