Pinnacles National Park
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Balconies Cave Loop Pinnacles National Park |
January 25, 2014
After a nice outing yesterday in the high peaks of this park, today's walk is scheduled to be shorter and easier. A ranger suggested that the available loop is most easily done in a clockwise direction, so that is the plan.
Getting started
A pleasant grotto
At a trail junction I head leftward up the slope. Soon I have good views of the cliffs on both sides of the canyon.
Machete Ridge
The Balconies
I hear voices over at the base of Machete Ridge. It sounds as if two men are preparing to climb the rock.
Looking back at the trail
Yesterday's walk was up there
The Balconies are off-limits to climbers at present
As I head back down toward the creek, a woman coming up asks how far it is. Rather than suggests that she remove a couple of her fourteen layers of clothing and start enjoying her life, I simply respond, "Not far".
The trail ahead
Back at the creekside junction I opt to continue eastward for a mile or so, just for the helluvit. A walk along this creek could be quite nice couple of months from now, especially if any water were flowing from Bear Gulch Reservoir.
Easy walking all the way
Six climbers en route to Machete Ridge
At the next trail junction I opt to turn around, having already doubled the required mileage for this trek.
On the return, the same spots make the best photos
The Balconies
It is time to visit the main attraction, which lies just ahead in the bottom of the canyon.
Approaching Balconies Cave
The fun begins
Almost immediately I learn why a flashlight is required equipment here;
for there is little if any extraneous light. This is nothing like the
Bear Gulch Cave on the other side of the park. The hiker who is in here
with me is confused, and he suggests that this might be a dead-end
trail. I know otherwise, however, and proceed to hunt for another of
the little white arrows painted on rocks to point the way, and I find
one. A flash photo helps to reveal something about the interior of
this room.
That little speck of light is the exit
The route goes up and up
As I approach the sunlight, I hear voices from above. Whoever is up there is waiting for the two of us to exit before starting down. This is a good thing, because this last climb is a bitch. There are four or five rock steps but no secure handhold, so the scenario is a bit scary. I manage to clamber up on hands and knees, all the while crouching to avoid the low ceiling. There really ought to be a handrail installed here.
The final scramble is easy enough
The group above consists of father and a little boy, plus mother and a
baby girl. Upon seeing my Angels Landing T-shirt, the man
admits that they have spent a lot of time in Zion Park; but for them,
a single ascent of the dreaded peak was enough. Too scary.
Well, what they are about to attempt more risky than anything on the Angels Landing Trail, and mother has her doubts as well; but I'm sure that they will try it anyway. I wish them well.
Something about this scenario just isn't right
An interesting passage awaits as I approach the cave exit.
No headroom here. It is necessary to crawl
A peekaboo view of the Balconies
Another one of those precarious boulders
Just past the metal gate is a smooth rocky ramp that looks easy enough, so I try it. Halfway up, I realize that it is too steep for comfort; so I must inch my way back down. I am most thankful here for good soles on my boots.
This is not the way to go
The preferred route out of here is a skinny opening to the left of a huge boulder. Soon I am back out in the open.
Sunlight at last
The two climbers that I heard earlier have progressed parhaps a hundred feet up Machete Ridge. I get the impression that one is an instructor and one is a novice.
They'll never make it to the top at that rate
Nearing the trailhead
As I reach the parking lot, about a hundred people are approaching from the other direction. A couple of buses must have brought them in. I am getting out of here just in time.
That umbrella might come in handy for... warding off condors or something
§: As yesterday, this trail proved more interesting that was
expected. The Balconies Cave experience is unique as established park
trails go; I have seen nothing else like it. You will need to be reasonably
fit and reasonably sure of foot to attempt a passage of that cave. Be sure
to do it in the suggested north-to-south direction, and don't forget
your flashlight.
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| Difficulty |  |
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| Solitude | |
