Sep 11 Indian Creek

Hooboy. This was a long waterless stretch. There were a couple iffy sources on the way, but one was dry, one was very warm and alkaline and (Thanks Nano for planting the thought in my mind) tasted like urine, and one we honestly forget to look for because it isn't supposed to be reliable anyway. We were excited to get to Indian Creek, supposedly reliable, except it sucks. We were expecting a tiny creek, maybe occasionally dripping water, but all we found are two muddy puddles. It was very disappointing after 30+ miles from the Colorado (which, as I mentioned, was pretty dang tough to begin with.) Is this a dry year? Fall is worse than Spring typically, but damn. We're camped by the puddle, with 11 miles to go to the Needles district of Canyonlands where we can hitch to piped running water.

Anyway, aside from that, today was nice. Jeep road, wash, Jeep road, wash, Jeep road, wash. We saw one biker and one UTV. Lockhart to Rustler Canyon into Indian Creek. 

For anyone who's interested, the first little pouroff in Lockhart (NOT the one at 4200' that you definitely don't go down) is completely unnecessary. Yeah, you can do it, it's probably only like a 7 or 8 foot drop, but the rock pile at the bottom that's supposed to be steps is pretty crappy, and seems more like a great way to break your ankle instead. Instead, just go 15 or 20 yards left (facing down canyon) over a tiny rise, and there's a perfectly gradual wash that leads to exactly the same place. 

One new blister today. Totally clear and sunny all day. Only the backs of my hands are sunburnt. 

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