HDT 2022 Day 5, April 5, Tuesday Start S2 mile 43.7 dirt road in Canyonlands, just over BLM boundary End S3 mile 20 Butler Wash Miles walked: 23.1
I see footsteps at my remote campsite, so another HDT hiker also looked at the map and saw this tiny corner of BLM land where camping is allowed.
To make sure I am out of the Park by end of day, since I do not have a back-country permit, I wake up early and night-hike on dirt road, and enter Little Spring Canyon.
Along the park road is Big Spring Canyon Overlook and trailhead. This would be a good location for a food cache, but the park service does not allow caches on park land. But my pack is heavier today…
The HDT route uses the Confluence Loop Trail leaving from the overlook. It is pleasant to be on designed trail, marked with small cairns.
The trail is challenging, though, with some bouldering and climbing,.
Cyclone Canyon sounds difficult from the name, but is in reality a broad flat canyon, apparently a dry canyon with no drainage channel visible.
Butler Wash is not in the trail system, and eventually takes us out of the park. It starts off with difficult bouldering, and climbing around drop-offs.
Finally, after a mile or two, Butler becomes more level, sandy for a while, going past rock formations.
Butler narrows to a twisty windy wash, and I continue on it tomorrow, hoping for water sources.