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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
After some rest at Capitol Reef with short musings while stretching legs in varied terrain:
Sulphur Creek with the gang:
Sulphur Creek, Capitol Reef National Park, UT Capitol Reef National Park
Fish Creek Cove rock art hunt:
The cove Fish Cr waterfall waterfall closeup Navaho sandstone buttes The Cockscomb
Cohab Canyon sunset walk from campground:
Reef sunset Cohab Trail Profile the Wingate
The Dayhikes of Escalante:
I headed back down to the Escalante to do some day hikes from good roads should the forecasted weather bring wetting rains to the dirt road systems.
Escalante River/Deer Canyon 2 separate dayhikes
May 5: Escalante River Trail upstream from Hwy 12 Trailhead.
Up the river trail to find some rock art, arches, and a key junction of a thing called the Bowington Route to be used on a later trip someday.
Escalante River Escalante River wall Escalante Natural Bridge bridge up close storm coming alcove shelter time to walk aster can't remember Navajo sandstone appears
Up the Bowington Route towards the Boulder Mail Trail (a future loop) just a short distance.
Big Navajo walls Downcanyon on Bowington Route beautiful domeland over Death Hollow Escalante cuts Bowington Route views
Back down to the river and downstream.
valley floor, Escalante River Upper Escalante Canyon
May 6:
This day was a crosscountry jaunt from Hwy 12 at a place called Haymaker Bench. From the bench I went through a divide and then down an unnamed canyon, known locally as Deer Canyon, to the Escalante and Phipps Wash before retruning the same way.
Descending from Haymaker Bench Claret Cup Deer canyon ahead Escalante domes Layers of distant rock Leaving the Panel Could it go?
I was unclear if a route would go off the Deer Canyon Rim but I found a way through the Navajo sandstone onto Kayenta ledges and in. Next was a side canyon visit to Bowington Arch.
No entry! That rib will go Bowington Arch Hoodoos are a surprise vertical look at arch Arch view yucca flower
After the arch I continued downcanyon. It was surprisingly beautiful and dramatic.
Idyllic Canyon Oasis Buttress walls
After some less than dramatic scenery along the Escalante River, I returned and found much awesome rock art along the route.
Fine surprise of a canyon side draw slickrock and water
I finished the day with a short slickrock scramble of an unnamed butte Pt 6160'. The NW Ridge is pure moderate angle slickrock. Just because it is there, and it is visible from miles around. Nice 360 degree views of the Escalante Country.
Time to head out Looking back South view from Pt 6160'; The Escalante Boulder Creek area buttes NW ridge slickrock walk
May 7: Big Horn Canyon to Zebra Canyon. More slot play.
Big Horn Canyon W. Fk upstream, Main Fork downstream
This was a long day of 15 miles because of the unplanned, but worthwhile, sidetrip to Zebra Slot. Starting at Ten Mile Flat on the Hole in the Rock Road it went like this:
1.5 miles down Harris Wash.
Up West Fork Bighorn Slot 3 miles.
Traverse to head of, and descend Main Big Horn Canyon back to Harris Wash. 4 miles
Down Harris Wash 2.5 miles to Zebra Slot.
Explore Zebra.
Return 4 miles up Harris Wash to car.
West Fork Bighorn:
Tight slots, some dryfalls to ascend in the slot, then multiple fun friction scrambles around five more dryfalls in the canyon. I did harder scrambles but all had class 3 exits if backtracking a short distance.
Down Harris to cattle fence Big Horn Forks junction wavvy W. Fk first Into slot going up W. Fk. W. Fk. Bighorn Slot tight Big Horn West Fork dryfall to climb fun step up secure place Dryfall ahead, Grand Staircase-Escalante NM Class 5 bypass Class 5 friction W. Fk. Bighorn Canyon stem the water W. Fork Bighorn Canyon bypass this, too bypass a third with steep friction looking at easy bypass options a fourth! a fifth dryfall! bypass No. 5 with class 4 Looking down (easier ramp further right) Sixth and final bypass
Across the mesa and enter Main Fork Big Horn Canyon. Descend it back to Harris Wash:
There's Main Fork Big Horn Find an enrty This goes! Sculpted rock Very colorful Main Fork Doesn't go unfortunately But easy bypassing great lines shallow Big Horn Canyon slot big view what a landscape Big Horn Canyon
Down to Zebra Slot and the long slog back up Harris Wash:
Into Harris Wash Into Zebra slot Classic Zebra The stripes Zebra Canyon Wet on this day (crotch high) Stem with barefeet the water waves Long Harris wash slog Not happy with me!
The Badger was a pleasant surprise until I was hissed at and stepped toward before turning around and trotting off.
Rock Art found here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/23557848@N03/sets/72157652459779056
A samlpin':
petro-picto headless outline Faded and clear much going on long torso, spear? Interesting design peculiar figures horns and shield Not sure if these are actually archaic or much younger. They are 6" tall and have that elongated BCS form. 47 I think I counted in all. Lesser visited canyon but obvious as one walks upstream has me doubting they are archaic. bearpaws strange must have had ladder pole awesome centipede? Fremont warrior sun and morphs elaborate necklace strange black rays eminate fine hands holding hands
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
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Rainie Too! Member
Joined: 12 Dec 2008 Posts: 377 | TRs | Pics
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Wow! I think I like the Escalante up there better! More slots, great views....
Think I missed a lot. It is prettier than the loop we did! Hope you enjoyed your peaceful saunterings John.
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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
Rainie Too! wrote: | Wow! I think I like the Escalante up there better! More slots, great views....
Think I missed a lot. It is prettier than the loop we did! Hope you enjoyed your peaceful saunterings John. |
Goody! I didn't really skip Red Breaks, I was saving it for us to finish. Let's do it as part of a big loop in this middle Escalante country as part of next years trip!
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
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Rainie Too! Member
Joined: 12 Dec 2008 Posts: 377 | TRs | Pics
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Abert Member
Joined: 02 Sep 2010 Posts: 588 | TRs | Pics Location: Sequim |
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Abert
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Mon May 11, 2015 1:06 pm
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You've gotten some great slot canyon photos this year, John. Funny that I had my first badger in the wild sighting (crossing the Burr Trail Road) just a couple days before you saw yours.
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John Morrow Member
Joined: 03 Apr 2007 Posts: 1526 | TRs | Pics Location: Roslyn |
Escalante River/Deer Canyon 2 separate dayhikes Big Horn Canyon W. Fk upstream, Main Fork downstream
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
“Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”-Mary Oliver
“A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.”
― MLK Jr.
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