ADAM HAYDOCK

CAMELTOE CANYON

February 22, 2016

Cameltoe Canyon. Moab, Utah

After U-Turn canyon I headed over to Wall Street and drove up to the corona arch trailhead to visit Cameltoe canyon. I did not have much beta on this route other than a few way points on a GPS and some previous understanding that there are just a few drops and some hiking involved.

Cameltoe Canyon. Moab, Utah

I hiked past the petroglyphs but unfortunately they have been destroyed by graffiti which was really unfortunate to see. The large rock just past the train track is on BLM land but it appears that it did not help hide this ancient Indian artifact.

Cameltoe Canyon. Moab, Utah

Continuing on past this rock art was a large canyon that had some nice tarnished walls in the distance but the canyon below had some distance to cover as I meandered around the bend and ended up getting a bit disoriented and my vague waypoint took me to sections of canyon that required me to climb over ridges a few times and I ended up wasting time crawling around the desert for a bit until I found the entry point into camel toe canyon. The canyon itself appeared to be a bit un interesting in my opinion and the walls were not what I thought it would be.

Cameltoe Canyon. Moab, Utah

Eventually, I made it to the cameltoe which consists of a 15-20ft slot canyon in length to a pool of water that goes to a 50-60 foot waterfall. This was the only mildy interesting section of the canyon. There was another dry fall that can be a walk around or the choice to rap can also happen.

Cameltoe Canyon. Moab, Utah

Every canyon has it own interesting aspects but I did not connect with this one and the most interesting thing about this canyon IMO, is its name. I can see how this canyon will be interesting to people that will like to go for a hike in the desert and rap down a trickling fall or have not been in a canyon before.

Cameltoe Canyon. Moab, Utah

I would give this canyon a 3AII with mild effort and low reward but others might find this hike in the desert the preferred canyon.

Cameltoe Canyon. Moab, Utah

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U-TURN CANYON

February 22, 2016

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TOOTHBRUSH CAVE

January 31, 2016

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BOOMERANG CAVE

January 23, 2016

Adam Haydock in Boomerang Cave, Utah

Utah has some amazing mountain ranges that are famous for climbing, hiking, and general outdoor enjoyment but in some sections of Utah, there are mountains that are made up of some excellent limestone layers that allow some of the deepest caves in the United States to form and some of these caves rival my beautiful TAG region.

over three feet of snow at the top of the cave in Boomerang Cave, Utah

The cave systems here appear to be pretty interesting and I am looking forward to checking out more of them in them in the near future.

Adam Haydock looking up in Boomerang Cave, Utah

I met up with Peter Hartley at his place around 7 AM so we can get an early start on the 4 foot sugar powder hike and so we can make the 2 hour drive to Logan Utah in good time.

Peter Hartley at the top of the last drop in Boomerang Cave, Utah

The car ride was fantastic as we got to chat about future projects and other caving activities that have been happening. It was quite the charm to consider all of the cave opportunities and find out where the best coffee shop is in Logan, that going to come in handy!

calcified bones in Boomerang Cave, Utah

We started up the road that will take us to the cave and along the way Peter notated the strata layers and all of the limestone in the area that has created these cave systems. It appears that the quartzite layer is a contact zone where caves develop above and below which can lead to Mississippian, Devonian, and other strata layers.

Peter Hartley ascending from the last drop in Boomerang Cave, Utah

After stopping at a few spring resurgences, we made it to the parking lot where we have to hike up to the cave. It was in the single digits, the snow was crunchy and the air was the kind of dry crisp that almost makes you cough.

Peter Hartley climbing the second climb in Boomerang Cave, Utah

Now being a caver in the Midwest and central America, I have had my fair share of cold days caving but I never had to bring a avalanche beacon, shovel, poles, and snowshoes...welcome to winter alpine caving in Utah.

Peter Hartley in Boomerang Cave, Utah

The "trail" up to the cave consisted of a random backcountry skiers ski tracks which was actually a help as it packed down some of the snow but it was still a march up the wash in 3 to 4 feet of fresh powder. Snowshoes were a must but they even would drop into and under tree branches that would get us stuck right in our tracks. The cave itself was not that far from the road but the hike in the snow made it bit of a huffer.

Snow falling from the lip in Boomerang Cave, Utah

half way up the trail I realized we were walking on top of some of the smaller trees that would otherwise be eye height in the summer time. One foot after another, we work our way to the entrance of the cave...woohoo!! made it.

Peter Hartley climbing out of Boomerang Cave, Utah

The cave has a 150ft entrance pit with a snow cone at the bottom which is basically snow that fell in and is kept refrigerated for most of the year. Than there is a 30ft climb, another 80ft., drop another 30ft climb, and another 100ft drop to the bottom of the cave. We dropped into the cave and it was around 40 degrees but dry at the bottom. It was just a couple hour trip in the cave but a nice introduction to Utah caving. As I was climbing up, my locking device on my ascender broker so I had to ride my QAS above just to make sure I had point of contact.

Boomerang Cave, Utah

FLICKR: https://www.flickr.com/photos/exploration-worldwide/albums/72157663639167102

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ALAKAI SWAMP TRAIL CLOUD FOREST

January 08, 2016

Alakai Swamp trail, Kauai Hawaii

After connecting to the Alakai Swamp trail from the Pihea trail I went into the swampland to catch a glimpse of the plants that this 4500ft bog had.

Drosera anglica sundew or miki nalo Alakai Swamp trail, Kauai Hawaii

The trail looked pretty similar to the Pihea trail with its green arboretum aesthetic, until it broke out into a swampy marsh with some very interesting plant life growing amongst the grassy patches surrounded by water. The tips of the grass appeared to be black and if you look at the ground, you can find the rare drosera anglica bug eater plant!