Shortly after setting out on the search for a water source, I climbed a high ridge dividing the Mesa and Anguila and was rewarded with views of La Mariposa and distant mountains.

Continues from “Treading Onto the Mesa de Anguila”

While Ryan set off in search of an accessible water source, the other three of us huddled in the shrinking shade of the wash containing Tinaja Blanca. Eric slept under a rock outcrop, while Brett and I sat awkwardly on uneven rocks, occasionally discussing our options but mostly resting in silence. I went back to look again at the tinaja in its narrow, steep canyon.

We could pursue getting water from the tinaja 40 feet below us in the wash, a task that would be easier if the winds whipping up the narrow canyon would settle down. Because of the geometry, it would be necessary to lean out over the chasm to lower and raise our bucket into the pool, else we risk the razor-sharp limestone edge slicing through our rope. It wasn’t an appealing option, and I wouldn’t ask anyone to do it, as I, being not a fan of edges, wasn’t willing to put that much of my body off the rock.

If Ryan’s search turned up nothing, we always had the option of hiking down to the Rio Grande at Entrance Camp, though we would be consigned to making that long slog twice. Another option — admittedly a failure — was to climb Canyon Flag today and hike out in the morning, then find ourselves something else to do for two nights, preferably with greater water availability. There was also the possibility that Tinaja Lujan and other nearby potholes would have water; Ryan would let us know. I spent most of the time looking over the maps, hoping there was something we had missed.
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