Black Canyon

So after enjoying a full four hours up Hardy Canyon I headed up the 100 yards north on the Wenas Road and turned back into the public access dirt road that leads into the L.T. Murray Wildlife Area. The first half mile is very rough and would be a mess if muddy, but it was manageable. Please make sure to close the gate behind you when heading into the wildlife area here at 1/2 mile. I then drove slowly up to the end of the road at the entrance to Black Canyon 1.3 miles from the highway. A huge burm is here to make this a nice trailhead, and ample turnaround space is there if you are patient. This canyon is stunning! Black basalt talus slopes below steep cliffs, hillsides of wildflowers (still a lot of lupine and penstomen here). About 1/2 mile up there was still water in the creek....not much, but some, and here I spotted a skinny long 4' ""racer"" species of snake that was seriously almost in the water. I wondered if it was hunting for tadpoles or something!? A slight tap by it sent it moving faster than any snake I've watched as it covered 10-12' to the safety of the brush in a matter of 2-3 seconds. Here western kingbirds also were very active. Mourning doves were EVERYWHERE in Black Canyon. The way looked to be more and more beautiful....but alas, the heat of the day was beginning to wear on me after 5+ hours in it, and so I held back from hiking all the way up to the 3900' highpoint at the end of the canyon atop Umtanum Ridge. This will be done on a fall scheduled hike for certain as the canyon is gorgeous. Back again!