Category: desert

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Edward Abbey – “I Loved it…I Loved it All”

Ned Judge:

An eight minute film essay that I co-produced and directed with Ed Abbey in 1985. …

We met in Moab and went out to Arches National Park to shoot some practice sessions with a home video camera. We would review them at the motel in the evening. After a day or two, Ed was feeling pretty comfortable on camera so we scheduled the shoot. We were all happy with the way it went.

But then we ran head-on into network reality. Roger Mudd, the show’s host, was extremely negative about putting an “eco-terrorist” on the show. … So this Abbey essay was put on the shelf and never aired.

Abbey died 3 years later in March 1989.

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.

Edward Paul Abbey (January 29, 1927 – March 14, 1989) was an American author and essayist noted for his advocacy of environmental issues, criticism of public land policies, and anarchist political views. His best-known works include the novel The Monkey Wrench Gang, which has been cited as an inspiration by radical environmental groups, and the non-fiction work Desert Solitaire. Writer Larry McMurtry referred to Abbey as the “Thoreau of the American West“. …

The story of his death and burial is … very Abbey.

Those two books are MUST READS for any serious outdoorsperson.

(via Rocky who calls Edward Abbey the Hunter Thompson of the environment)

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amazing time lapse video – desert

Hiking Lady:

… I was checking out the Sierra Trading Post blog, and stumbled up this breathtaking time lapse video of landscapes in Arizona and Utah. …

Be sure to click “Full Screen” in the lower right corner – it looks even more phenomenal!

Click PLAY or watch it on Vimeo.

Landscapes: Volume Two from Dustin Farrell.

Here’s volume 1 (VIDEO).

Crew West. (details)

I try to get to the S.W. USA for hiking at least once a year.

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Coyote Buttes – The Wave

Bill has a website dedicated to one of our best hikes in the world, The Wave on the Utah / Arizona border:

… There are two great photographic locations in Coyote Buttes North (The Wave and The Second Wave) and numerous minor ones including Top Rock Arch, Melody Arch and the Grotto, the Hooters, The Alcove, Sand Cove, and Fatali’s Boneyard.

The Wave is best photographed midday so as to minimize the extensive shadows, the other areas listed above are best photographed mid-late afternoon. …

Due to the fragile nature of this natural resource, it’s very difficult to get a hiking permit.

Bill’s site offers this advice:

… Your chances are better if you’re going alone, or in December – February. If you do not win the lottery I suggest you get one for Coyote Buttes South, or go to the White Pocket which is east of Coyote Buttes South.

I know of one person who was lost overnight in Coyote Buttes South, so use a GPS, mark the trailhead, and stay with your party. While a two wheel drive vehicle is adequate for the North Buttes, four wheel drive is required for the South due to deep sand. …

read more on TheWave.info

Bill adds this bit of news:

The upcoming 2012 Disney film “John Carter” was shot in the area across Wahweap Creek near the town of Bigwater. Other locations include Canyonlands and Factory Butte (near Capitol Reef). A 3D movie. The arid region will stand in for Mars.

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best hikes in Arizona

ArizonaHiking.org Weekend Warriors has a good, personalized list:

Best Easy Hikes
Best Medium difficulty hikes
Best Hard hikes
Best Fall leaf watching hikes
Best hikes for solitude
Best hikes for spectacular views
Best water hikes
etc.

See the full FULL LIST of hikes

Bright Angel Trail

See more interesting photos tagged “Arizona Hike” on flickr.

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Ringbolt hot springs, Vegas

trip report by besthike editor Rick McCharles

WOW. You can hike slickrock slot canyons. And be rewarded with natural hot springs only a few miles from the Hoover Dam.

I started late in the afternoon, running most of the 3mi to the river. As a result, I didn’t capture any decent photos.

But here’s the goal, a steel ladder leading you up to a series of clear hot springs, each hotter than the last.

Happily, Bird and Hike has detailed information & photos on hiking options … and an excellent map.

I took the regular route, in and out via White Rock Canyon.

… 3.25-mile hike (one way) to hot springs near the Colorado River. The route runs down a deep, narrow, geologically interesting canyon for 2.75 miles to the Colorado River, turns to run downstream for 0.5 miles to the next major canyon, then ascends that canyon for about 5 minutes to a 20-ft waterfall and a ladder.

… This hot spring sometimes is called Ringbolt Hot Springs, a reference to Ringbolt Rapids that lie just upstream from Hot Spring Canyon.

But the better option would be to loop in Hot Spring Canyon and out White Rock. Check Bird and Hike – Hot Spring Canyon Route

This hike is all good. It’s in the Lake Mead National Recreation Area, but no Park pass is required as trailhead parking is just outside the boundary.

Note: It can be difficult to find the hot springs. I was directed there by kids who had arrived by river, camping on a school trip.

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Sterling Pass / Vultee Arch, AZ

4.8mi return
1120ft elevation gain
Designated “Strenuous”, though only because of the elevation / altitude.
Park Pass required to park a vehicle

Of many good (better, in fact) alternatives out of Sedona, Arizona, I chose Sterling Pass … because it led to a natural Arch.

I’m a sucker for natural Arches.

That’s not me on the arch. It’s from this trip report:

From 89A, locate the rusty metal Sterling Pass #46 sign which marks the start of the trail. The well maintained trail climbs moderately to steeply up through a nicely forested area of pine, juniper and oak. As you continue up the canyon the path becomes steeper and climbs about 1000′ in a little over a mile to Sterling Pass. There are several use paths at the pass, stay straight on the trail that immediately begins descending down the other side. The path descends moderately to steeply through more forest, eventually leveling out somewhat to travel beside a small stream, which was flowing when I was here. Soon you’ll reach a trail junction and sign pointing back to the right for Vultee Arch (2.4 miles), the Sterling Trail continues straight another 1.6 miles to the Dry Creek Trailhead (the more popular and easy route to this point).

Todd’s Desert Hiking Guide

You are not allowed to climb the Arch. I didn’t.

Unless you are an Arch fanatic, I’d suggest hiking elsewhere on the slickrock. This route has a lot of elevation gain relative to the quality of the views. Here are a couple of pics I liked, though.

Sterling Pass does not have good parking. The exact trailhead is signed, but you’ll stumble along the highway for a while looking … unless you check with someone at Manzanita Campground across the highway.

In the end, I wished I’d done the far more popular Cathedral Rock Trail, instead.

Leave a comment if there’s a longer Sedona must hike scenic that I missed.