Escalante River (High) Usage 2012

[intuitive cat]

Just wanted to give an update on the current usage of the Escalante River Trailhead on Highway 12 so that those of you planning to come down & hike from that TH will know what to expect.
Currently, as of May 11th, 2012, for the last week I have seen a consistent full parking lot with overflow next to the highway averaging at least 4 or 5 cars EVERY DAY.
On most days, 1/2 of the vehicles are group vans.
so, there are a LOT of people in the Escalante River Gorge this spring.
just a heads up.
Amazingly, when I hiked downstream towards Bowington/Deer Canyon on the 10th, I only passed/saw 3 people. What surprised me the most is that I saw one of those people on the opposite side of the river from the trail in a spot that would normally get next to NO traffic and did not have a clear river crossing, but required bushwacking through tamerisk & russian olive.

 

[Yvonne]

I'm in the area soon and really appreciate your service,thanks for the update. :twothumbs:
I guess I'll ask you again in approximately two weeks about some conditions

 

[intuitive cat]

I'm in the area soon and really appreciate your service,thanks for the update. :twothumbs:
I guess I'll ask you again in approximately two weeks about some conditions

I'll warn you that Memorial Day Weekend is the busiest weekend of the year out here.

 

[Yvonne]

I'll warn you that Memorial Day Weekend is the busiest weekend of the year out here.

I'll get there after Memorial Day, so I will stop at your store, gear up with some groceries and just say hello.
And depending on the weather I'll decide what to do.
I'm in the area for a while.

 

[intuitive cat]

I'll get there after Memorial Day, so I will stop at your store, gear up with some groceries and just say hello.
And depending on the weather I'll decide what to do.
I'm in the area for a while.

can't wait to meet you!

 

[Seldom Seen Anderson]

Are the demon gnats out yet? Do you get them up there? I think they are called cedar gnats or juniper gnats?

 

[Bill]

Are the demon gnats out yet? Do you get them up there? I think they are called cedar gnats or juniper gnats?

Yesterday I got a call from a friend who camped along the cottonwood canyon road close to 89 and he said the gnats were brutal.

 

[intuitive cat]

Are the demon gnats out yet? Do you get them up there? I think they are called cedar gnats or juniper gnats?

here, we call 'em no-see-ums. so far this season, they have not been bad around Boulder. when i was just on the Escalante, i had no insect problems at all. we have a slight chance of rain & t-storms just about every other day this next week though with hot sunny days in between, so that may change things.

Yesterday I got a call from a friend who camped along the cottonwood canyon road close to 89 and he said the gnats were brutal.

a lot of the storms this spring have hit that side of the monument & then run north up John's Valley west of Powell Point, so i think it has been wetter over there = more bugs.

 

[Yvonne]

Yesterday I got a call from a friend who camped along the cottonwood canyon road close to 89 and he said the gnats were brutal.

that sucks!! The gnats usually attack me within minutes

here, we call 'em no-see-ums. so far this season, they have not been bad around Boulder. when i was just on the Escalante, i had no insect problems at all. we have a slight chance of rain & t-storms just about every other day this next week though with hot sunny days in between, so that may change things.

I hope the no-see-ums stay away, I had some really bad experiences with them a few years ago.
Maybe I should gear up with enough DEET, it's the only stuff that helps to get rid of them for a while.
I wish I could avoid that chemical stuff but nothing else has worked for me.

 

[intuitive cat]

just talked to a friend with the BLM today & he said the cedar gnats are starting to come out in the Escalante Canyons area now.
I'll be getting out later this week & will report back as to how bad they are.