Fold Canyon Middle Exit

Stickerbumper

Member
Joined
May 16, 2017
Messages
43
Hey,

it's been a while that I've been active here, mostly because I have moved back to the other side of the big pond. Not unsurprisingly, the desert is drawing me and my better half back and we are planning to spend a week in the Escalante region on an upcoming trip to the States. Initially we had planned on doing either Steve Allen's hike #21 or #22, but due to the exceptional snowpack this year, we fear that the runoff in the lower Escalante might be too high to safely cross it (we will be there end of March - Mid April).

So instead of coming from the SW, we are now considering doing a loop from Halls Creek, up the Baker Route into upper Stevens and into Fold Canyon. From there we would.d need to cross into Georges Camp Canyon before heading back up towards cliff, hike NW, drop into Moody canyon and get back to the car via Red Slide. Most of the route is solid, but there is one particular spot (the exit out of Fold Canyon) where the beta is relatively sparse. The goal is to hike up to what I've marked with a flag in the map below. From what I was able to gather, there are two possible routes out of Fold Canyon. One uses Moqui steps described by Amy and James in their Waterpoeckt Fold hike (https://doingmiles.com/2019-04-waterpocket-fold/) and the other is described in SAs Overland route (Descending into Fold Canyon via a Hole). Has anyone here used either exit route and would be able give some pointers/beta (especially on exposure) and in case of the "hole exit" on the location as this one might be tricky to find from below.

Thanks you!
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot 2023-03-13 at 07.48.53.png
    Screenshot 2023-03-13 at 07.48.53.png
    3.2 MB · Views: 41
Last edited:
I don’t know anything about Fold Canyon, but I do know that James and Amy were helpful when I reached out with questions related to one of their other trips. So you might want to contact them directly if you haven’t done so already.

Have a great trip!
 
When in doubt, look to the legend. Towards the end of this clip, it clearly shows what kind of climbing skills you'd need to go up the hole, as well as the landscape nearby for reference points when trying to find the hole from below.
If you really want to do #21 or #22, yes the river would probably be too high in late March, but likely fine by mid-April. Someone here will be able to reply if you ask a couple of days before the trip starts, or check the USGS site:


And the aforementioned clip:

 
Oh my - just watched the video. Very cool that it worked! But I do find myself wondering how many people have tried other things that didn't work and were never heard from again???
 
Per your inquiry concerning the Fold exits. I watched the video and in my opinion, the hole exit appears much safer than our moqui step exit; however, I have not done this exit. It is difficult to fall out of a narrow slot and there are usually various holds to be found given how much stone is around you. Our step exit is up a smooth slab with old rounded steps and is not protectable from below. If you slid off the steps, the landing would be a bit awkward and could result in a twisted ankle. If your climbing skills are good, the steps would not be considered difficult. Getting your packs up through the slot might be more difficult than handing them up over the steps, perhaps a rope could help with that. I know nothing about getting from the top of the slot to the pass crossing into George's Camp Canyon.
It is fabulous terrain in those canyons and well worth the trip; have a great time.

James
 
When in doubt, look to the legend. Towards the end of this clip, it clearly shows what kind of climbing skills you'd need to go up the hole, as well as the landscape nearby for reference points when trying to find the hole from below.
If you really want to do #21 or #22, yes the river would probably be too high in late March, but likely fine by mid-April. Someone here will be able to reply if you ask a couple of days before the trip starts, or check the USGS site:


And the aforementioned clip:

Thank you for this. That helps quite a bit as it's easy to see features in the wash!
 
Per your inquiry concerning the Fold exits. I watched the video and in my opinion, the hole exit appears much safer than our moqui step exit; however, I have not done this exit. It is difficult to fall out of a narrow slot and there are usually various holds to be found given how much stone is around you. Our step exit is up a smooth slab with old rounded steps and is not protectable from below. If you slid off the steps, the landing would be a bit awkward and could result in a twisted ankle. If your climbing skills are good, the steps would not be considered difficult. Getting your packs up through the slot might be more difficult than handing them up over the steps, perhaps a rope could help with that. I know nothing about getting from the top of the slot to the pass crossing into George's Camp Canyon.
It is fabulous terrain in those canyons and well worth the trip; have a great time.

James

I was just about to reach out to the two of you via eMail, but you beat me to it. Thank you for your assessment, this makes me quite confident we will be able to pull it off. I'm confident that my climbing skills good enough to get past the steps from where I should be able to assist the other two if needed (though I doubt they'll need much help). I agree that the hole exit seems like the safer option, and we will probably go with that (if we find it). The hole should allow us to access the shelf above the canyon floor. From there we should be able to route find a way up towards the "pass". If anyone has beta on this section, it would still be much appreciated.

Thank you for the inspiration and the many useful info I was able to gather from your trip reports.
 
I am looking at a similar route and was curious which option you took. Any recommendations on the hole vs the steps?
Thanks, Brian
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
W 9 Days Solo Escalante Loop in October (water advice) - Stevens Canyon, Baker Route over Waterpocket fold, Halls Narrows to Moody Canyons Trip Planning 11
fossana Stevens/Fold Canyon loop (Glen Canyon NRA) Backpacking 21
J Southern Waterpocket Fold Backpacking 7
Kullaberg63 Loop on and around the Fold Backpacking 13
Muddy Waters Stevens, Fold, Escalante River, Fools, Kings Mesa Trip Reports 3
regehr south waterpocket fold backpack Trip Planning 27
WasatchWill Beehive Traverse - Through the Heart of Capitol Reef's Waterpocket Fold Backpacking 39
J Big Escalante Backpack Loop: Stevens/Fold/Bobway/Coyote Gulch April 25-30, 2015 Backpacking 8
Parma Stuff, roll, or fold Gear 23
Jammer Moody Canyons and The Fold Backpacking 29
slc_dan Water Pocket Fold district, Capitol Reef. Sheets Gulch. Hiking & Camping 10
J Reflection Canyon Trip Planning 3
fossana Found: prescription glasses near the top of the Flipoff Canyon approach General Discussion 5
Spud Salt Creek Canyon question Trip Planning 11
B Buckskin gulch/Pariah canyon Carpool Trip Planning 0
TractorDoc Paintbrush Canyon / Cascade Canyon Loop -- Grand Teton NP September 11, 2023 Hiking & Camping 9
Kullaberg63 15 day canyon route Backpacking 13
Titans Tricked in the canyon! Hiking & Camping 5
TrailScot Dayhiking the Under-the-Rim Trail - Bryce Canyon NP - October 2023 Hiking & Camping 4
Janice Such a GRAND Canyon - Deer Creek / Tapeats / Thunder River Backpacking 21
M Mee/Knowles Canyon Loop, Grand Junction Colorado Backpacking 4
OldBill Short hike at the Grand Canyon of Pennsylvania Hiking & Camping 1
S Paria Canyon- Whitehouse to Lees Ferry, Oct 18 to 21, 2023 Trip Reports 0
scatman Yellowstone's Thorofare, Headwaters of Thorofare Creek, Majo Pass, Younts Peak, Bob's Canyon, and Cub Creek - August 9, 2023 - Days 7 through 10 Backpacking 34
scatman Yellowstone's Thorofare, Headwaters of Thorofare Creek, Majo Pass, Younts Peak, Bob's Canyon, and Cub Creek - August 9, 2023 - Days 1 through 6 Backpacking 56
A Bowdie Canyon Trip Planning 10
TheMountainRabbit Silas Canyon (Popo Agie Wilderness) - August 2023 Backpacking 3
J Paria Canyon - One Day Trail Trip Planning 10
Bob The New Grand Canyon Trip Planning 1
WhozWutz Invite Horse Canyon Needles Meet Up (Members Only) 1
BJett Part 3 - Tour de Canyon Country. Lower Escalante Loop Hiking & Camping 0
BJett Part 2 - Tour de Canyon Country. Swell Times Hiking & Camping 0
BJett Part 1 - Tour de Canyon Country. Cedar Mesa. Hiking & Camping 8
Gretchen Millward Trachyte Creek via Woodruff Canyon, April 2023 Backpacking 9
F Grand Canyon hermits rest to granite rapids to bright angel Trip Planning 10
gnwatts Stillwater Canyon On The Water 11
shredhiker Kings Canyon July 2022 Kearsarge, Rae, & Sixty Lakes Backpacking 8
J Info needed: Bown's Canyon, Long Canyon Trip Planning 8
Gretchen Millward Cheesebox Canyon, Oct. 2022 Backpacking 14
Janice Professor Creek / Mary Jane Canyon - mid April? Trip Planning 0
D Horseshoe Canyon or San Rafael Swell? Trip Planning 9
scatman North Ridge of City Creek Canyon - February 4, 2023 Hiking & Camping 17
scatman South Ridge of City Creek Canyon - January 28, 2023 Hiking & Camping 4
NorthwestWanderer 8 Day High Sierra trek : Humphreys Basin, Star Col, Granite Park, Lake Italy & Piute Canyon 6/25-7/2/22 Backpacking 7
T Amazing Discovery in Utah-Glen Canyon Trip Planning 65
Titans What’s your unfinished business? Hard canyon access, mtn peak, you name it! General Discussion 54
SteveR Big Spring-Elephant Canyon dayhike. With free bonus vacation pix! Hiking & Camping 13
Stephanie B Dirty Devil River Impassible at Poison Springs Canyon Off Road 0
LarryBoy Is there anything technical in White Canyon above the Black Hole? Trip Planning 16
dennisrodman A week in the Grand Canyon / Boucher / Hermit / Tonto Trail Trip Planning 4

Similar threads

Back
Top