When Carrot Quinn started blogging about the Hayduke trail, I had no idea what it was. Would it take a few days or a week? Why hike in such desert conditions in the first place? In Utah?!

62 days later, so many descriptions of enchanted tiny canyons later, photos of unworldly slickrock landscapes later, grand canyon later, past polygamyville ... Now I know how little I know, in the best way.

We’re walking past a large compound when five small, tousled blonde heads pop up over the high metal fence.

“What are y’all doin?” Says the oldest boy. He’s maybe ten.

“We’re walking across Utah,” says Dan. The boys’ eyes practically bug out of their sockets.

“Why don’t you just drive?” Says one of the younger ones. His face is dusty and he’s wearing a backwards baseball cap.

“Because this is an adventure,” I say. The boys stare at me.

A woman with a hair poof and a prairie dress appears outside the front door. She’s putting empty plastic water jugs on the curb.

“It’s so great,” I say quickly. “We walk through all these canyons.”

“And you just find a place to camp?” Says the oldest boy.

“We have a tent,” I say.

The woman is calling the boys. They startle, and the blonde heads dissapear.