Dry Canyon, Whetstones

Distance (two routes) 4.7 miles)

Elevation gain: 1079'

Significance: limestone rock walls, fossils, views

https://www.strava.com/activities/4642669569

https://www.strava.com/activities/4643054591

Exploring this canyon with its geologic uplifts has always been on my bucket list.  Ellen suggested it and I went along.  Getting to this area requires a high-clearance vehicle, so we went in her Toyota Cruiser.

The hikes from the last two days tired me out and I overslept for our 0800 hour meet-up.  I was tired all day but not sore.  The high today was in the low 70s and that didn't help my fatigue, either.

Dry Canyon Road is the most southern road into the canyon from SR83.  The road starts off as a fairly level road in the flat area, surrounded by dry campsites and catclaw, ocotillo, agave and desert shrubs.  The taller reefs of the Whetstones are to the north.  A popular target shooting area is at the intersection with Dry Canyon Road and a more rutted road that follows the eastern foothills. We stayed on Dry Canyon Road going in a westerly direction, following a dry wash and more geologic uplift.  We parked the Cruiser near the trail and hiked in from there, following the wash, then crossing it, as the trail approached the rock wall.

Hansel wore the bright yellow cape from yesterday.  He seemed so at ease around us, walking ahead but staying nearby.  Only once did he bolt to chase after a deer.  He was panting fast in the rising heat.

The trail we were on was constructed by University of Arizona students-rockclimbers.  The singletrack travels to "The Dry," a large shelter cave high above the uplift.  This trail then hugs the rockwall as it quickly gains altitude.  Climbing gear was stashed in crevices.  Hooks in the rock and a rope were dangling from the cliff.

The views to the east were impressive.  This area would be stunning in a wet winter and spring, but today it was looking parched like everything around me has been looking for a while. The limestone we were walking on contained various fossils (crinoids); I can visualize this canyon once being underwater.

We couldn't go far without safety gear, and I didn't want Hansel in any danger.  We rested near The Dry and then descended the way we came, then rested in the shaded wash to let Hansel recover. He seemed so at ease around Ellen, coming right up to her to lick her.  When we separated briefly, though, he always stayed with me.

The wash was overgrown in parts.  I told Ellen I would head toward a large tank while she continued along the wash to explore some boulders.  Near the tank was what I thought were some mine tailings, but it turned out to be brittle slate, slate that I discovered was all along the mountain range.  Ellen pointed out dykes of limestone protruding along the hillside. promising that we will be back to explore more of this canyon.  We finished off the short hike looking around a shaded wash with boulders and discovered what we think is an animal den. We had gone a mere 2.7 miles when we got back to the Cruiser to snack and rehydrate before resuming with a second walk on another unmarked dirt road.

"You could bring your pack here!" she said, and I agree.  We never came across other people until we were ready to start a second walk a mile away.  A red pick-up with two women rumbled on by.  We waved at each other as I held on to Hansel's collar.  This second dirt road dead-ended a mile up a hillside also covered in slate.

We were surrounded by limestone all around us, but none of the hills had trails.  Exploring this range would require a daylong hike up the uneven terrain.  Even Ellen's caving club hasn't been back there to explore.  Most of the mouth of the canyon is reserved for target shooters (who leave quite a bit of trash near the mouth of the canyon) so perhaps that is why few hikers venture into this area.

We came across Frank and Lynn, a hiking couple I first met via the SV Hikers.  Frank was Kevin's supervisor ten years ago before he retired to spend more time with Lynn traveling and hiking.  They had come to target shoot and then walk along the dirt road.  I hadn't seen either in a few years.

Our last stop before leaving the canyon was a stop at a cross, in memory of a 17-year-old migrant  who had died here in 2005

We had hiked just under five miles and now I was officially tired from this weekend's adventures.  It was 71F when I got back to my Honda at Ellen's place, and then I drove home only to meet Susan for another 2.5-mile slow walk along the river at 2:30pm.  Again Sadie opted to stay home as we took our time to let the dogs relax in the water.  Minnie loves to walk in deep water, and I'm sure it helps her arthritic joints. Winds were picking up, too, with interesting lenticular clouds high above us.  One briefly looked like a duck head.

I have hiked 26.87 miles over the three-day weekend and by the end of today, I felt them!

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