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| Lower Brownstone Canyon Dam |
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| Left Turn at top of Upper Gateway Canyon |
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| Sunrise from Calico Basin |
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| Climbing 5-Stop Hill |
Four club hikers joined the Six with Sticks today for a strenuous hike out to Brownstone Canyon and back. Since we do not post most of our hikes on the club calendar, the extra hikers learn of our hikes by circumstance. We met at the Kraft Mountain Trailhead and started up 5-Stop Hill. We talked our way up the hill and didn't stop talking until a suggestion was made to start down to Gateway Canyon! No, we still didn't stop talking! It was a beautiful morning but warmer than the forecast suggested. At the gravel wash, we turned to the left and began climbing the limestone portion of Gateway Canyon. This is not a new canyon to any of us by any means. But, it is always a challenging climb for every part of the body.
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| Kraft Mountain Saddle |
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| Climbing up Gateway Canyon from Rattlesnake Trail |
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| Waterslide Climb |
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| Climbing into Upper Gateway Canyon |
We climbed non-stop past the Rattlesnake Trail wash and headed up to the large scrambles of Upper Gateway. Still talking, we took on each scramble the same way we have before. This year, some of the scrambles seemed to be more difficult due to deeper sand holes at the bottom of pour overs. I led the pack if only to attempt to control the pace of the hike! Everyone tackled the scrambles in different ways. No instructions needed. Finally, at the top of Gateway where the colorful sandstone wall meets the limestone, we stopped for a breath and looked back at that square arch. We made our left turn at the wall and began a colorful climb up a trail next to the drainage on the red sandstone. Before we reached the top, we made a right turn into a small side canyon.
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| Nine out of Ten climb the Big Fall |
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| Climbing the Small Canyon to Pour Over |
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| Mike and Jerry on the Pour Over Climb |
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| Next, after Pour Over |
The small canyon has a trail for a short distance then we began a scramble up large boulders until we saw the high pour over on our left side. Pass the pour over, climb up, cross the pour over at mid-point, climb up that side and end at the top. (See photo above and left.) From here, we climbed in a ten o'clock direction all the way up to the plateau at the end. A left turn led us to a maze of sandstone. There is a tinaja hidden among the rock but all was dry today. We continued in a more or less straight direction to the right and saw the deep tinaja rock landmark. The hike route goes past the landmark on its right side and down to a fun scramble gulley. The gulley has somewhat of a choreographed drop. We all knew the drill. At the bottom, we walked into the pictograph cultural site.
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| Arriving on Plateau |
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| Almost to Deep Tinaja |
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| Deep Tinaja Rock Landmark |
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| Descending the Gulley |
The site looked a little worse for wear but, maybe, the weather of late took a little toll. We took our photos and continued down the Brownstone Canyon wide gravel wash. Not far down, the petroglyph panels could be seen up on a wall rising at a ninety degree angle from the wash. There are four panels on this rock outcropping. Again, we took our photos and continued down the gravel a little more until we saw a small canyon cut in a fork to the right. We walked up the cut and came to the lower Brownstone dam. This is a great place for a break. The scenery is fantastic. We took more photos, including our group shot. Afterwards, we slowly hiked back up the gravel wash and began the gulley climb. The ascent was a little slower than the descent!
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| Brownstone Cultural Pictographs |
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| Brownstone Cultural Pictographs |
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| Brownstone Cultural Petroglyphs |
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| Arriving at the Lower Dam |
At the top of the gulley, we turned left and headed straight for the deep tinaja. It was here that the route out deviated from our route in. We turned right after passing the deep tinaja and made a straight route ... as best we could ... over the plateau to the other side. This requires a lot of climbing and zigzagging up and down through the sandstone. Near the other side, there are a couple of cairns that aid in your choice of trajectory. Finally, we were descending down the slab and trail to the top of Upper Gateway Canyon. Next, the descent of Gateway was a workout in itself! A lot of core muscles being used as you let yourself down each scramble. We got to the Rattlesnake junction and waited for the entire group to assemble again.
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| Gentle Ten at the Lower Dam |
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| Starting up the Gulley Climb |
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| Descending the Slab after Plateau Crossing |
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| Starting descent of Upper Gateway |
We turned to descend Gateway to the Rattlesnake Trail junction to the right and climbed together to the Kraft Mountain saddle. The descent of 5-Stop Hill was taken fast by some and slow by others. This hike is an excellent workout for the full body. It is also an excellent hike for visitors who are in excellent condition provided you have a guide. It usually takes a few hikes for even locals to grasp the best route! Fun day in the rocks!
Stats: 7 miles; 2000' gain; 5.25 hours
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| Upper Gateway Canyon |
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| Gateway Canyon just above Rattlesnake Trail |
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| Colors of Lower Gateway Canyon |
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