10/20 Day 6

Today was primarily a day to travel and prepare for the float trip, but I'm still so amazed by Monument Valley.  I'm also even more pleased than usual at my decision to shell out for a mesh-bodied tent.  I'd wake up in the night and turn my head to see the Mittens silhouetted by the starry sky.  I woke before dawn to see the colors of the sunrise warming the horizon so I got up to take photos.  I'm not sure whether the sunrise or sunset was prettier, but I loved them both.

Taken from the doorway of my tent.  Heck yes.

After breakfast, I hiked the 3.2 mile loop around the West Mitten.  Down on the valley floor, I was able to get some great views of even more of the monuments.  At one point, stopped in my tracks because the air smelled so sweet.  I turned and realized that shrubs full of yellow blooms were giving off the fragrance.  It was a lovely scent and a nice thing to suddenly notice.

East Mitten Butte, framed by a juniper

The "back" of West Mitten Butte

After that, it was on to Moab.  I would have liked to make a side trip to Natural Bridges Nat'l. Monument but I was tired and it was too far out of the way.  The hike to see all three is an all-day one and I figure if you're going to do something, do it right.  And this is especially true of viewing natural bridges.  Besides, I really wanted a shower and a nap if I had the time.  Oddly enough, shortly after I arrived at the hostel, Stefan pulled into the parking lot as I was unloading my car.  I wanted to ask where he'd been since Kanab, but I was so busy getting ready I never got the chance.  I never got that nap, either.

I'm SO nervous about this canoe trip and I know I shouldn't be.  I'm really tired and I feel like I could use a bit of a break from all the natural grandeur before throwing myself into my longest backcountry trip so far, my longest solo trip, and my first float trip.  It's just so much and I'm kind of afraid I won't enjoy it as much as I feel I should.  I've so looked forward to Canyonlands; I just hope I find all that anticipation worthwhile.