Capitol Reef National Park

 Here we are at Joy and Bernie's Airbnb in central Utah. We just go back from dinner after hiking (where I had a Polygamy Porter, their motto being "Why only have one?"). Today we did 3 hikes. The first one was called Chimney Rock. it is a loop hike and we did it the opposite direction than everybody else. Had we done it counterclockwise we would have clearly seen a huge stand alone rock spire loosely looking like a chimney. Coming from a clockwise direction though, we came upon a large rock sitting on the the edge of a cliff and said (out loud with 2 other guys standing nearby) "oh, here it is" and proceeded to take pictures on front of it, only to find out (once we went further) that chimney rock is huge, easily identifiable and definitely not the rock we took pictures of. Those two guys are probably still laughing. 

Then we had to drive back to Joy and Bernie's because Charlene forgot her pack. Once we got back to the park, which by the way is a little different in that there is no entry gate as the highway just cuts through it, we headed to the Cassidy Arch Trailhead. Why is it called the Cassidy Arch? I am glad you asked. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid would hang out in the canyon's nooks and crannies (which there a tons of). It is a short way down another trail called the Great Wash (sometimes referred to as the Narrows). It 1.7 miles all up (670 feet). It is well worth it though as you get right above the arch (pictures to follow but again, nothing like being there). 

When we got down we decided to walk up the "Narrows" for a couple of miles. Essentially it is a narrow canyon with sheer cliffs 500 and 600 feet high. It's a flat dry riverbed at the bottom. All toll we walked about 10 miles today.

My Achilles tendons are aching and my right big toenail is starting to turn black which usually means it's going to fall off (but it is all worth it). Tomorrow is more Capitol Reef hikes them off to Bryce Canyon in the late afternoon. 

The sign reads, Chimney Rock Loop or Spring Canyon (which we took first causing us on the loop backwards)

The rock we think should be called Chimney Rock

The view opposite the rock that should be Chimney Rock

Here's the funny thing, now that I look through he pictures I just realized that I don't have a picture of the "real" Chimney Rock.

Heading up those cliffs to the Cassidy Arch

Self Explanatory

A look down at our car

Cassidy Arch (middle, top of red rock)

On top and behind Cassidy Arch

Charlene on top of Cassidy Arch

Beginning of the "Narrows"

Under a cliff in the Narrows

Looking up one of the cliffs in the Narrows

Stayed tuned for more adventures!