{"id":16617,"date":"2022-09-05T02:41:49","date_gmt":"2022-09-05T09:41:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/?p=16617"},"modified":"2022-09-10T04:37:37","modified_gmt":"2022-09-10T11:37:37","slug":"into-canyonlands-finally","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mywalkabout.net\/?p=16617","title":{"rendered":"into Canyonlands…finally."},"content":{"rendered":"\n

It was hard to believe<\/strong> that I had never been here before, with the many times I had been to Dead Horse Point. Such is the way life goes though, if you go just behind your normal routine, one may discover a side of yourself that was previously unknown.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I’d just left the family<\/strong> after Christmas (2021) and was looking forward to time alone in the desert. The sun has yet to rise as I pass the National Park entrance to the Island to the Sky section of Canyonlands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

The outside temperature at the entrance <\/strong>was below freezing, no doubt about it. The place is nearly desolate this early in the morning, except for a lone crow circling overhead, as they usually do when I am out here alone. Still making up my mind if it is Death watching me, or my protector is these beautiful, unforgiving lands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The 100 mile White Rim road entrance<\/strong> is closed due to ice & snow. Driving it was my original plan, but hiking works well as a back-up option. The crow silently flies overhead as I walk out onto a stone precipice and see a partial view of White Rim road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I find a path<\/strong> leading to a trail on the other side of White Rim. The crows seems to be flying in that direction, so I follow heed. It is only the two of us as I descend into the canyon, feeling the way two young lovers would exploring the depths of the other.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miles later I emerge back on to the top of the mesa. I saw no other soul my entire time on the trail. It is this kind of solitary freedom that I always search for. Sometimes shocking it is along the way, but I seems to come out better in the end because of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I see the classic view of White Rim on the last section of the trail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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It was all I needed<\/strong> for my first day here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More actually, to which I am always grateful.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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