Escalante Natl. Mon. to Bryce N.P. the (unknown) Final Dayhikes April 15-16, 2021

John Morrow

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The final installment of my 2021 Utah/Arizona Spring Trip. I departed the San Rafael Swell, leaving my friend David to other Swell summit adventures, and made my way to Escalante Outfitters. Pizza, shower, and cheap tent pad awaited. I love that place. Decided I'd join the living and simply spend both nights camped there in the yard.

April 15 I did a nice loop in the nowhere land between Phipps Wash, the Red Breaks, and Harris Wash from the Sheffield Road. But I really had the Red Pyramid (local name) in mind. I've seen it now for the past ten years and few people report going there. The day turned into a nice triangular loop over dunes and stone.


Destination: The Red Pyramid
by John Morrow, on Flickr


South face route
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Darkening skies over 50 Mile Mtn.
by John Morrow, on Flickr


back down
by John Morrow, on Flickr


moving across
by John Morrow, on Flickr


wildflower seed in the sand and stone
by John Morrow, on Flickr


great bedding
by John Morrow, on Flickr


high dunes
by John Morrow, on Flickr


color
by John Morrow, on Flickr

April 16: Knowing I need to start driving toward Kanab, I packed up and found an off-the-beaten-path, hike to a highpoint and a great deep canyon view. From the Escalante River TH in town, I west eastward up one canyon draining Big Flat, over to the fabulous rim of Esclante river Canyon, and descended another canyon. Fun empty country walk in an ever increasingly busy Escalante.


Escalante Trailhead start
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Upward in canyon
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Rim view!
by John Morrow, on Flickr


last look to north
by John Morrow, on Flickr


On the rim
by John Morrow, on Flickr


deepening canyon
by John Morrow, on Flickr

I still had time for more walking so I stopped off at the Mossy Cave Trailhead on Hwy 12 in Bryce National Park. From the Fairyland I had twice failed to get to the summit of the Sinking Ship, this time I was smart and made it via the gentle side at the head of Jolley Gulch. A couple pairs of footprints but nobody to be seen. Threatening clouds added to the atmosphere. from the Sinking Ship I ran the ridge over Jolley Gulch to make a loop. Great to be somewhere I had yet to be within Bryce.


Jolley gulch beyond highway
by John Morrow, on Flickr


looking back downcanyon
by John Morrow, on Flickr


hoodoos!
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Boat Mesa and the Fairyland
by John Morrow, on Flickr


Last look at hoodooland
by John Morrow, on Flickr


late day light
by John Morrow, on Flickr

Full photo set describes the route better:



Off to Kanab I was for a rest day before heading to Indian Hollow Campground for the night before our descent into the Grand Canyon
 
Last edited:
Would love to see more details on the Sinking Ship hike part of your adventure.

Does this help? The mapped Sinking Ship is not the summit viewed from the rim.

Jolley Gulch.JPG

Interesting note on the above map. One can see the stitch line vertical of two quads. The quad to the left is 20' contour interval and 40' contour interval to the right.

Sinking ship on map below and right and Sinking Ship feature 7363 on skyline right. Highest feature to left with timber is possibly 7805':


last look
by John Morrow, on Flickr
 
Last edited:
Nice hikes! We were in the area at the same time. I did Steve Allen's Bighorn Canyon loop on April 14.
 

b.stark where is YOUR trip report? We love to read about this stuff --especially when we can't get out to do it ourselves. Don't tease us...


Um... my dog ate it. Yeah that's definitely what happened.
 
Wish I'd have known you guys were there. Would certainly have been up for hikes.
 
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