LavranJ
New Member
- Joined
- Nov 19, 2015
- Messages
- 4
Hey all! I'm in the midst of planning/gathering beta for a trip in southern Utah, and I've been lurking here for a few weeks gathering all the knowledge I can. Despite the phenomenal amount of info (and beautiful pictures) that I've found, I still have a few questions.
Firstly: any advice about the dirt roads in GSENM in January - March? I know the quality is quite variable, and I read in a few places that Hole-in-the-Rock gets regraded in February; but my major concern is snowmelt and other sources of water. I'll be in a Prius in January, and in 12 passenger vans in February, so I'd like to avoid anything too wild.
Specifically:
How is Hole-in-the-Rock in January? If it's wet? The turn-off to Harris Wash?
How about Old Sheffield? Wet?
And Wolverine? Wet?
Those three are my main concerns. I'll likely only be taking one of them for this trip, but I'd like to have info to weigh my options.
Secondly: any general suggestions for 25 - 30 miles loops in the Escalante? I have quite a few ideas already, developed mostly through reading many wonderful trip reports - but I'd love to hear some more.
Some details about the trip(s):
I'm an Outdoor Programs trip leader at University of Redlands, pretty close to J-Tree, and I'm planning this trip as a spring break trip - so I'll be leading a group of 6 - 10 college-aged peers on this trip. My only previous experience in this area was a phenomenal canoeing trip I did down the Green River from Ruby Ranch to Spanish Bottom, about 2.5 years ago - I'm very stoked to get back to the canyons.
I'll be scouting the trip with my co-lead in early January, and leading the trip in late February/early March. The nature of this trip imposes a few constraints:
1) Not much wading - it's gonna be chilly!
2) No technical canyoneering - anything requiring a belay is out until I'm AMGA certed. Ideally, no climbing over ~10 feet, and not too tricky. Slickrock scrambling is totally fine.
3) Good roads, not too long of a drive off the 12/Burr Trail. The drive's already pretty long, and our cars are far from SUVs.
Lastly: any words about Big Spencer Flats and that general area? I'm considering cutting through there on the way to Phipps Wash, but I'm not sure if there are any cool features North of Red Breaks that we should check out on the way.
Thanks - looking forward to getting to know y'all!
Firstly: any advice about the dirt roads in GSENM in January - March? I know the quality is quite variable, and I read in a few places that Hole-in-the-Rock gets regraded in February; but my major concern is snowmelt and other sources of water. I'll be in a Prius in January, and in 12 passenger vans in February, so I'd like to avoid anything too wild.
Specifically:
How is Hole-in-the-Rock in January? If it's wet? The turn-off to Harris Wash?
How about Old Sheffield? Wet?
And Wolverine? Wet?
Those three are my main concerns. I'll likely only be taking one of them for this trip, but I'd like to have info to weigh my options.
Secondly: any general suggestions for 25 - 30 miles loops in the Escalante? I have quite a few ideas already, developed mostly through reading many wonderful trip reports - but I'd love to hear some more.
Some details about the trip(s):
I'm an Outdoor Programs trip leader at University of Redlands, pretty close to J-Tree, and I'm planning this trip as a spring break trip - so I'll be leading a group of 6 - 10 college-aged peers on this trip. My only previous experience in this area was a phenomenal canoeing trip I did down the Green River from Ruby Ranch to Spanish Bottom, about 2.5 years ago - I'm very stoked to get back to the canyons.
I'll be scouting the trip with my co-lead in early January, and leading the trip in late February/early March. The nature of this trip imposes a few constraints:
1) Not much wading - it's gonna be chilly!
2) No technical canyoneering - anything requiring a belay is out until I'm AMGA certed. Ideally, no climbing over ~10 feet, and not too tricky. Slickrock scrambling is totally fine.
3) Good roads, not too long of a drive off the 12/Burr Trail. The drive's already pretty long, and our cars are far from SUVs.
Lastly: any words about Big Spencer Flats and that general area? I'm considering cutting through there on the way to Phipps Wash, but I'm not sure if there are any cool features North of Red Breaks that we should check out on the way.
Thanks - looking forward to getting to know y'all!