Cannonville, Utah

Same weekend; same weather. Last year, when we did our mini-tour of the canyons around Cannonville, it was cold and snowy. This year, it didn't snow, but the north wind was cutting and the temps dropped into the twenties. Once again, we had three kids. This time, in addition to Ellen, it was Noah and Lydia Koslowski. And, once again, we had two kabins at the KOA. With overnight wind chills in the teens, I, for one, did not regret four walls and a roof.

On Saturday morning we drove over to Rock Springs Creek. The sun was high and, by the time we started hiking in the canyon, it was warming up. The families walked and talked together for a while, and then Kass and I made a dash for the Paria. We made it before 1p and had a few minutes to gawp. It is an outstanding river canyon, and I was tempted to start for Big Water on foot. Instead, we hustled back to the trucks and joined everyone for lunch.

After lunch, we drove our way out to the end of Between the Creeks Road. Leaving the trucks, we walked out to the point overlooking the confluence of Sheep Creek and the Paria. What can one say? That is simply one of the most beautiful places I've ever been. The view is from Powell Point to the Kiabab Plateau right down the gut of the Paria. Just big, rugged, empty, ugly, silent country. What else do you need?

Well, dinner, for one. So, we went back to Cannonville and I cooked the ravioli while the girls took a shower. The north wind was still going, but we stuck with it long enough for a little time around the campfire and a slab of dutch oven brownies. In the morning, we made the run to Grosvenor, which I will probably not do again. It was good to share it with the Koslowskis, but the drive-by-killers in their rented sport utes were out in force, and they can ruin anything.

On our way back to Parowan, we looked at each other and said, "Well, we're not really backpackers, but it might be nice to strap 'em on and walk down Willis to Sheep, and on to the Paria, and all the way to, well, Lee's Ferry."

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