I had never even considered doing Barhardt Canyon until this weekend. A few friends have told me it was a long, difficult day and I thought it would be too much for me. But I decided to go for it anyway, and I’m so glad I did!
The hike in is long and gains 2,000 feet of elevation. However, it’s all on an easy trail, so it’s really not that bad. When we dropped into the canyon, I fell behind due to all the boulder hopping and considered turning around and just hiking back to the car. I didn’t want to hold the group back. Luckily, Rick (in his pink sunglasses and pink Birthday Bitch hat) talked me out of it.
It was a beautiful canyon! Very similar to its neighbor, Shake Tree. I just love the colors and patterns in the various rock layers of the Mazzies. We saw lots of day hikers on the trail, and I am so glad I get to actually be in the canyon. You would miss so much if you were just hiking the trail!
One of my favorite parts of canyoneering is the people, and we had such a great group in this canyon. I was the last one to gain the ridge as we bushwhacked up and out of the canyon. When I emerged from the brush, everyone was lined up on the trail, cheering for me. It was such a sweet moment. Here we all are, about to start the hike out:
My other favorite parts of this canyon were:
-The frogs (so many) that jumped off the canyon walls as we walked by
-When Randi found a really cool piece of bark that was BIG, but she still somehow stuffed it in her pack and carried it through the rest of the canyon
-Having TOO MUCH rope. Kristin once attempted this canyon with some friends. When they started to drop in to the canyon, they realized no one had brought rope. But we had too much! You know there’s too much rope when, in a group of 8, I am carrying rope. (I’m super slow, so I am usually not asked to carry rope since that would just make me even slower.)
I’m not sure if I’d do Barnhardt again… It was pretty and pleasant, but a long day. But I would do Shake Tree again any day. Love the Mazzies!
*Thank you, Emily Garcia, for taking all the pictures!*
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