Day 7

October 27, 2019

Flipoff Canyon to Mountain Sheep Spring

 


Click on photos to see larger image.

Today's Route Stats:

   Distance:  9.4 miles

   Elevation Gain:  600  feet

   Elevation Loss:  600 feet

Our original goal for today was to hike to somewhere near Lower Jumpup Spring for our last camp.  But since we would have to drive back to Sowats Point to retrieve my car, we came up with an alternate plan.  If we camped at Mountain Sheep Spring, we could split up for the hike out -- one group hiking to my car at Sowats Point, and the other group hiking to the Jumpup-Nail trailhead in Jumpup Canyon.  Jay and Ben volunteered to hike to my car, which would require them to hike the steep, 1700-ft climb to the rim, and about 750 feet more elevation gain overall compared to the other route.

As we were looking at the map, we realized that it may not have been a good idea to spend two nights in Flipoff Canyon because we now had 9.4 miles to cover -- more than I like doing in one day.  But except for some small obstacles in Flipoff, the route would be mostly easy hiking.

Another concern we had was finding water in Kanab Creek.  Kanab Creek is usually dry in this section, but I knew of two locations where we might find water.  If we didn't find it there, we wouldn't find water until we got to Kwagunt Hollow, a distance of about 7.5 miles. 

The hike down Flipoff to Kanab Creek was uneventful.  The spring area with the cottonwoods had only a few small pools of water.  I think a couple of us picked up another quart, worrying that we might not find water along Kanab Creek.

 

Cleft in Wall of Kanab Creek . Pothole in Cleft on Top of Ledge. Water, Albeit a Bit Skanky.

 

The first place we looked for water was in a cleft on Kanab Creek left, about 3/4 miles below Flipoff.  There was a small pool there, but a bit too skanky for us.  Better to try Crack Baby, about one mile farther on creek right.

 
Rich at Entrance to Crack Baby. Water Behind Chockstone. Rich in Jumpup Narrows.

 

We found plenty of water behind the chockstone in Crack Baby (name first appeared in Grand Canyoneering by Todd Martin). 

In a little less than one more mile we reached Jumpup Canyon.  Although this was my 10th time hiking thru the narrows, it is always impressive. 

I was pretty tired when we finally got to Mountain Sheep Spring.  It was starting to get dark.  We found a nice campsite a bit down-canyon from the spring.  Although it had a couple of sheltered overhangs, I opted for a spot away from the others because of my snoring.  I set up my camp and hauled my dinner and stove to our main campsite.  Just after dinner it started to rain.  Since I didn't bring a tent, I scrambled down to my camp and, in two trips, hauled my gear back up to a sheltered spot.  Once I got settled in, the rain stopped. 

 

Mountain Sheep Spring.

Pictographs in Sowats Canyon.

Pictographs in Sowats Canyon.

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