BJett
Member
- Joined
- May 3, 2013
- Messages
- 563
From Grand Junction we headed straight to Escalante for an early dinner at the Escalante Outfitters, and then down Hole in the Rock Road to find a camp at Sooner Rocks for the night. The next day we backpacked overland to the old cattle trail into Davis Gulch where we set up a basecamp for the next two nights. From here we spent a day hiking, and bushwacking, down Davis to the lake and then paddled our packrafts into Fiftymile Creek. Gregory Natural Bridge was slowly being reclaimed by Lake Powell but we were able to paddle under it with about 10' to spare.
The hike up Fiftymile Creek is just magical. My favorite Escalante canyon by far.
We hiked up and out the sandslide in Fiftymile, back over to Davis Gulch and our camp. Epic day of hiking, thrashing, paddling and wading. It was perfect.
After our 3 days in Davis Gulch we hiked out to the car and drove to Boulder Town, hit the Burr Trail Grill and met up with the in-laws for a few nights.
![IMG_3426.jpg IMG_3426.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121824-9c46a06769c9d2d135f4b6818e126672.jpg)
Sooner Rocks
![IMG_3447.jpg IMG_3447.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121825-75a99979e76253a460907c9d565f8d73.jpg)
The prickly pear were at their peak
![IMG_3449.jpg IMG_3449.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121826-528a7e1af0bf3dde0248be335d2c7728.jpg)
The old cattle trail entry/exit is in this section
![IMG_3455.jpg IMG_3455.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121827-e4dcc493450cefea2b5bf49ae5b269d2.jpg)
![IMG_3456.jpg IMG_3456.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121828-93837dc717be6981d2c0cff77055d3fa.jpg)
![2A4A6562.jpg 2A4A6562.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121830-a7eb5f66433cc9bb626121312bf76e43.jpg)
Our camp in Davis
![2A4A6563.jpg 2A4A6563.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121831-f4fbe1156ad5332537fbac0a1704c0fe.jpg)
![IMG_3458.jpg IMG_3458.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121832-ae11b83c58598f8fe03f8054a3b8b111.jpg)
![IMG_3475.jpg IMG_3475.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121833-aa230b0582cd2eb2ffc19e7a5b02862e.jpg)
This spot was the last known location of Everett Ruess
![IMG_3479.jpg IMG_3479.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121835-b0cbd8f92176b1de52421f8e6a0952d2.jpg)
The next day we thrashed our way down Davis Gulch. Its changed so much since 2016, I didn't recognize it. It wasn't nearly so overgrown back then.
![2A4A6572.jpg 2A4A6572.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121841-c606b0dad88f249b6f442649d1d15346.jpg)
![2A4A6574.jpg 2A4A6574.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121842-88291401fa717e1cdbdb4820acf126f1.jpg)
![2A4A6570.jpg 2A4A6570.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121839-f8dd4b874db3d310aae57c14267fd175.jpg)
![2A4A6576.jpg 2A4A6576.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121843-e74dc1411825a2274cea905c8248e7da.jpg)
Lower Davis
![2A4A6579.jpg 2A4A6579.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121844-a6958ee37f804b7cf15d78ae4f9531e8.jpg)
La Gorce Arch
![IMG_3493.jpg IMG_3493.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121837-b5d401ef248f7b05f8d155883ae236ad.jpg)
This was all under water in 2016 when I was here last
![2A4A6587.jpg 2A4A6587.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121845-4c4c03f452e531cd8fd0230e00da44a7.jpg)
Davis Gulch meets Powell. Time to paddle...
![IMG_3508.jpg IMG_3508.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121846-e02fc2418fa75e0b11996caf621174ba.jpg)
Gregory Natural Bridge
![IMG_3515.jpg IMG_3515.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121847-2f4e5e5331e9bad49edeae622874ee85.jpg)
![IMG_3513.jpg IMG_3513.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121848-2a355737a749b78aef438b1e9b56ce8a.jpg)
![IMG_3516.jpg IMG_3516.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121849-f9513fa39b54ec89f542b19991ebf2f4.jpg)
Powell meets Fiftymile Creek
![IMG_3522.jpg IMG_3522.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121850-a3ce76ad53b7bcc51bb59ef1b4a90fb7.jpg)
Up Fiftymile...
![IMG_3526.jpg IMG_3526.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121851-8731e2d186b1359c91bc482da6f94e01.jpg)
![IMG_3529.jpg IMG_3529.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121852-0b78f7a12ba7e6ea16ca6dcd8620fdbb.jpg)
![2A4A6606.jpg 2A4A6606.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121853-104a716dc4396a45b730b8aa3bb46729.jpg)
![2A4A6620.jpg 2A4A6620.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121854-c815f768326f2a6fa7a96b67e4ceea8d.jpg)
![IMG_3546.jpg IMG_3546.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121855-a8747c805a4d18fcc463a05bfab00871.jpg)
The Everett Ruess hunters inscription from 1934
![IMG_3555.jpg IMG_3555.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121856-97e094ad68e592ace777f09421f79d46.jpg)
The hike up and out of Fiftymile is not easy but its short, thankfully.
![IMG_3561.jpg IMG_3561.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121857-e724e6792d02b0691c47dc5386b4cf52.jpg)
We made it. Now over to Davis Gulch and back to camp
![IMG_3563.jpg IMG_3563.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121829-a9224ea63831f95aa3f65a0fedb4c193.jpg)
Success
![2A4A6624.jpg 2A4A6624.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121858-b8d5f83087499663aa97f8992dcb8f60.jpg)
The next morning we hiked out
![IMG_3573.jpg IMG_3573.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121859-16f3da261c72f29b362a3c84f51b62a8.jpg)
On our way back to Hole in the Rock Road
![IMG_3575.jpg IMG_3575.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121860-a8caf677df769da4329fa8fba30d5a8c.jpg)
![IMG_3565.jpg IMG_3565.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121861-a703381e8f7697627fd141f65bebd30e.jpg)
Trailing four o'clock
![IMG_3436.jpg IMG_3436.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121862-905d03f4356b9771ae411be5c055dc1f.jpg)
Sego Lily
![IMG_3568.jpg IMG_3568.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121864-f9830dc7363fbeb138e76e67e30a493d.jpg)
Datura
![IMG_3544.jpg IMG_3544.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121865-2d93f01d3cf19955a74d21d42ca9813e.jpg)
Rough Mulesears
The hike up Fiftymile Creek is just magical. My favorite Escalante canyon by far.
We hiked up and out the sandslide in Fiftymile, back over to Davis Gulch and our camp. Epic day of hiking, thrashing, paddling and wading. It was perfect.
After our 3 days in Davis Gulch we hiked out to the car and drove to Boulder Town, hit the Burr Trail Grill and met up with the in-laws for a few nights.
![IMG_3426.jpg IMG_3426.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121824-9c46a06769c9d2d135f4b6818e126672.jpg)
Sooner Rocks
![IMG_3447.jpg IMG_3447.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121825-75a99979e76253a460907c9d565f8d73.jpg)
The prickly pear were at their peak
![IMG_3449.jpg IMG_3449.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121826-528a7e1af0bf3dde0248be335d2c7728.jpg)
The old cattle trail entry/exit is in this section
![IMG_3455.jpg IMG_3455.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121827-e4dcc493450cefea2b5bf49ae5b269d2.jpg)
![IMG_3456.jpg IMG_3456.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121828-93837dc717be6981d2c0cff77055d3fa.jpg)
![2A4A6562.jpg 2A4A6562.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121830-a7eb5f66433cc9bb626121312bf76e43.jpg)
Our camp in Davis
![2A4A6563.jpg 2A4A6563.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121831-f4fbe1156ad5332537fbac0a1704c0fe.jpg)
![IMG_3458.jpg IMG_3458.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121832-ae11b83c58598f8fe03f8054a3b8b111.jpg)
![IMG_3475.jpg IMG_3475.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121833-aa230b0582cd2eb2ffc19e7a5b02862e.jpg)
This spot was the last known location of Everett Ruess
![IMG_3479.jpg IMG_3479.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121835-b0cbd8f92176b1de52421f8e6a0952d2.jpg)
The next day we thrashed our way down Davis Gulch. Its changed so much since 2016, I didn't recognize it. It wasn't nearly so overgrown back then.
![2A4A6572.jpg 2A4A6572.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121841-c606b0dad88f249b6f442649d1d15346.jpg)
![2A4A6574.jpg 2A4A6574.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121842-88291401fa717e1cdbdb4820acf126f1.jpg)
![2A4A6570.jpg 2A4A6570.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121839-f8dd4b874db3d310aae57c14267fd175.jpg)
![2A4A6576.jpg 2A4A6576.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121843-e74dc1411825a2274cea905c8248e7da.jpg)
Lower Davis
![2A4A6579.jpg 2A4A6579.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121844-a6958ee37f804b7cf15d78ae4f9531e8.jpg)
La Gorce Arch
![IMG_3493.jpg IMG_3493.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121837-b5d401ef248f7b05f8d155883ae236ad.jpg)
This was all under water in 2016 when I was here last
![2A4A6587.jpg 2A4A6587.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121845-4c4c03f452e531cd8fd0230e00da44a7.jpg)
Davis Gulch meets Powell. Time to paddle...
![IMG_3508.jpg IMG_3508.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121846-e02fc2418fa75e0b11996caf621174ba.jpg)
Gregory Natural Bridge
![IMG_3515.jpg IMG_3515.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121847-2f4e5e5331e9bad49edeae622874ee85.jpg)
![IMG_3513.jpg IMG_3513.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121848-2a355737a749b78aef438b1e9b56ce8a.jpg)
![IMG_3516.jpg IMG_3516.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121849-f9513fa39b54ec89f542b19991ebf2f4.jpg)
Powell meets Fiftymile Creek
![IMG_3522.jpg IMG_3522.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121850-a3ce76ad53b7bcc51bb59ef1b4a90fb7.jpg)
Up Fiftymile...
![IMG_3526.jpg IMG_3526.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121851-8731e2d186b1359c91bc482da6f94e01.jpg)
![IMG_3529.jpg IMG_3529.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121852-0b78f7a12ba7e6ea16ca6dcd8620fdbb.jpg)
![2A4A6606.jpg 2A4A6606.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121853-104a716dc4396a45b730b8aa3bb46729.jpg)
![2A4A6620.jpg 2A4A6620.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121854-c815f768326f2a6fa7a96b67e4ceea8d.jpg)
![IMG_3546.jpg IMG_3546.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121855-a8747c805a4d18fcc463a05bfab00871.jpg)
The Everett Ruess hunters inscription from 1934
![IMG_3555.jpg IMG_3555.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121856-97e094ad68e592ace777f09421f79d46.jpg)
The hike up and out of Fiftymile is not easy but its short, thankfully.
![IMG_3561.jpg IMG_3561.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121857-e724e6792d02b0691c47dc5386b4cf52.jpg)
We made it. Now over to Davis Gulch and back to camp
![IMG_3563.jpg IMG_3563.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121829-a9224ea63831f95aa3f65a0fedb4c193.jpg)
Success
![2A4A6624.jpg 2A4A6624.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121858-b8d5f83087499663aa97f8992dcb8f60.jpg)
The next morning we hiked out
![IMG_3573.jpg IMG_3573.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121859-16f3da261c72f29b362a3c84f51b62a8.jpg)
On our way back to Hole in the Rock Road
![IMG_3575.jpg IMG_3575.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121860-a8caf677df769da4329fa8fba30d5a8c.jpg)
![IMG_3565.jpg IMG_3565.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121861-a703381e8f7697627fd141f65bebd30e.jpg)
Trailing four o'clock
![IMG_3436.jpg IMG_3436.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121862-905d03f4356b9771ae411be5c055dc1f.jpg)
Sego Lily
![IMG_3568.jpg IMG_3568.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121864-f9830dc7363fbeb138e76e67e30a493d.jpg)
Datura
![IMG_3544.jpg IMG_3544.jpg](https://backcountrypost.com/data/attachments/121/121865-2d93f01d3cf19955a74d21d42ca9813e.jpg)
Rough Mulesears