Got back from an amazing trip to West Clear Creek Wilderness on Sunday. The bounty was bountiful. Took an early flight on Thursday morning to Phoenix and met up with five friends from college (UC Davis, baby!) for a lazy 4 day 3 night trip to the lower section of the creek. We started at Bull Pen Campground and made an "out and back" trek to the edge of the canyon rim, where we found it a little too treacherous to continue. Enjoy some pics!

Yea right!

Driving up to the trailhead.

Hooligans abound.

Starting off from Bull Pen.

Looking down towards our destination on day one.

Not lost yet.

First water crossing. Cake.

Looking down the canyon after the first water crossing.

Looking back towards Bull Pen.

Jon lost a battle with a cactus.

Arizona got rocks.

Bendy rock.

Looking over the river from the trail.

The canyon.

The closest that I got to seeing a Javelina.

Day 1 campsite.

My crappy pack and water shoes.

Someone's ready to get the hell out of camp number one.

Looking North from our first campsite.

Resting after a furious scramble down to the river from the rim of the canyon.

Where we stopped at on day two.

Beach front property.

Splendorous bounty.

River: confirmed.

Rocks and scorpions: confirmed

 

 

Skunk home.

 

Campsite #3 on the way out. Near river crossing number 4. Taylor looks fully torqued.

Radish is showing us where nature be at. TRUTH.

After searching through everything in my pack three times, I confirmed that there were no stowaway tarantulas.

Yup, campsite #3 had it's perks.

Camping with the Flintstones.

 

 

We like crossing rivers.

On the way out.

 Arizona was good to us, but the best part was getting to read Sky Mall on the way home. I'm new to backpacking, but I want to share the things I learned on this trip. First, if you go backpacking in Arizona, bring a damn UV flashlight to spot the scorpions at night. Although I eventually deemed them harmless, I found them to be an endless source of amazement. Secondly, I am HORRRIBLE at taking pictures and getting them in order when I get home. I hope to improve upon this next time. Until then!