Coyote Buttes North Day! The Wave!

With the permit in our pocket for two months, we’re off to the Wirepass Trailhead in the Paria Canyon-Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness area today. The weather forecast is not so sparkling, but a try has to be.

First to the Paria Canyon Ranger Station. There are already 70 people in the little house, all trying to get a permit for tomorrow. At first suspiciously and then slightly enviously looking at my pink permit they make room for me at the counter. The roads would be ok, no problem, the nice lady from the ranger office tells me. The question about the weather is easily waved away. This afternoon at the earliest. If it rains, take the 20-mile south road, which usually works….

So take the sandy road 8 miles to the parking lot. The road must not get wet, then it will not be possible to come back. The car looked like a pig before, but now there is the rest to it. I think we have to go through a car wash again before it goes back to Alamo.

At the trailhead we sign in the list and head for the wave. It is slightly cloudy, occasionally sunny – and warm! I should have left the jacket in the car.

Like many bloggers before, first wrong route taken. That costs in the end almost 2 hours and especially strength. Climbing uphill to find that behind an even higher hill waiting is not exciting. So back. New attempt – and – there is the trail start.

The path is strenuous. No trails or the like, but over stones, slopes and climbs. A lot of sand – and especially a lot of it in the shoes. The plan was to be at the Wave at about 10:30, but in the end it’s after 12:00. The time that was given away before is now missing, of course. In any case, before the afternoon (so about 15:00) back at the car. Once it starts to rain, it is already too late.

The Wave presents itself in the shade. Clouds cover the sun and so the colors can not really come into their own. Nevertheless – breathtaking. There is probably nothing like this again. Simply fantastic. A little sneaking around (the area is not big) and marvel. Then suddenly the clouds are gone. Wow! That is the hammer! The problem is that photos don’t really show it. You just have to see it.

The Wave

After about 1.5 hours in high gear back. The clouds are closing in again. At 15:00 o’clock the parking lot is reached. 12.5 kilometers are quite exhausting. Above all with the warmth and dryness. Otherwise not so my kind I have actually drunk three bottles of water.

GPX track from the parking lot, the initially wrong way, then to the Wave and back again.

 

Today nothing more happens. Hotel and eat something.

For tomorrow I have booked the Antelope Canyon with guided tour. 32$ cost 1.5 hours. Did not want to scramble around there alone. The weather is unfortunately unpredictable. The Flash Flood dead are still in the head. There it is probably safer with guide.

After that we go to the Grand Canyon. On the Weather Channel they announced Thunderstorms and also “unusual rain in the South-West”. Hopefully not like at Bryce Canyon.