labor day weekend: afoot

Milton and I convinced H to make another try at finding Pocket Arch, again via the main fork of Millcreek Canyon.  H was skeptical that we'd be able to get past the pour-off at the deep pool above the waterfall but I was certain that we'd be able to ford it since the water in the creek was so much lower than it's been.  We drove to the Millcreek parking lot - which was much busier than we've seen all spring and summer - and headed up the canyon, splashing through the creek as we went.  We climbed up above the waterfall that everyone goes to (now with its very own "cliff-jumping is dangerous" signs, although that wasn't discouraging the locals at all from taking the plunge) and followed the sandy trail to the pour-off at the deep pool.  While Milton was fascinated by the labrador retriever and the golden retriever puppy fetching sticks, we waded into the pool and realized ...

Water is definitely down, tho'

... that we weren't going to be able to get past the pour-off because the pool was too deep.  H was right - I had been overly optimistic.  Foiled again.

I would like these in my yard

Our feet were already wet, though, so we decided to go into the other, lesser-known fork of the canyon - which I prefer - and hike to the cowboy jacuzzis.  We met a few people up there, hikers, trail-runners, tourists with cameras, but a fraction of the hordes we saw heading in to the waterfall as we were walking out.  There were people everywhere: the parking lot was full and people were trying to park on the side of the access road.  As we watched, surreptitiously drinking our beers by the truck, a couple of Moab sheriffs started marking cars to be towed and directing latecomers to go park across the creek at Potato Salad Hill.  They were very pleasant and helpful about it and about ten minutes later, we could see the redirected cars pulling in across the way.  

My boys

We also watched Potato Salad Hill as one jeep made a half-hearted attempt to climb the obstacle.  They didn't make it, despite a handful of helpful guides.  We were hopeful that someone would get 'er done, especially when a rugged-looking, doorless Tacoma pulled in, but it was not to be during our tenure there.  We eventually finished our beers - after talking with a couple of friendly guys from Puerto Rico who were doing a month-long western states tour - and gave up our prime parking spot.  Maybe we'll find Pocket Arch next time.

Carved by water