Another early start means shade in the canyon.
Mormon Ranch Cabin (RM 65.6).
Mormon Ranch Cabin (RM 65.6).
Trail sign pointing to the Middle Fork Peak fire lookout.
A curious lone grave marker along the trail near the Flying B Ranch.
Open hilllsides across from the Flying B Ranch.
Hikers can cross the river and hike back up to the Flying B Ranch store to purchase a few treats for the trail.
It is best to tackle this section of trail early in the morning. Otherwise, it can be a hot hike!
The lower Middle Fork Canyon below Haystack Rapid (RM 67.8) marks the beginning of a lot of rocky and moderately difficult hiking.
Two hikers walk above a commercial sweep boat below Earthquake Rock Rapid (RM 70.5).
The hike through Jack Creek Canyon (RM 70 to RM 71) is stunning.
The canyon maintains it's steep and rugged character. On river left around RM 73.5 an impressive sheep lick can be seen beneath a large ponderosa tree.
Rams and ewes like to get at these layered sediments (the result of an ancient lake) that are rich in calcium. Both sexes use the calcium: rams produce horns, and ewes produce milk.
A ram digs into the sheep lick sediments.
Looking back upstream at the exposed sheep licks.
A very old and curious sign due to the lack of any trail on the opposite side of the river.
For one of the largest climbs along the river, the trail climbs through a series of switchbacks over the top of Rattlesnake Cave (RM 74.2).
The views at the top of the Rattlesnake Cave climb are stunning. Survey Camp (RM 74.4) is located in the treed bar on river left, and Wollard Camp is just downstream on the right bank.
Looking back upstream from the top of Rattlesnake Cave.
The trail below Wollard stays high above the river and offers many great views. This is looking back upstream at Wollard Camp (RM 74.5).
Impressive rock work keeps the trail in place across several talus slopes.
The shade creeps down to the river late in the afternoon on day six.
A hiker reaches the Big Creek Pack Bridge that marks the end of the hike if you have raft support to float you out of the canyon.
Crossing the Big Creek Pack Bridge at RM 77.8. Total hiking miles are more like 83.
The trail climbs out of the canyon at the bridges into the Big Horn Crags. To exit the canyon here, backpackers would have a 22-mile hike that climbs 5,000 feet.
No explanation necessary.
Some pretty water and rocks at the water's edge.
Looking back up to the confluence with Big Creek.
A starry night at Elk Bar in the Impassable Canyon.