Sheelite Canyon in autumnal show

This was a hike I had posted on MeetUp.  The destination was the overlook but I lost my track.  We ended up going three miles one/way before turning around.  That was still six miles and long enough for everyone, so all was good.

I had five people sign up:  SteveD, KatheyB, KathyC, Craig and Travis.  KathyB was the last one to show up and she was angry at first because directions to the trailhead for first-time users was unclear and she didn't mention that she was unclear of where to go.  Once she arrived at 9:10am, her anger subsideed.  

I've hiked with Steve and Travis before and both are good hikers.  Steve always brings his bordercollieX Morgan with him.  I brought Hansel but he didn't seem to want to socialize with Morgan.  Hansel preferred to stay near me.  Morgan stayed near her dad but showed uneasiness with some of the rock-hopping that was needed.  Hansel didn't seem interested in showing her the ropes.

Colors were beautiful as we entered the narrow canyon as the 10am sun poked through.  There were a lot of "oohs" and "aaahs" and many stops to take photographs.  Red maples and yellow ash the primary colors, but a few cottonwoods showed off their orange. The trail  was easy to follow the first half mile, but the higher we got, the more difficult it was to follow it.  The canyon is constanly eroded with rain and landslides and fallen trees, but a few rockscapes make it easily identifyable. It truly is a canyon worth exploring!

I made three hours my turn-around.  Both Karens were on the slow side, but Travis kept them company while I stayed in the middle with Craig and Steve ahead of me.  It was a five-hour hike as planned.  We got back to our cars by 1:30pm and I was home an hour later.  

Steve said during the hike that the sign by the trailhead said no dogs were allowed in the canyon due to the canyon being a special habitat for a certain owl.  I had not seen that and I do read all signs.  I read the sign again as we exited the canyon. Sure enough, there was no mention of a no dog rule in Sheelite.  "Maybe I read it on All trails" he later added as we walked the last half mile to our cars.