Cliff returned to camp the way we had come, along a side route, but I wanted to continue hiking. So instead, I went straight down the canyon. This was both easier and more difficult. It was easier because there was no loose gravel or having to climb scary ledges. However, this was also the path that large torrents of water would run... creating high drop-offs which would become waterfalls. I had to be creative to get down a few of them!
(right) A large waterfall drop-off that I had to climb down
Juniper tree ... and berries
Another drop-off ... looking back up the canyon
From there, I walked a mile or so to the next, much larger canyon... Mee Canyon.
Hey! My little ghost buddy is suddenly back!
The spires mark the mouth of the canyon
The trail runs about 8 miles one way. I planned to just do a couple miles of it.
Some volcanic flow
Looking back for another angle of the spires
Pools of water were nestled among some rocks. I was hoping to find some minnows or water striders... but there were only dead insects.
It was so incredibly hot, so I left the trail whenever I had the chance to walk in some shade, such as along this dry riverbed.
