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...After losing contact with Hal, we decided NOT to follow (ditto the "Momma don't..." saying) and backed down the ridge to yet another valley further to the north.  We reasoned that fighting the scree was better than either Hal's or Paul's fate.  And what's more, we though we could make out a cairn above our position marking the route we originally took DOWN Hance Canyon.  This was somewhat comforting but... how to get there?

Sure enough, at the top of the scree field, we found the route we had used to enter Hance.  Now it was a simple matter of retracing our earlier steps, then out the Tapeats chimney to the top.  As we came into view of the nick in the Tapeats that lead out, we saw both Hal and Paul waiting for us... Very cool.  Now we didn't have to make up a story about how Susquatch nabbed two guys in our party.

This photo shows Marshall within feet of the exit.  It was now about 6PM... we started around 7AM from Cottonwood (11 hrs ago), and began descending into Hance at 9AM (9 hours total)... and now we face strapping on full packs for the trip to tonight's camp on Horseshoe Mesa... 1,200 ft up and 2 miles from here.

...The sun sets at 7:30PM... We'll never make it before dark.