Utahhh...

I've been beyond the Zion Curtain now for over two weeks. The natural wonders of the Beehive State are simply mind-boggling. There's five National Parks, seven National Monuments and two National Recreation Areas. A whopping 56% of Utah is public domain. I'm not leaving because of lack of sights to see. There's another unstable weather system bearing down around these parts. I'll head east to brewpub/sports bar friendlier Colorado. Visitors do not come to Utah for the staid night life. I've caught up on my sleep for awhile. 

The state of Utah knows it has a good thing going. Tourism is a blockbuster money maker here. They advertise their product on a worldwide scale. Hanging around at scenic overlooks can be like listening to a modern day "Tower of Babel." Without the influx of outside dollars, many communities would revert back to the good old days. In other words, the predominantly Mormon communities of Springdale, Escalante and Torrey would be be all about farming, ranching and procreating. I think there's still plenty of the latter going on. 

So why would Utah's state representatives want the Federal Government to hand back 20 million acres to the state? Could they do a better job of managing with a more limited budget? I think not. Besides, it makes no sense to buy the cow when the milk is free. Federal land ownership is not perfect, but better than the alternative. 

That's my Bud Light's beer worth of politics for the evening. 

Scary Gulches etc...

That come with appropriately fearful names. They are Peek-a-boo and Spooky. Two short slot canyons that took me by surprise. I've heard about these Bad Boys but I knew next to nothing about them. I wasn't even sure where they were along the Hole-in-the-Rock road. I sort of fell into them. 

I've been in tight canyons before like Little Wild Horse north of here. That canyon was Alaskan sized compared to these two. I slithered through sideways praying there would be no obese people literally stuck in front of me. I regretted eating the ice cream bar the night before. I called ahead to make sure no one was coming my way. There wasn't enough room to turn around in. The sandstone walls were intimately close. So intimate, I thought I would light up a cigarette when the wrestling match was over. It was wild and not for the claustrophobic. 

I'm now making my way east through Canyon Country. Tonight I'm rough camping with Barley the Van along Deer Creek on the Burr Trail Road. The stream should be called Mosquito Creek. It's not even dark and the loathsome insects chased me inside. I'll leave early tomorrow before they get caffeinated and hungry. I've donated enough blood already. 

From the bony photo, you can see it didn't take long for me to start living off the land. Those "Slow Elk" are so easy to hunt. Jerry from Kanab taught me well.

http://jeffsambur.blogspot.ae/2015/04/being-polite-and-smile.html

Final photo: Spring is in the air! I'm sure I heard the male frog ask the she frog, "Where have you been all my life?" It was an Animal Planet moment. 

Enjoy! (That goes for you hackers in the Ukraine, China and the UAR too!)

Why Box-Death Hollow?

For the name of a Wilderness Area? Well fans, (all twenty of you including hackers) I'm glad you asked. 

Death Hollow scored the scary moniker for all the livestock who plunged to their untimely demises while attempting to cross this sharply angled canyon. In other words, it's crazy steep. There's no mention of any salvage operations for the pulverized burgers or mutton. I guess the fresh protein was a treat for the local cougar. 

I chose the much mellower Box Canyon for today's wanderings. This big view canyon was formed by Pine Creek's constant liquid flow. I even saw fish in the waterway.  In fact, the only other creatures I sighted in 4.5 hours was a few frisky squirrels, some flittering birds and a scattering of lizards. There were no other humans around in this part of Utah. Now, that's a wilderness experience!

I'm kind of falling in love with the Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument. Isn't there anyone out there who might be interested in a fall backpack trip here? You hackers are invited too! The autumn colors would be beyond awesome. Probably bordering on tubular, Dude. 

The slot canyons are calling...