THE WIRE PASS +BABY

The final part in a series about exploring the American West in an RV with an 8 week old baby

By Tommy Nagle

May 7^th, 2020

Our last days out west.

☎︎

Sin City called.

We didn't answer.

We had one last outdoor adventure before we returned:

The Wire Pass.

It leads to Buckskin Gulch, reputedly the longest slot canyon in the world.

This is harsh country, but undeniably beautiful.

Out in the wilderness, emergency response is never rapid.

To quote Visit Utah:

"In these canyons, as little as a quarter inch of rain can run off the slickrock landscape and turn the slots into inescapable death traps."

Not far in, an eight-foot drop over a boulder jam has to be negotiated.

Logs have been precariously propped up to ease the descent, but they creak and shift ominously under weight.

It shows how powerful the flash floods must be, moving rocks, trees, logs and mud and cramming them together.

Every flash flood, the canyon changes.

A simple handprint made with mud is extremely evocative in this setting.

You know these are made by your peers, but when situated above 800 year old petroglyphs, they become a connection to the past, to the people who made these drawings.

Most likely they did the very same thing.

In places, the water has turned the mud into a smooth, thick clay.

Often this clay has cracked and is practically begging to be poked with a stick.

Or stood on with bare feet.

Or to have a large stone thrown into it.

Irresistible.

Some of the smaller pools can be crossed via unsteady rocks that tremble underfoot. Often they are placed so close to one side, you have to lean against the rock wall to prevent yourself from falling in. No mean feat with a pack and a baby carrier.

You stand there, feet shaking like Elvis, trying not to fall into the stagnant water.

To venture further into the canyon without getting wet is no mean feat.

In places, the walls rise up so high, the floor has likely never seen sunlight. Even on a hot day it is cool and quiet in the canyon.

The end of the line.

In order to continue on down the canyon, we had to decide whether we were prepared (in both senses) to wade through the thigh-deep stagnant water.

We were not.

Taunted by the footprints of those more intrepid than us on the far side of the water, we decided on a tribute to the canyon Gods.

i.e. We found a big rock and threw it in.

A sure fire way to find out if the water is stagnant or not.

Climbing the wobbly log 'ladder' was the only way back out of the canyon.

Lucy went up without incident.

As I pushed off to clamber over the top, it collapsed underneath me like a house of cards.

I hope the next hikers were able to get out without too much fuss.

There endeth our adventure.

That there's big country on the way to Vegas.

out off the highway

on a dirt road to nowhere

we watched the sun set

One final panoramic family portrait.

A beautiful sight to end the trip.

Wouldn't have it any other way.

Thanks for joining us on this little adventure! If you liked this story and missed any of the others in the series, then you can find them all archived here: