Our last full day of hiking was devoted to Willow Canyon, a tributary of the Escalante River. Starting out as little more than a wash, the stream gradually cuts into the layer of Navajo sandstone. Within no time it turns into a fine canyon with a graceful meander and smooth walls with desert varnish painting their surface. The trail---such as it is---jumps back and forth over the stream, plunges into a slot canyon for a space, and alternates between deep sand, slickrock, and mushy spots that are certainly quicksand with a little more water. Coming around a wide bend you hit Broken Bow Arch, something like Rainbow Bridge without the boat tourists. Navajo sandstone lends itself to such massive structures. In fact, we sat enjoying lunch and arch having no idea how huge it was until Mark hiked to the eye for a photo. Thanks to digital magic, we have combined two images: that little white dot inside the circle is Mark waving! Escalante Canyon is just around the bend, but we decided it would be to depressing to go there. A couple hundred meters away from the actual confluence you hit the putrid waters of Lake Foul National Recreation Slum. From there on, the canyons are buried under the sewage of countless houseboats. No...better to enjoy the arch and retreat.
