09/22/04 Walking Kane Creek Road (About 7-8 miles round trip):
More wind and rain at Canyonlands so I moved 60 miles north to the Moab area. I'm camped in the Hurrah Pass Valley now. Today was cool but the sun was out.
The Kane Creek Road is a 4x4 road with tall, red sandstone cliffs on either side of a half mile wide valley, similar to the drive into the Needles section of Canyonlands. The walk isn't difficult and I moved along at a 3mph pace or so.
Near the end of the walk I crossed Kane Creek a couple of times and then the road disappears into and apparently follows Kane Creek. Not wanting to get my tootsies wet I turned back.
09/24/04 Hiking Hurrah Pass (About 8 miles round trip):
I'm camped near the Hurrah Pass & Kane Creek Junction. The road up to Hurrah Pass is as beautiful as any hike I'm likely to do so, having done it in the past, I decided to do it again today.
It's a couple of miles from where I'm camped to the base of the crest to Hurrah Pass. The whole time the crest and various formations are in view. From the base to the pass is another mile or so. This part follows switchbacks up the side of the crest, rising several hundred feet. The road is OK for 2WD and doesn't require much clearance. Beautiful views of the valley appeared as I ascended the pretty easy incline.
The pass is at 4800 feet and offers great views of the valley behind but even greater views of the valley in front. Many more formations below, then the big valley stretches out, then the cliffs and crest behind the potash works across the valley. The road starts back down at this point with wonderful formations forming a backdrop. I continued down the road for another half hour before the formations gave out and the road moved into the valley.
On the way back up half a dozen cyclists came barreling around a corner and nearly got me... but with my lightning quick reflexes and my overwhelming sense of survival I eluded them.
09/26/04 Hiking Hurrah Pass (About 8 miles round trip):
Tried to move to a camping spot I had my eye on but someone beat me to it so I'm back at Kane Creek Road for the weekend. I had planned on walking Hurrah Pass Road from that camping spot to the entrance but canceled that. Instead, back up to Hurrah Pass again. I could do this hike everyday and not get bored for quite some time. The only difference between today and the other day was 20+ 4WD's and ATV's passed me. I don't think they were all together but maybe they were. One right after another as if someone had lowered a starting flag and they were all off at once.
09/27/04 Hiking Amassa Back Trail (About 9-10 miles round trip):
Went into Moab to make a phone call this morning and stopped at the Amassa Back Trail parking area on the way back. The trailhead is 1/2 mile up Hurrah Pass Road. It dips down into a canyon and then back up again. Lots of burnt rubber on the many jagged shelves.
I hooked up with a couple of would-be cyclists and we walked about half way up the trail together. This is a moderate trail with great views from behind of towering canyon walls. 2/3 of the way up the Colorado River Valley appears with the same gorgeous red, sandstone cliffs in the distance as seen from Hurrah Pass. Here, however you get a close up, unobstructed view of the potash works across the river.
I got to the top in about 2.5 hours. Several cyclists passed me on the way up and I passed many more on the way down. No other hikers though. And then I started running into jeeps, hence all the burnt rubber on all the rugged areas of the trail.
10/02/04 Walking Kane Creek Road (About 7-8 miles round trip):
I had to go to the Denver area on personal business on Tuesday and got back Friday. I'm camped again in the Hurrah Pass Valley. I'm here for the weekend and did the Kane Creek Road once more. No 4WDs but about a dozen dirt bikes and ATVs.
10/03/04 Hiking Hurrah Pass (About 8 miles round trip):
I didn't want to move the van for fear of losing the camp site so just walked up and over Hurrah Pass again. Only saw a couple of cars, a couple of ATVs and a couple of bicycles.