Day 3

October 23, 2019

Lower Jumpup Spring to Esplanade Camp on Ranger Trail


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Today's Route Stats:

   Distance:  6.5 miles

   Elevation Gain:  400  feet

   Elevation Loss:  300 feet

Except for one small shortcut, we would be on the Ranger Trail all day.  Our destination was a really nice camp on the Esplanade where I have found pothole water the previous four times I had camped there.  But because of the extreme dry conditions, we were expecting the potholes to be dry.  So each of us started out carrying about 6 liters of water.  

 
Esplanade Along Ranger Trail. Esplanade Along Ranger Trail. Nearly Dry Potholes Near Camp.

 

We left camp in two groups.  Because of a communication mix-up, Jay ended up hiking past us for quite a ways.  We waited for him for half an hour before he returned.  So the shortcut didn't save us any time. 

The Ranger Trail is well-marked and very easy to follow.  It is mostly level, with numerous small ups and downs.  The view are spectacular.  We turned off the trail and hiked the few hundred yards to the "pothole" camp, which has a nice sandstone tower that serves as an easy-to-see marker.  We headed down the drainage and were very surprised to find some pothole water, not a lot, but more than enough.  So we didn't have to carry as much water as we did, but who knew?

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