HDT 2022 Day 2, April 2, Saturday
Start S1 mile 12 Willow Spring Wash
End S1 mile 34.7 Ledge A Campground on Kane Creek
Miles walked: 22.7
Willow Spring Wash has several large pools, too many to scramble around, so the only choice is to splash through.
The wash joins Courthouse Wash, a riparian area with thick tangles of willows. I see two fresh sets of footprints, likely HDT hikers.
At one point the water becomes very deep, too deep to wade, and a fallen tree provides the clue.
Beavers had created a dam, so I had to bypass, forcing through the willow thicket.
Courthouse Wash broadens. I take an alternate route, because the main route seems to stay in wash several more miles until exiting the park. I pass tall rock formations, near a park road with many visitors.
My route crosses the road, going cross-country briefly before crossing a vast slickrock region.
Eventually this alternate route descends steeply near the park entrance, too steep for me, so I cannot recommend this route.
Out of the park, a bridge crosses the Colorado River. Paddle-boards approach in the distance.
Entering Moab, flocks of e-bikes swarm sidewaks, so watch out. This is the busiest resort town I have ever encountered, and the noise after a couple of days in wilderness is jarring.
After hiking to the grocery for resupply, I find a food truck garden, which strikes me as a good choice for lunch.
Heading west from Moab, I roadwalk along the Colorado.
Samson the Bear stops by to chat. He will start the HDT tomorrow.
The road eventually leaves the Colorado and becomes dirt, winding up Kane Springs Canyon, and many trucks, ATVs, and dirt bikes pass by.
All camping in the Kane Creek BLM area is restricted to campgrounds, so I find an empty spot and pitch my tent.