ALL HIKERS

DAY 3: INDIAN HOLLOW TO SOWATS CANYON TO COTTONWOOD TREES

     Keith is going up Ojojojo Canyon this morning to meet Bob and the two are going out the way we came in.  I'm going down Indian Hollow until I meet the Redwall, walking it around to Kwagunt, going up Jumpup, and then making my way over to Mountain Sheep Spring in Sowats Canyon.

     There's only a little boulder hopping as I head down Indian Hollow.  The Redwall ledges appear in a couple hundred yards and I start walking on top those ledges instead of staying in the bed of Indian Hollow.  I remain substantially level on the Redwall ledges as I head to the west.

Indian Hollow
10-9-2012 @ 8:19
Redwall ledges
10-9-2012 @ 8:26
Redwall ledges
10-9-2012 @ 8:30

     Indian Hollow slowly gets deeper and deeper as I walk along.  About half-way to Jumpup Canyon the ledges quit and I begin walking on Esplanade-like terrain.  There are a couple of small drainages to get past and then I cut the corner as I approach Jumpup.

Looking down into Indian Hollow
10-9-2012 @ 8:44
Esplanade
10-9-2012 @ 9:09
Esplanade
10-9-2012 @ 9:09

     As I walk to the north, this portion of the Redwall remains level while the bed of Jumpup rises until they meet each other right at Kwagunt Hollow.  I decide to continue up Jumpup and then turn up Sowats Canyon.

Barrel Cactus
10-9-2012 @ 9:18
Kwagunt Hollow
10-9-2012 @ 9:33
Jumpup Canyon
10-9-2012 @ 9:33

     In a little while, I reach Sowats Canyon.  Water is flowing everywhere and a little care is needed to keep from getting your feet wet.

Sowats Canyon
10-9-2012 @ 10:14
Butterfly
10-9-2012 @ 10:22

     In another twenty minutes or so, I come to Mountain Sheep Spring.  There is a substantial amount of water flowing out of the rocks.  With this much water here in the fall, I highly suspect that the spring is perennial.

Water from Mountain Sheep spring
10-9-2012 @ 10:26
Mountain Sheep Spring
10-9-2012 @ 10:51
Mountain Sheep Spring
10-9-2012 @ 10:52

     I take a short nap and then have lunch.  Our original plan was to spend two nights here and do the loop hike just north of here.  Since I won't have either of my hiking buddies here with me, I think I'll just continue back to the cottonwood trees for the night.  The climb out of Sowats Canyon is a lot steeper than it looks.

Rest break near the spring
10-9-2012 @ 12:40
Part way up the climb
10-9-2012 @ 1:20
Part way up the climb
10-9-2012 @ 1:20

     As I make my way across the Esplanade, I come to a couple of drainages you have to cross that I had forgotten about.  I had also forgotten about this trail sign in the middle of nowhere.

Small drainage
10-9-2012 @ 2:20
Trail sign
10-9-2012 @ 2:42
Point close to cottonwood trees
10-9-2012 @ 2:57

     The cottonwood trees are a welcome sight.  No one else is here, so it looks like I'll get one of the few spots where you can set up a tent.  Another little nap is now in order.

   
  Camp at the cottonwood trees
10-9-2012 @ 3:47
 

     Keith and Bob arrive in an hour or so.  Bob is feeling a little better, but nowhere near one hundred percent.  I'm going to get up early tomorrow morning, hike out, and have breakfast at the Jacob Lake Inn.  Keith and Bob are headed to the North Rim for some sightseeing.

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