Trip suggestions for 1-2nd week April

[Ravialdo]

Just introduced myself in the Noobs section.
Here goes: I've got my annual back country trip vacation dates from work. Its going to be the 2nd week of April. Looking for suggestions.
My buddy and I have been kayaking and canoeing the past couple of trips. Last year we went to Lake Powell and kayak/camped along Weatherill Canyon and surrounding areas. The year before, did a canoe float trip down the Green River in Canyonlands. The year before that, a partial circumnavigation of Isle Royale in Lake Superior.

This year, I'm stumped. Usually I have a boat load of 'to-do' places, and I still kinda do.
What I'm looking for is a trip that:

1) Allows for limited back country campfires. I've never been to Capitol Reef and would love to go, but one of the hi-lights of these yearly trips is the ability to have a campfire in the back country. I'm fairly LNT, and our campfires aren't crazy, but it extremely nice to have.

2) Perhaps more open, slickrock rambling. I've done a lot of canyon trips, and while I like those, I also like wide-open spaces. Was thinking about Davis Gulch as the approach in the guidebooks states it is about 5 miles to the gulch or possibly Death Hollow.

3) Finally, something that allows for some solitude. I don't want to sound like a misanthrope, but I do like the fact that on most of these trips, we rarely see people. Living in a very population dense area, I need a 'breather' from people sometimes.

Suggestions? Trying to get started on my planning/logistics. This is the latest I've ever started my planning for any trip. Usually by now I not only have an idea but maps/permits, etc. This year, dunno what happened. True story.

Thanks!
Ravi

 

[Nick]

Hey Ravi, welcome to backcountrypost!

First thing that will be tough is the backcountry campfires. There are very few places in the southwest that you can legally have them while backpacking in canyons. All of the parks won't let you, and even in Escalante, if you're inside a canyon, it's not legal. You can have them on the rim there if you bring your own wood though.

There are some places that are just plain old BLM land that would probably be legal to have a fire, although like most any desert environment, it's not really suited for it. There just isn't wood to support recreational fires.

If you really do want to have a fire and backpack, one very good way to do that would be to hit the Trachyte Creek area and camp down by the shore of Powell. Hell, it would be a great choice for you all around. Great scenery, great solitude, legal to have a fire and a campsite with oodles of driftwood to burn. Check out my trip report from my trip there last year: http://backcountrypost.com/forum/index.php?threads/maidenwater-canyon.735/

 

[baltocharlie]

He Ravi: I can't help much at this time but will be there the same time as you. Awaiting some books and maps before I make my decisions where I play. If I find anything helpful, I will post. My trip will be more like a smorgasbord style. A little here, a little there. Hope to do some canyoneering, mnt biking and backpacking/hiking.