Day 10: In the morning we decided to head back to Bryce Canyon NP but not to the steep grades. We went back just a bit to take in the Mossy Cave Trail, one of the lowest elevation hikes in the park. On our way up Water Canyon, we were able to take a short side trip to a waterfall. Water flows seasonally through Water Canyon because of an irrigation ditch dug by local pioneers of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the 1890s. We continued on to view the moss in Mossy Cave, is a grotto that was formed by an underground spring.
Then we stopped in to a visitor center in Tropic to find out what road conditions were given that we had some brake issues and we had initially planned to do some off-road adventures for the area. Super glad we stopped because a couple of the ones we wanted to do were not drivable for us at that time. We hit the doable dirt road to Grosvinor Arch which is in an open range for cattle so we said our hellos. It was a double arch and pretty impressive. It was here that we ran into two young women that were out having fun too. We told them what we were doing next and they decided go for it so off they went.
When we arrived at Cottonwood Narrows North Trailhead we became confused when it was not well marked and other returning hikers reported inaccurate information because they, too, were on wrong paths. In the end we ended up unknowingly going the wrong way (north instead of south) and having a blast doing it.
It was our first time in a good slot canyon and it was awesome. Beautiful wildflowers here and there. We had hiked some time when we heard voices--they had heard us first--it was the two ladies who, unknowingly were also on the wrong trail. We sat in a bit of shade with them and snacked, learned a little bit about each other, and had some good laughs. We took pictures for each other and then they decided they were going to head back.
We were nearly to the half-way point for this loop trail so we decided to continue on. Further along we came upon a bit of a obstacle which involved some teamwork and a bit of risk, which was welcomed. We continued on where things opened up a bit more and winded eventually away from (west) the correct direction to the road (east) that we'd be walking back to our car. Hmm. So then we checked our distance and decided that we were a bit past the distance to what should have been the South Trailhead that would have put us out on the road and we were indeed going the wrong way and had been the entire time. We began our return, watched our water intake, used that good old fashioned teamwork to get over the same obstacle, and took in the afternoon sun on our way back. We stopped any hikers heading that way to let them know it was not the right way. They continued on as it was still lovely to explore. It was a bit unnerving but we had a great time all the same, and it wasn't going to be our only time in a slot canyon.
Upon returning to the car we literally poured sand out of our shoes, grabbed water and snacks, and hopped in. That is when we noticed a sweet, penned note attached to or windshield. The women had said what a joy it was to have met us and that they wished us well in our future travels, hoping they'd run into us again since we were going to be enjoying some of the same areas. We didn't see them again, but their kindness lifted our hearts.
We made our way into Escalante, UT and because it was Memorial Day, we spent over an hour to get what was, thankfully, delicious pizza. We made plans to have the tires and brakes looked at in the morning.
Day 11: Neal let us sleep in late and took the van in. It turned out the tires were still good and new and the brakes rotors were warped but that finishing the trip with them was doable. Because it would take an extra day to get the parts there and a chunk of that day to install them, we decided to take it easy on the brakes and continue our trip.
We spent the day in Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument and played in Devil's Garden. It ha lots of great hoodoos and arches to explore up close. Sophie and I had a Lion King moment. Thankfully she jumped because my back wasn't going to perform.
Then we to scenic highway 12 out to Singing Canyon which we were told was a slot canyon but turns out it's more like a crevice. Nice but not that impressive. However I did get some fun pictures of the kids climbing around.
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