Hayduke Day 2 - Courthouse Washing

 

I re-enter Arches into upper, upper Courthouse Wash. No dirt road walking today, but a decent amount of sand. As I'm walking, an odd, dark-colored bird catches my eye. It seems to hover, but is still making progress. As it moves closer to me, it turns. It's a star shaped bird. It's not a bird, it's a friggin balloon! Before I can get my camera out, it has floated past. I've seen dead balloons in the backcountry before, but I've never seen one getting there. Please remember that releasing balloons is littering. 

My maps show an alternate coming up. The Slickrock Alt. I pop my head up to scope it out because usually straight lines on maps of the desert mean hiking over cryptobiotic soil. I don't like hiking on crypto. I'm happy to see that it is slickrock as far as the eye can see. Rolling slickrock. The views are nice, but they are amazing once you get to the top of the Great Wall route. The downclimbs on this route were pretty spicy. This is a section that having a partner would be helpful, but this was an area where I was glad I have done my fair share of downclimbs when I guided canyons around Zion. 

Once I hit the bridge over Courthouse Wash, I took a break in the shade. This is where I felt I wasn't staying as hydrated as I would prefer. Item added to town list: hydration kit for my Dromedary. Also on this list is maybe a new pair of pants as the zipper blew out on Day 1. Also on the list is maybe a new pair of underwear as the elastic isn't so hot anymore on this pair. 

Once I get moving again, I start to find Courthouse is filled with water. Signs of beavers start popping up everywhere. I had no idea there were beavers in Arches. I refill my water bottles from one of the ponds. The rest of the walk down canyon is pleasant. Feels like parts of the Escalante, but I am trying to avoid making comparisons to other areas on the trip. Trying to take each location on its own merit, even though those similarities are maybe from the same formations of rock, surface processes, or structural geology. 

 

Big beaver pond in Courthouse Wash

I hit Route 191 around 5pm. The wind was brutal all day. The place I was thinking of camping is inside the national park, so I needed to find accommodations at a campground. For the heck of it, I checked prices of hotels, and one was cheap and less than a mile away! Really roughing it on the Hayduke so far. On the other hand, the wind was brutal. I could feel it inside the building and the lights were flickering during some of the gusts. 

After I dropped my bag at the Aarchway Inn, I walked into town. Picked up new pants and underwear, a hydration kit for my Drom, a couple small carabiners for whatever. Dinner was a small package of cookie dough. 

The cab companies in Moab are pretty nonexistent. One of the perks of staying at the Aarchway is they have a shuttle service! Thank goodness because I did not really feel like walking all the way back. Also, yes, it is spelled Aarchway.