Beyond Edmaier

Campsite 15, May 2, 2023 - After exploring Edmaier’s Secret, it was still too early to head back to camp. We watched as a group of men hiked south on the trail. We could hike north, back to the Jeep, or follow them. Following them sounded more interesting. First we remove the sand from our shoes. We knew there was a slot canyon nearby. It would be our next destination.

While hiking to Edmaier’s Secret, the trail had been relatively flat through grass and sagebrush. Now the trail alternated between rolling hills covered with sagebrush and the flat sandy wash. Eventually, I realized that walking along the edge of the wash, where there was flat compacted sand but no vegetation was the easiest option. Occasionally we passed an interesting plant.

Textile Onion (Allium textile)

We encountered a few other hikers. One group had found a sandstone formation and stopped to pose for selfies. We kept hiking. The number of rock formations began to increase then suddenly we were at the mouth of the slot canyon.

At Round Valley Draw we had to climb down into the slot canyon. This was very different. The ground here was relatively flat and the rocks came out of the ground to surround you. Think of it as a forest of rocks that you enter. As we hiked, the forest became two walls with a slit of light above while the floor gradually descended. After hiking in the sun, the canyon was noticeably cooler.

Taking a break in the shade

Depending on the time of day and the direction the canyon is running, the light varies between deep shade and golden light.

The contrast between the solid rock walls and the sandy bottom of the canyon was startling. You would expect to see more large boulders and some smaller rocks with the sand.

Eventually we came to an opening in the canyon that was large enough for a small stand of trees. Several groups of people stood around talking. The number of people in this remote spot was even more startling than the contrast between sand and rock within the canyon. The trail continued south through the main section of canyon but there was also an opening in the rock to the west. The trail to the west was the main entrance, Wire Pass. Most of these people had entered from that direction. We would enter via that route another day. For now, we would return up the lesser used section of trail, back to our vehicle. As we turned to head back we noticed an enormous smooth sandstone wall. On the wall was a petroglyph snake that ran 25 or 30 feet. Above it was a row of animals, probably bighorn sheep. Occasionally there was a person depicted.

To make each drawing, an indention had been made in the stone by scraping over the entire figure. Within the indentation, were many small holes in the rock. In this remote location, that could only be accessed by hiking through the slot, people had stopped here to carve these figures. Who were those people? What tools did they use? How long did it take to make each figure? I imagined native people hundreds of years ago choosing their place along the wall to make their carving.

Other hikers walked on past. No one else seemed to notice their writing on the wall.

After considering the scale and effort it must have taken to carve the thousands of holes over this huge wall, we turned to hike back up the canyon.

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