April 26, 2013 Zebra and Tunnel Canyons, Escalante, UT

We saw all these cars parked in the parking spot kind of in the middle of nowhere. Our map did not show anything there. We stopped at the visitors center and asked about it. We were told Zebra canyon and Tunnel. Then the ranger gave us a little map. I wish they had these little maps out.

We started out bright and early and got a flat. John put the spare on and we had to head to town and get it fixed. Don’t go out into the desert without a  spare. I got to peruse some shops and John had breakfast. We also went into this cool antique shop. There was all kinds of things, I loved the back room,very vintage clothes, cooking utensils,old rusted things and   old sewing stuff like rick rack ,lace. and tons of old buttons. The elderly man was so nice I wanted to buy something, so I bought some old buttons for my baskets.

Finally on the trail. 2.5 miles across open desert, then big canyons. Notice the cattle guard across the wash. Then Zebra, little canyon.

It got much deeper, and  very skinny. Had to take off our packs. Incredible lines and color.

Fluted edges.

Weird shapes. There were these iron concretions. Round balls, looked and felt like rusted iron. On the walls, on the canyon floor. Big and very tiny.

John at lunch. The walls came in so close there was not room for your feet at the bottom.

Sue and more lines.

Wall climbing to get to the end.

Back out in the wash to head south another mile to Tunnel canyon. It was a tunnel, with water in the bottom.

Had to wear less clothes.

It was short, but sweet. On the other side of the tunnel were more cool lines. This is a spot the water wore a  smooth course, when it rains there are waterfalls everywhere.

Sue coming out. Reflections on the water. See the water strider bugs in the water.

The end. On the hike back.

Wild flowers and a velvet mite, they usually only live under the sand, except when it rains, they come out to eat winged termites. This one was confused, it was not raining.  It is about an 1/8th of an inch. A little lizard on the canyon wall.

Colors and lines on the rocks, a tiny bird nest from Zebra canyon. We decided the Wave is over rated. Lots of other places in the desert with beautiful lines and colors.