Three Canyon

Our spring break plan for Tuesday was to hike Three Canyon in southeast Utah, and that's what we did. 

We spent Tuesday morning at our "out in the middle of nowhere" campsite and the kids explored the top of the redrocks around us. The campsite from the rocks above.

The kids loved climbing around on top of the sandstone.

There were a lot of fun places to wander to and explore. Taking a pic of the boys and my shadow.

I had to get down and squat or else I was headless, haha.

Our campsite was marked by these two holes in the rock - Craig said they were "Ojos de los muertos".

Katharine threw up this morning, so we didn't think she should go on the hike. Corey stayed at the campsite with her while the rest of us headed out at noon for Three canyon. The Three Canyon trail was a few miles south along the Lower San Rafael Road. Here's where we started the hike on google maps. We just started walking straight east into the wash. The Morgans met up with us this morning for the hike. Everyone starting down on the three canyon trail wash.

Taking a break in the shade while Craig sets up the rappel.

Jill was the first one to go down.

Daniel was going to go next, but it was too scary. So then I volunteered and Peter and I went together.

Close up of us taken by Jill!

Peter was out of his comfort zone obviously but he did great. This rappel is a 56 foot rappel. I took some pics at the bottom - I thought it looked so cool from the bottom of the canyon!

I want to paint this - this was a place where we conquered and did something challenging.

Abi came down with Daniel. Daniel was relieved when it was over. I lifted them up to play in this grooved out bathtub, minus the water. 

Sophi and Natalie came down together. 

Sophi was below, which was good cause Natalie was making her laugh and then (cause Sophi was also a little stressed?) she had a little wee wee accident... it was pretty hilarious.

Sophi and I found a private spot for her to rinse herself off and I helped her clean up. Natalie playing in the side tub spot.

Mel and Lily came down together. When Mel heard what happened with Sophi, she said "Is that why the harness was wet!?!?! EWW!!!" haha! Yeah, sorry!! We're all just dealing with it and can't shower or do nothing until Thursday about any of it! Owen came by himself cause he's a big strong boy. Soon everyone made it down. 

We took a group pic after we were all down. 

Gygis, Morgans, and Wrides all having a great time. Then we started the hike through the canyon.

It was so cool and so pretty and huge.

Amazing in every way to be out in nature here.

Pretending to do a model pose for an outdoor magazine - 

God has made such a beautiful amazing world for us.

We enjoyed our walk. A little bit of sun but it was shaded most of the time.

I don't know if we'll ever make it down here again but I am so glad we came today. 

Most of it was chill and relaxing. 

Stopping for lunch.

You kids are doing great!

I tripped on a stick and fell in the mud! My glasses went flying.

Fun climbing on some ledges.

At one spot there was a pool. It looked refreshing. 

...so I took off my backpack, hat, glasses, made sure my phone and keys were out of my pockets, and I jumped in! Lily followed, then Abi -

Who else wants to cool off?? Natalie, Daniel, and Esti and jumped in too.

That was fun. Back to hiking. We gotta get out of this canyon before it gets dark! There were three spots that scared me, all at the end. One when we were all scrambling up a cliff to get back on the trail. Then once we were on the trail, there was this skinny ledge part we had to cross (two pics below). I was holding onto Peter's backpack there and didn't let go till it got more wide. Thankfully that wasn't too long.

Pretty tall cliffs were around us all day.

Then we made it to the canyon exit. We had to climb out of this spot. We waited at the bottom for a while while Abi, Jill, and Craig climbed up to get the ropes set up. 

Finally they were ready to help us climb out. This part was scary too cause we weren't harnessed in for most of it.

Just sitting or standing on an incline and waiting. 

We were very glad that Katharine wasn't here at this part, and for a few other parts today. Thank you Corey for staying with her and keeping her safe. Finally out of the canyon. WE SURVIVED!!

Sun is going down, we barely made it out before dark! We still had a bit of a walk to get back to the cars. Daniel and Peter found a lot of rose quartz at this part and were going crazy gathering it. Filled up their backpacks. Daniel not in that pic above cause he was out getting rocks. Sophi walking to the car.

The one car that was left near the canyon exit (the Morgan's) had to shuttle us back to our car and the Gygi's car at the entrance. It was dark and we dropped the kids off to walk back to camp while we drove to the cars. Corey and Katharine were relieved to see all of us. Then we made our chicken taco dinner in the dark and enjoyed it around the campfire.

Whew!! SUCH A GREAT AND MEMORABLE DAY! I'm tired though! I'm glad the sun going down kinda forces an earlier bedtime. I think everyone's tired and will be headed to bed soon, cause we have more hiking tomorrow!