Trip Report: Day Hikes around St. George Utah - Part 2
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Day Hikes around St. George Utah - Part 2 By Phyllis* Anderson |
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| HIKE | 10/16/2024 | MOD |
| Day Hikes in Southern Utah - Oct. 16-21, 2024 - Part 2 By Phyllis Anderson On Sat., Oct. 19, Bruce Christenson, Jim Kucera, Hong Duong, and I did two fun hikes. In the morning, we drove to The Vortex, near Gunlock. It is basically a big hole in the middle of slick rock with a nice trail of 2.16 miles RT and 524' of elevation. Being a nice Saturday, we had a lot of company, but wind was the issue. It was perhaps the strongest wind I have ever encountered on a hike, and that is saying something. I literally crawled to the edge of The Vortex to take a picture because I could not stand up. On the way back, we found a sheltered area to enjoy lunch before climbing back into the car so Bruce could direct us to The Maze, also near Gunlock. The Maze trail is about a 3-mile loop with a gain of 419'. One winds through a bunch of little canyons in route to the top. Bruce said there were several routes back, but he preferred what he called "the crack". The crack and beyond involved a few moves that challenged Bruce and me to try to recapture our youthful climbing days. It was great fun and Hong and Jim are to be commended for their patience and encouragement. The next morning, the four of us checked out Shinob Kibe, a mesa near St. George that was a sacred place to Paiute Indians. In the 1930s, the Civil Aviation Authority constructed a huge concrete arrow on top to guide airplanes on mail routes from Los Angeles to Salt Lake City. The arrow is still there and it is a good trail with nice views on top. After lunch, Jim, Hong, and I headed for Yant Flats near Leeds. I discovered that there is a new parking area and trail since I was last there, and it threw me as nothing was familiar. The new trail is nice, but about 1.5 miles long, ending at a different part of the "Color Bowls" than I was expecting, and we could have used more time to explore. But the formations and color swirls were magnificent as always. Thanks again to Bruce for being the perfect host. Photo Album #1 https://photos.app.goo.gl/y41RLzdQbwseyAJf6 Photo Album #2 https://photos.app.goo.gl/ibvtwZkBddC1i2r66 Photo Album #3 https://photos.app.goo.gl/vdhsft1HMgYquFyZ9 |
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