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Under The Rim Trail

Today I hiked on the Under the Rim trail from Bryce Point. Yeti dropped me off at the trail and walked in a short way until it started to go steeply down. It's so nice to walk on actual trail. From the rim, the trail enters a canyon so the terrain changes from the other parts of Bryce I'd hiked in so far. It is mostly forested with pine, shrubs, and sage. Sandy trail, but not the deep stuff. Compacted trail with a bit of sand on top. I descended several hundred feet into the canyon. You still can glimpse the rocky rim - the more typical scenery of Bryce.

Once down, for several miles it was easy going with little elevation change. The one water source at the Right Fork of the Yellow Creek was running, though I did not need water. After a snack break, the trail began the up and down pattern. On the first big up, I heard voices and shortly bumped into a group of three older ladies backpacking to Rainbow Point. They were taking a few days to get there, so doing fairly modest miles per day. SMART. I think they said they cached water.

Every now and then I'd get a look at some of the rim and the more dramatic rock shapes. Otherwise, canyon walking even with the ups and downs. I figured the final up would be steep as I had to regain the rim at Swamp Canyon. I saw a few other day hikers as I neared the turn off. I supposed they came down on the same trail I'd go up. I reached the connector trail and began my ascent to the rim. To my surprise it wasn't as steep as I had anticipated. And, more dramatic red rock formations on the way up. At one point, I glimpsed the parking lot and saw a couple of people, one of which I think was Yeti. But then the trail took a Zig and Zag and I lost sight of that. Soon I was up and glad to be taking a load off. It was 12 miles and quite a bit of climbing, so I was tired. We went back to our tent home and I got cleaned up.

My left foot was aching a bit where I'd had the metatarsal break, so I decided to take a break. I did not hike on Friday and will also take off Saturday, as we have to move from here back to Cannonville. The plan is for Yeti to bring me back to Swamp Canyon so I can hike to Rainbow Point on Sunday and complete my Bryce jaunt. It's great to have the flexibility to take these rest days. Trying hard to keep body and soul in good condition. Yeti met and helped out three more Hayduke hikers that he met in the General Store. He gave them a ride to the Fairyland Trail so they could hike the loop. So, we have now given help to 5 Haydukers. Hope to see Fairweather in Kanab...our schedules should mesh there.