Sweet Pockets (with new petroglyphs)

Rating:
Strenuous in places, some minor rock scrambling, steep slopes here and there. Distance is 4 miles, and total elevation changes are 1300 feet. Some hiking is on slanted sandstone, requiring agility and ankle strength.

http://photos2.meetupstatic.com/photos/event/b/4/3/e/event_210826142.jpegThe profile of this hike is is like a roller coaster, with the biggest variations at the beginning, then becoming less and less later on, ending with a long gradual downhill. No climb is more than 200 feet or so, but there are several of those, plus some other smaller climbs, so it adds up to a semi-serious hike.

The Sweet Pockets Loop dips in and out of a lot of 'pockets,' and also visits the edge of the mesa upon which it sits several times, affording big horizon views in three directions from the top of tall cliffs. Zion is prominent, as is Washington and the lower Red Cliffs area below.

If you want to bring a dog, it must be able to go for several hours on difficult terrain. This is not a smooth walk; there's lots of rough surface and some cactus to hazzard a dog's footies.

Features:
The excellent scenery is similar to the Yant Flat hiking routes, with twists and turns galore across beautiful weathered sandstone. In addition, there are some minor but interesting petroglyphs that have some black coloring and an unusual 'dot-like' appearance, found under a remote overhang high on the side of a big canyon. We suspect these glyphs are known to few people (if any) other than ourselves, due to the very difficult to reach location.

Meetup:

We meet in the usual spot for Yant, Walton Plaza in Leeds (actually in the dirt lot just to the left of the building). From there we'll carpool in the available high-clearance vehicles up the Old Turkey Farm Road for 10 miles to the loop location. Driving time should be about 30 minutes.

Trail Prep:
Be sure to bring some food and plenty of water. Leather gloves can help but are not strictly required. There is a small amount of bushery to negotiate, so scratches on exposed legs are a possibility. Cameras are mandatory! :-)

See you there!