VIII
Woody Canyon

The first possibility that I checked out seemed unlikely from satellite images, but there were a couple of shadow spots that would have to be seen on foot to determine the prospects. It is often the case that you just can't be sure what is there until you arrive on the spot and look for yourself. In any case, this drainage was just a few miles from the road and made a fine hike in unknown territory, regardless of the results.

The first obstacle would be in finding my way through some convoluted country to the rim of the drainage. It turned out that the first spot I looked was a fine place to access the rim by way of a moderately steep fin of sandstone that put me just where I wanted to be. Better yet, when I topped out on the sandstone fin, I found myself looking across a beautiful bowl of domes, which had not seemed likely from down below. A short jaunt to the canyon rim revealed what appeared to be the final drop of the canyon into a pleasant looking alcove at the dead end of a box canyon The slot coming in from above, with walls between 60 and 120 feet in height, appeared to wend its way through a series of sandstone domes.

Navajo Domes

For a few moments I stood dumbstruck on top of the Navajo domes. It seemed too good to be true. Slowly, it dawned on me and I voiced the thought aloud. "I think I may have found something here." I proceeded to walk both rims of the slot and check for exits along its length. At the same time I would get as many glimpses of the canyon bottom as possible to determine the character of the slot.

The scouting of the slot was incredibly enjoyable in so many ways. The fulfillment of the quest, the realization of a goal, the excitement of discovery, and the anticipation of the descent all mixed together to form a contentment unrivaled in my experience. I spent a few hours looking from the rim, hiking to the head of the canyon, finding exits and delving into the sections which could be safely entered while alone. The canyon contained several sections of shallow narrows which had been sculpted into a long series of small potholes. Some potholes held water and looked as if they would require some interesting work to exit. I formed an idea of the obstacles that would be encountered and made a mental list of necessary gear for the descent. This time the scouting gave me information, bolstering my confidence rather than engendering fear. When we returned the next day, I felt confident that we could make our way through without being trapped.

The approach hike through the wonderland of domes was a delight and I could scarcely believe my good fortune. The canyon began with some sequencing down into the first sculpted pothole and would continue to require various creative anchoring and partner assists for the entire length. The descent itself was quite short but was very engaging in the variety of skills used. The joy with which I moved down the canyon far surpassed the despair I had felt while searching without success. In retrospect, I reaped far more reward than the puny effort I had expended. The searching was difficult and my disappointment great, but the payoff far out-weighed the expenditure of energy. My quest has been fulfilled and my desire to find something new has been rewarded. The wonder of the unknown is alive and well, and the search begins anew.

Woody Complete (photo: Nick Wilkes)