BJett
Member
- Joined
- May 3, 2013
- Messages
- 566
Quarantine makes people do strange things they might not have done otherwise, like an impromptu house purchase and getting married. These things weren't even in discussion pre-Covid. We had a small backyard ceremony in late August, and a week later we packed up and headed west towards southern Utah. My last trip was 2016. The best part about this one was getting to share my favorite places with my new wife, and guide her during her first backpacking trip ever. Her excitement fueled my anticipation.
Neither smoke from the fires nor the epic cold snap bringing snow to the high country...and on our drive over Hells Backbone Road...would slow us down.
We got situated in Escalante for 4 days exploring and resting before we waiting for some warmer weather to creep back in. Originally we were going to do my old standby intro to desert hiking, Death Hollow from Boulder to the Hwy 12 bridge. Instead we hired a shuttle and spent 3 days on the Boulder Mail Trail, 2 nights camping at Mamie Creek for the night skies, the silence, and solitude. No regrets. Veronica crushed it, even with a bit of adversity with our water supply. The huge waterpockets and pools along Mamie were dry except for one, and it was small, dark and sketchy. Clogged both my gravity filters but we got enough drip to avoid boiling. A pump would have been great. Hindsight. Worked out fine in the end and the water tasted good. Turned out there was plenty of water the closer you got to Escalante on the BMT.
We spent our first night back in Boulder at the Boulder Mountain Lodge, and dinner at my old employer the Hells Backbone Grill. Other than Covid protocols nothing had changed, the food and vibe is still amazing. We had planned on a high country Colorado backpack or Great Sand Dunes trip, but Veronica loved the Grand Staircase terrain so much she wanted to stay longer and do another 3 day trip before heading back to Kentucky. Music to my ears! I have met my match
.
We backpacked from the Hwy 12 bridge and base camped in Death Hollow for 2 nights. It was cool seeing this stretch from a different perspective, I have been down DH 7 times and always go top to bottom. We explored up canyon to the magical pools, taking our time and seeing the best parts of Death Hollow. The last 5 miles are such a gem. We hiked out walking in the Escalante River all the way back to the car other than a mile or 2 of sand slogging, taking our sweet time.
Wrapped up our trip in Escalante and then headed back east, followed by smoke but much better views heading back than we had driving in from Grand Junction.
PHOTO BOMB....
Intro hike to Upper Calf Creek Falls, getting Veronica's feet used to this strange moonscape.
Taking a break in Death Hollow before slogging it out to Mamie Creek
Mamie Camp
Leave 'em where you found 'em!
In the spring this waterpocket is usually full. Oops.
Mamie Creek Natural Bridge
Rookie
The view to rival all views
Pondo magic
Mamie camp. Perfection.
Our water for 2 nights. Further down canyon there were deep pockets of water but you'd have to rope someone in just to get it.
Success!
Low ABV? Worked for me at this point.
TRIP 2 - ESCALANTE RIVER TO DEATH HOLLOW
Escalante Arch
Confluence
Typically tough to get, we had the alcove for 2 nights of awesomeness. The contrast of Mamie Creek silence to the frogs in DH is stark.
Primrose
Woodyaster
Sacred Datura
Canyon trifecta...ruins, rock art and an arch
We are already planning our 2021 spring trip. Hole in the Rock Road canyon adventures and some Bears Ears NM fun.
Neither smoke from the fires nor the epic cold snap bringing snow to the high country...and on our drive over Hells Backbone Road...would slow us down.
We got situated in Escalante for 4 days exploring and resting before we waiting for some warmer weather to creep back in. Originally we were going to do my old standby intro to desert hiking, Death Hollow from Boulder to the Hwy 12 bridge. Instead we hired a shuttle and spent 3 days on the Boulder Mail Trail, 2 nights camping at Mamie Creek for the night skies, the silence, and solitude. No regrets. Veronica crushed it, even with a bit of adversity with our water supply. The huge waterpockets and pools along Mamie were dry except for one, and it was small, dark and sketchy. Clogged both my gravity filters but we got enough drip to avoid boiling. A pump would have been great. Hindsight. Worked out fine in the end and the water tasted good. Turned out there was plenty of water the closer you got to Escalante on the BMT.
We spent our first night back in Boulder at the Boulder Mountain Lodge, and dinner at my old employer the Hells Backbone Grill. Other than Covid protocols nothing had changed, the food and vibe is still amazing. We had planned on a high country Colorado backpack or Great Sand Dunes trip, but Veronica loved the Grand Staircase terrain so much she wanted to stay longer and do another 3 day trip before heading back to Kentucky. Music to my ears! I have met my match
.We backpacked from the Hwy 12 bridge and base camped in Death Hollow for 2 nights. It was cool seeing this stretch from a different perspective, I have been down DH 7 times and always go top to bottom. We explored up canyon to the magical pools, taking our time and seeing the best parts of Death Hollow. The last 5 miles are such a gem. We hiked out walking in the Escalante River all the way back to the car other than a mile or 2 of sand slogging, taking our sweet time.
Wrapped up our trip in Escalante and then headed back east, followed by smoke but much better views heading back than we had driving in from Grand Junction.
PHOTO BOMB....
Intro hike to Upper Calf Creek Falls, getting Veronica's feet used to this strange moonscape.
Taking a break in Death Hollow before slogging it out to Mamie Creek
Mamie Camp
Leave 'em where you found 'em!
In the spring this waterpocket is usually full. Oops.
Mamie Creek Natural Bridge
Rookie
The view to rival all views
Pondo magic
Mamie camp. Perfection.
Our water for 2 nights. Further down canyon there were deep pockets of water but you'd have to rope someone in just to get it.
Success!
Low ABV? Worked for me at this point.
TRIP 2 - ESCALANTE RIVER TO DEATH HOLLOW
Escalante Arch
Confluence
Typically tough to get, we had the alcove for 2 nights of awesomeness. The contrast of Mamie Creek silence to the frogs in DH is stark.
Primrose
Woodyaster
Sacred Datura
Canyon trifecta...ruins, rock art and an arch
We are already planning our 2021 spring trip. Hole in the Rock Road canyon adventures and some Bears Ears NM fun.
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