Paiute Wilderness
Categories: Announcements
The Paiute Wilderness is a small area that ecompasses most of the Virgin Mountains and borders both the Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument and the Beaver Dam Mountains Wilderness Area. Somewhere high up in the Virgin Mountains is a remnant Pleistocene Forest but other than that there’s not much for me to write about it because there simply isn’t much written about it.
One winter day after a good snowfall I decided to head up a canyon I’ve noticed many times from the interstate. It’s an approach of two miles up an alluvial fan to get to the entrance, but once i was inside I was able to continue at least another two miles up the canyon and possibly all the way to the top of the mountain. Enjoy the pictures.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-3-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-3-480x303.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-3-800x506.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-3-768x485.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-3-1536x971.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-3-570x360.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-3-370x234.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-3-722x456.jpg 722w)
The weather was perfect.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-4-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-4-480x314.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-4-800x523.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-4-768x502.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-4-1536x1004.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-4-570x373.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-4-370x242.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-4-722x472.jpg 722w)
Crossing the major faultline at the base of the Virgin Mountains. It was still a mile to get to the entrance of the beckoning canyon up ahead.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-7-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-7-480x305.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-7-800x509.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-7-768x489.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-7-1536x978.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-7-570x363.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-7-370x235.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-7-722x460.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-8-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-8-480x308.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-8-800x513.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-8-768x492.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-8-1536x984.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-8-570x365.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-8-370x237.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-8-722x463.jpg 722w)
Inside the entrance to the canyon the strata reached into the clouds at an extremely steep angle.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-5-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-5-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-5-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-5-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-5-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-5-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-5-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-5-722x481.jpg 722w)
I did not have much of an idea of what to expect so initially i thought i might try for that sloped ledge in the sunlight, on the right, thinking the clouds were breaking up.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-6-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-6-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-6-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-6-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-6-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-6-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-6-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-6-722x481.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-11-scaled.jpg 1365w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-11-480x720.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-11-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-11-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-11-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-11-570x855.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-11-370x555.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-11-722x1083.jpg 722w)
A double boulder bridge. Looked like there was a bit of flood debri on top.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-10-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-10-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-10-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-10-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-10-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-10-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-10-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-10-722x481.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-13-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-13-480x290.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-13-800x484.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-13-768x465.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-13-1536x929.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-13-1280x775.jpg 1280w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-13-960x581.jpg 960w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-13-1920x1163.jpg 1920w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-13-570x345.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-13-370x224.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-13-722x437.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-12-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-12-480x290.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-12-800x483.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-12-768x464.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-12-1536x927.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-12-570x344.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-12-370x223.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-12-722x436.jpg 722w)
Yet another ominous but exotic side canyon. I’d love to go up one of these on a return trip.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-14-scaled.jpg 1365w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-14-480x720.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-14-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-14-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-14-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-14-570x855.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-14-370x555.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-14-722x1083.jpg 722w)
There wasn’t a trace of flat ground in this one.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-18-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-18-480x227.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-18-800x379.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-18-768x364.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-18-1536x727.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-18-570x270.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-18-370x175.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-18-722x342.jpg 722w)
A fantastic scene that suddenly revealed itself. After being in a relatively narrow gorge for so long it seemed crazy for the landscape to be opening up in front of me as i went higher. I could see as I kept moving that it was breaking into three tributary canyons and i was going to have to make a choice about which one to take without being able to see up through the fog.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-16-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-16-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-16-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-16-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-16-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-16-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-16-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-16-722x481.jpg 722w)
The strata on the west side were starting to relax.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-20-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-20-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-20-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-20-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-20-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-20-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-20-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-20-722x481.jpg 722w)
Yet another dryfall that was trickier than it looked but still passable.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-22-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-22-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-22-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-22-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-22-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-22-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-22-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-22-722x481.jpg 722w)
Looking back down the falls.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-24-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-24-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-24-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-24-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-24-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-24-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-24-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-24-722x481.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-23-480x720.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-23-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-23-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-23-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-23-scaled.jpg 1365w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-23-570x855.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-23-370x555.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-23-722x1083.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-30-480x720.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-30-800x1200.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-30-768x1152.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-30-1024x1536.jpg 1024w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-30-scaled.jpg 1365w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-30-570x855.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-30-370x555.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-30-722x1083.jpg 722w)
In the upper canyon watershed I had decided to take the westernmost route, which looked boring at first and possibly not good. But it was too foggy to see anywhere and I welcomed the temporary flatness. After a while though it started climbing and opening up again. It looked like if I wanted I could leave the canyon and go for the upper slopes of the mountain.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-26-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-26-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-26-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-26-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-26-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-26-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-26-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-26-722x481.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-28-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-28-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-28-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-28-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-28-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-28-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-28-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-28-722x481.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-29-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-29-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-29-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-29-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-29-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-29-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-29-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-29-722x481.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-33-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-33-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-33-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-33-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-33-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-33-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-33-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-33-722x481.jpg 722w)
Getting onto some bedrock and very close to the snow.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-35-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-35-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-35-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-35-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-35-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-35-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-35-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-35-722x481.jpg 722w)
Snow on the trees 100 yards ahead.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-37-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-37-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-37-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-37-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-37-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-37-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-37-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-37-722x481.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-38-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-38-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-38-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-38-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-38-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-38-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-38-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-38-722x481.jpg 722w)
The bedrock was getting slippery with the snow melting.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-41-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-41-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-41-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-41-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-41-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-41-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-41-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-41-722x481.jpg 722w)
The canyon had ended and it was gullies or open slopes to the top. This was almost as high as I went. The snow at this point was making my footing treacherous on the loose boulders but it t looks like the top of the canyon/mountain is totally reachable.Â
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-39-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-39-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-39-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-39-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-39-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-39-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-39-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-39-722x481.jpg 722w)
Heading back down canyon I started approaching the confluence of the upper canyons and the clouds were definitely lifting. I could see in this picture that had i taken the eastern most canyon it would have ended shortly in a dryfall at least 100 feet high.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-36-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-36-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-36-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-36-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-36-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-36-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-36-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-36-722x481.jpg 722w)
The clouds continued to break up temporarily and almost-sunlight started melting the snow quickly off the trees.
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-34-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-34-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-34-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-34-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-34-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-34-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-34-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-34-722x481.jpg 722w)
![](https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-32-scaled.jpg 2048w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-32-480x320.jpg 480w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-32-800x533.jpg 800w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-32-768x512.jpg 768w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-32-1536x1024.jpg 1536w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-32-570x380.jpg 570w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-32-370x247.jpg 370w, https://adamelliottphotography.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/PaiuteWilderness-32-722x481.jpg 722w)
The fog was still teasing me on the way down.