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On dreary winter days in Michigan (if we can't have sun, can we please have some snow?), my mind is on trip planning for this spring and summer. I would love some help...
My husband and I have never been to Coyote Gulch and are planning a midweek backpacking trip the last full week of April. We're hoping that the spring break crowds will have died down a bit by then. We know we won't have the place to ourselves, and we're ok with that, but we're trying to figure out some ways to get off the beaten path and have some adventures.
We have multiple days and are looking to extend the trip as much as possible with things we're capable of. It's just the two of us and we're not comfortable with challenges beyond Class 2 - maybe a little spice here and there, but not a lot. I've been researching and am 99% sure that big loops like @John Morrow 's and @Jammer 's are beyond us. But I think there are some interesting out-and-backs we can do. Here are some things I'm considering and would like advice about:
Possible Plan:
I would love feedback and info:
Thanks in advance for your help!
My husband and I have never been to Coyote Gulch and are planning a midweek backpacking trip the last full week of April. We're hoping that the spring break crowds will have died down a bit by then. We know we won't have the place to ourselves, and we're ok with that, but we're trying to figure out some ways to get off the beaten path and have some adventures.
We have multiple days and are looking to extend the trip as much as possible with things we're capable of. It's just the two of us and we're not comfortable with challenges beyond Class 2 - maybe a little spice here and there, but not a lot. I've been researching and am 99% sure that big loops like @John Morrow 's and @Jammer 's are beyond us. But I think there are some interesting out-and-backs we can do. Here are some things I'm considering and would like advice about:
Possible Plan:
Start Hurricane Wash TH, go downstream Coyote Gulch, then upstream Escalante, check out Stevens Arch and go up Stevens Canyon a bit.
Go back to Coyote Gulch, go up Crack in the Wall just for fun and then come back down. Continue upstream in Coyote Gulch.
Go past the turn-off for Hurricane Wash and continue upstream in Coyote to the Sleepy Hollow turn-off. Find the giant alcove and maybe camp there.
Go back down Sleepy Hollow to Coyote and then back to turn-off for Hurricane Wash. Return to car.
We would have flexibility about how far to go each day and where to camp.
I would love feedback and info:
1) Does this seem like a good plan? Any changes?
2) Should we consider entering and exiting from Red Well instead of Hurricane?
3) How tricky is the slickrock downclimb getting from Coyote to the Escalante? I know everyone's ability and comfort zone are different, but we really want to get to the river. Any tips to help us succeed? What's the alternative route like that Jamal describes in his AcrossUtah info?
4) We would love to get up to Stevens Arch and be underneath that enormous structure. It seems incredible! From Jamal's description, it seems do-able, but I don't know if we've got the skills. I realize we can turn back if it doesn't work, but I'd love to hear your thoughts from any of you who have done it (or not).
5) It seems like there's at least one camping spot in lower Stevens Canyon. Correct? Assuming we can manage Coyote to the river, we think it would be fun to spend a night there. Any info on that would be great.
6) I stumbled on Sleepy Hollow from looking at the cracks in the map and researched to figure out what those are. I know we will not do those slots, but I would love to go up canyon a little and get to the giant alcove and perhaps camp there (Jack Brauer's photos are extremely enticing). I'm a bit uncertain, though, if it's between Coyote Gulch and the fork for Big Tony/Long Branch (perhaps halfway between?), or if it's past the fork and up Big Tony a little bit. Also, is there one alcove, or two facing each other? If you've gone up there, I would greatly appreciate details.
Thanks in advance for your help!
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