Salome or Salome

If you've never been to Salome Canyon (The Jug) you should re-think your priorities and seek it out. This is a short pilgrimage that should not be missed.
When I first heard about Salome Jug I was curious for two reasons, the canyon sounded intriguing but so did the name. So I looked it up and discovered that this name Salome was shared by two women that lead very contrasting lives.
The first was Salome the daughter of Herodias who danced for king Herod and requested and received from him the head of John the baptist. I also discovered the less known Salome, the mother of James and Joseph who petitioned for the Lords favour in behalf of her two boys. She may also have been the sister of Jesus' mother.
So I set out to discover who this canyon was. Was this canyon to be the Salome that lures tempts and deceives or the Salome that lays hidden from man's history for years, an unknown beauty that petitions the Gods for a good day in your behalf.
On this particular trip we started out early from Tucson. Making it to the trail head in a little over three and a half hours. To my surprise the trail head was lined with vehicles and groups of people waiting for hiking clubs or friends. We didn't wait around too long and made our way down the trail for about two miles. We came to the point where you drop into the canyon to begin the adventure. Here we found another group of people starting into the canyon also. Within a couple boulder hops we found ourselves already swimming through the canyon (The Jug is known for some significant swims to make it through the canyon). The water is cold but the hike was warm, so all is well. As we continue down the canyon we pass groups of people, some are wearing wet-suits and helmets, others are wearing shorts and shirts. Today we decided wearing neoprene was a good choice; as the day went on the swims became longer. As we went along the canyon we could see signs of Boy Scouts. Clumps of moss from the pools had been gathered and thrown, splattering and sticking to the walls of the canyon. A little later we passed the dutiful scouts. Even thought the canyon was busy it was not difficult to find a little alcove to sit and eat lunch alone. After we finished lunch we came to one of the final obstacles consisting of a mandatory 20 foot jump or rappel. The anchors for the rappel are permanent but there will most likely be no rope, so come prepared (It is also necessary to bring a rope to rig for the jump if you decide to do so). Maite decided to take the rappel while Kyle and I opted for the jump. At the bottom of the jump we sat on a ledge and prepared for the last couple long swims to get out of the canyon. The water was clear as we swam and the temperature outside was perfect as we hiked back up the trail to our car.
So, who was this canyon? What Salome was she named after? After numerous trips down this canyon I have discovered her to be both. She can be cold, bitter and dangerous or a blessing to you and your friends.