HDT 2022 Day 33, May 3, Tuesday
Start along Tapeats Creek S13 mile 36.7
End Fishtail Canyon S13 mile 45.1
Miles walked: 8.4 !
Overnight I pondered on the Tapeats situation, and ended up concluding that looking for a high route would not work, and that I was capable of safely crossing the creek multiple times if the crossing locations were carefully selected.
Returning to the water, I discovered a user trail, with a group consensus on where to cross. Eight crossings later, I finished Tapeats where the flow from Thunder River joins the creek.
Climbing up the Thunder River Trail, the impressive spring that supplies the short river and falls comes into view, a hole in the rock face where an impressive quantity of water flows.
Continuing on pack trail we pass through Surprise Valley. The surprise, to me, is that a valley formed in these parts that is not a deep canyon.
The route brings us to Deer Spring, a pleasant area with shad and a creek.
The creek carves a narrows that goes quite deep, while we stay up on a narrow ledge, following. Often the channel is so deep that I cannot see the water as I peer over the ledge.
Deer Creek plunges into the Colorado River as a falls. Hey, the Colorado again– it has been a while.
Rafters are at Deer Creek Campground, and several pass me on a day hike.
I start an eight mile trek on the slopes above the river, passed by rafters and kayakers below. Sometimes I find user trail to help, but the way is narrow and slippery with loose rock, so it is hard to make any speed. Often we are way up high, to avoid a cliff face.
I have to stop early at Fishtail Landing, only halfway done with the Colorado. Ahead is a 4 mile long boulder field widely described as “tedious“, likely with no good place to camp. And I have a shoe to repair again.
I really did not make many miles today, and tomorrow is going to start the same.