The Cohab Trail–The Rest of the Story

Sunday August 31, 2014
Fruita Campground
Capitol Reef National Park
Torrey, Utah

 

 

 

 

When we left our dynamic duo yesterday they had gotten themselves squeezed into a slot canyon.   If you did not see the beginning of this adventure and would like to, you can read it HERE.

Of course you know they made it out, otherwise you wouldn’t be reading this and couldn’t see the end of this fabulous hike.  But here’s how it went for David.  He started out inside.  Just SO COOL!

 

 

 

 

 

 

And then he walked down the narrow passage, and then the passage got narrower  ………….

Even skinny hips won’t fit through this way.  What do I do with my feet?

 

                 How about this way?

 

 

   Now let’s see, if we push back this way and move this knee.  But then what does the foot stand on??

 

I know I can do this.  I got in here.

 

         Got the foot almost down but am I stuck???

 

Nope!

 

 

 

 

Now wasn’t that fun????

I actually had an easier time getting out than David who had an easier time getting in than I.  I waited and took these pictures of him coming out and yes I did laugh.

 

We head back out onto the trail.  What a great time getting in and out.

 

 

 

 

 

A little bit of information about Cohab Canyon that I should have mentioned yesterday.  It’s a hidden canyon.  You can’t see it at all from the campground, just a little notch in the towering orange cliffs.  Legend has it that Mormon Polygamists or Cohabs took refuge in this hidden canyon when pursued by US Marshalls in the 1880’s after Federal Law made polygamy illegal.   Boy if I had been them, I wouldn’t have come out of this beautiful place. 

The Cohab Canyon hike continues to be amazing.  The trail is amazing, the colors are amazing, the formations are amazing.  Well you get the idea that we are really really enjoying this hike.

 

 

 

 

Giant footprints coming up and down?

 

 

 

Hmmm  a stiletto heel?

 

 

Have we found another slot?

 

 

Not a slot canyon but a dead end room complete with a small pool behind a tree.  You really have to look carefully not to miss anything.

 

 

 

Along the trail are such marvels that it seems we must be in some other world.

 

 

 

Looks like an inner ear to me. 

 

 

 

These prickly pear cactus are growing down the side and out into the air but what is that bright green ball??

 

 

 

 

The trail continues to show us marvel after marvel.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our only wildlife sighting of the day.

 

 

 

We come to two Fruita overlooks that add 1.2 miles to the hike.  We decide to take a look.   The climb up to the overlooks is quite steep and after having done it near the end of the hike, I’m not sure I’d recommend it. 

 

 

We bypass the longer spur to the south.  The North Overlook is a panorama with a view of the road and the Fremont River.   The wind picks up as we are at the overlook and nearly rips my hat off my head even though it has tie under my neck. 

 

 

 

 

We turn back to take the South View spur where we hope the wind will be much less.

 

 

On the way to the view the trail goes right through this wonderful red rock amphitheater.

 

 

 

 

 

We hike down to the main trail where I give a nice warm rock a hug. 

 

 

We get a good look at the Capitol Dome, part of the reason for the name of the park.  But it doesn’t’ really look like the National Capitol dome to me.  I guess it is white and it’s a dome.

 

 

 

 

 

 

I cannot get over how the fallen debris is so beautiful.  Nature has no trash; every shade of pink, red, yellow, tan.

 

 

 

 

How did these round rocks get there?   Did the large piece fall onto them?   How did they come to be on the top of the bottom rock?  How did they come to be rounded?   It’s just such a wonder.

 

 

 

 

The hike is billed as one for which you need a “shuttle” but our plan is to follow the river back. We walk down the road to one of the orchards and back through the picnic grounds to the campground.   It adds another 2 miles to the trip.

 

 

On the way we stop for a short visit at the Pictographs with the vow to come back when we are less tired.

 

 

 

 

 

As we walk the last bit along the edge of the Freemont River, Winnona is a welcome sight after this most fabulous hike. 

 

 

 

Because of David’s test results, tomorrow will be our last day here in Capitol Reef.  We’ll be hiking in the Grand Wash.  We had planned 10 days in this magnificent park but are grateful for the 5 we’ve had.