Tuesday morning 10/10: still overcast with the threat of showers, but conditions are supposed to improve as the day goes on. Only
moderate flash flood danger. With this in mind, we secured a permit for Mystery, which has a fairly long approach, but only short narrows
sections, which means less flash flood danger. Both Tom's and Shane's websites give this canyon rave reviews, and it is apparently very
popular. We had it all to ourselves on this particular day. The approach hike from Weeping Rock requires 2500 ft of climbing, but the
views are nice. Dropping into the canyon (the "death gully") was especially nasty because of all the steep slippery mud from the previous
day's rain. However, once we got down into the bottom of the drainage the fall folliage was beautiful, and the canyon itself was pleasant
enough, although it was less technical and there was less water than we would have expected from the descriptions. A bit of a letdown
after Das Boot and Keyhole. Can't say this is one of my favorites.