Page 11 - Summer2011 magazine

At the bottom of this obstacle is an area of picturesque sandstone contrasted
with a base layer of gravel. The picture to the right shows the scene looking
back into the canyon. Note the boulder near the upper left of the picture with
vertical red lines. Many years ago, it was fairly easy to come through the

opening to its right. About four years ago, a heavy rainfall caused flooding in
the canyon that dredged out more than six feet of gravel at the base of this
spillway, leaving the current drop at eight feet. The detour described in the
previous paragraph is the result of this surface change.

Farther down the canyon are more obstacles. This image shows hikers coming
through gravel with different shades of sandstone on either side of the drainage.

Note the darker boulder on the right side that appears to be lodged between the
two sides. The usual route through this section is over the boulder and down
through the opening between the walls.

The boulder shown in the upper portion of that picture is the same
one taken from below after a major rainstorm last year. The
water was more than six feet deep below the boulder, which
forced a complicated detour around the pool to

avoid going for a swim.

At the mouth of the canyon are two significant features. First, the base of Krafft
Mountain is littered with large boulders that have tumbled from near the summit. Today
these boulders are used by free climbers who drop pads on the ground and proceed to
ascend to the tops without any safety ropes. The second feature is a forty foot waterfall

at the transition line between sandstone and limestone. The hiker in this photo is
cautiously peering over the edge of the cliff to the base of the waterfall.

Red Rock Canyon contains many locations like Gateway Canyon that are remote and

reveal the real hidden beauty of the area. There are implied risks that should always be
considered before embarking on treks to find these locations, but the reward of seeing
such places in person often justifies the extra effort and caution.

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