Escaping a Snow Storm in the Desert- Hayduke Trail Thru Hike 5

The Hayduke Trail is an 800 mile thru hike which spans from Arches National Park all the way west to Zion National Park, passing through some of the most remote areas in the entire country. Involving difficult rock scrambles, long water carries, challenging navigation, and some wild temperature swings. In this section leaving Hanksville we experience all of that! We get snowed on for two days in the Henry Mountains, have some very scary descents more akin to rock climbing, and as always... are loving every minute of it.

Hayduke Trail Gear List:
Shorts - http://tinyurl.com/ykdx7fwe
Hat - http://tinyurl.com/5bwua2cy
Shirt - https://amzn.to/4a9cRaU
Shoes - https://amzn.to/3wvKKnm
Watch - https://amzn.to/3mz7ePp

Backpack - http://tinyurl.com/ykhnu4fh
Pack Liner - http://tinyurl.com/2p8uvn7w
Quilt - https://tinyurl.com/yc2h5d54
Shelter - https://tinyurl.com/mv9f66r2
Foam Pad - http://tinyurl.com/3wn5zuh2
Ground Sheet - http://tinyurl.com/3yxhhbbn
Stakes - https://amzn.to/3TXTMTF

Rain Jacket - http://tinyurl.com/bdadk452
Fleece - http://tinyurl.com/4hxdpden
Beanie - http://tinyurl.com/3ynkyca3
Wind Pants - https://tinyurl.com/mtdxxztb
Socks - https://amzn.to/3DDlk73
Sunglasses - https://tinyurl.com/mrx785s6

Water Bladder - https://amzn.to/3V5zskj (Carrying 6L)
Water Filter - https://amzn.to/3UQXI9t
Spoon - https://amzn.to/3cA3mVG

Flashlight - http://tinyurl.com/5n6jkrmd
Battery - Ravpower PD Pioneer 20,000mah 60w
Charger - Ravpower PD Pioneer 30w 2-port
Camera - https://amzn.to/3wjb6sG
Lens - https://amzn.to/3IRQV8q
Microphone - https://amzn.to/4cBW6GY
Camera Clip - https://amzn.to/4cvIgpT
Watch Charger - https://amzn.to/3PJ5zm3

Bidet - https://tinyurl.com/5hav84xd
Toothbrush - https://amzn.to/3tkN4GY
Knife - https://amzn.to/3r3psb7
Trowel - https://amzn.to/3u6VIMr
Blister Tape - https://amzn.to/3qZ55f9
Chaffe Cream - https://amzn.to/3bNorNu
Wallet - http://tinyurl.com/3bbsup83

The Henry Mountains are a small volcanic range just outside of Hanksville Utah, and they were the last mountains in the United States to be explored, and to be ever put on a map! At least as far as the lower 48 states are concerned. It's a very remote area, with nothing around other than that tiny little town which only has a population of about 200.

We knew going into this section that the weather might be bad, but it looked to be forecasted that way for the next few days, and would have required far too many zeros to try and 'wait it out.' So instead we got snowed on for two days straight!

The descent off the mountains and down off tarantula mesa was difficult as well, but for the technicality and not the weather. The navigation to get to the right location where we would need to scramble down was hard to find, and then the rock climb as it turned out to be was quite difficult as well. Hanging ourselves off a ledge by our hands, dangling our feet below us to try and catch a flat spot far underneath us. Should we have fallen it could have easily turned into a thousand foot tumble down the steep sides of the mesa. All of this was made harder by the recent rain and snow, making the rocks incredibly slippery, and turning the sand into slick mud.

The hike from there wasn't straight forward, involving more weird navigational troubles, but it was at least not so technical anymore. We hiked up and down ridges, over the tops into washes and smaller canyons, all the way to Capitol Reef National Park. Our third National Park of this trip out of six total. (Arches, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Bryce Canyon, Grand Canyon, and Zion National Park)

This isn't your typical thru hike. Almost nothing here resembles what you would ever have to do on trails like the Pacific Crest Trail, Appalachian Trail, or Arizona Trail. Our Ultralight gear is more or less the same, with a couple additions, but beyond that and this is an alien landscape compared to typical thru hikes. This is what is more commonly called a route instead of a trail, an idea on a map where there are no markings out in the field, no organization providing information or maintenance, no anything. This is more similar to something like the Sierra High Route or the Grand Enchantment Trail. They may have trail in the name often times, but they are anything but.

Hiking Essentials Shirt! http://jupiterhikes.com/product/hikin...

THE BACKPACKING GEAR I USE:
http://www.jupiterhikes.com/gear/

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