advice needed! - a week in the Utah backcountry

[Kellie]

My friend and I want to do a week-long backpacking trip somewhere rad and we're thinking Utah (for the week of June 11).

Here's the ground rules:

1. no snow - if I'm not skiing, I don't want to mess with the silly stuff!

2. something you can't find in the Sierras - we're thinking more of cool rock formations and canyons than mountain passes . . . more desert than alpine (though water sources are a priority)

3. we'd like to go far - no car camping - and have ample opportunity for the creativity of off-trail routes

4. if you can recommend places or resources, I'll be forever indebted.

oooh, and if you have them, post pics :-)

[Xover]

pm BobMc; dudes an encyclopedia of info

[Yossarian]

ditto that...
he'll probably send you into the Escalante or somewhere similar. VERY cool area. I highly recommend. Try Twoplanker as well, he goes down there. Desert/rock backpacking.

[Red Baron]

Death Hollow- it's not as foreboding as the name suggests!!! Here's a pic:

http://www.geog.utah.edu/~hmiller/ph...llow_enter.jpg

[iskibc]

I wanna come! Slot canyons, the desert, some climbing. I hate snakes with a passion though, so I don't think I would last very long. If I saw a rattler I think I would jump 10 feet off the ground. That's why I like to stay up where there's snow .

[sandytheskier]

I would recomend a southern utah state or national park. I like exploring capitol reef area and the la sals (east of moab).

[Stoysluttie1]

Hike up from the Escalante Trialhead and take the Boulder mail trail. It will put you on the southern end of Death Hollow with great views.

Or....if you have a week and want to spend it in a gorgeous place, start at the Egypt trailhead down Hole in the Rock road and hike towards the Escalante. You can grab some info and rappel down through the Great Cathedral in Neon CAnyon. There are beautiful white and pink beaches along the river, petros and pictos, and then head down river to Ringtail Canyon...a very narrow, dark slot canyon that is oh so fun and cool when the sun is high above. Continue down river to the next canyon on River right, forget the name, go up that and then cross country it back tot the trailhead.

Coyote Gulch is good. Especially Hole in the Wall to Jacob Hamblin Arch Route. SHorter but that leaves you some spare time to enjoy the desert waterfalls, and a side trip to Spooky, Peekaboo, dry and one other slot canyon.

Black Canyon...oooh lala

[Kellie]

bump for some cotinued insight - thanks for the suggestions so far . . . I have some research to do now :-)

[Twoplanker]

Can't say enough good things about Buckskin Gluch - longest slot canyon in the world.

http://www.edmoweb.com/images/backpa...8_0855_JPG.jpg

Lots of pics here:

http://www.edmoweb.com/images/backpa...skin/index.htm

And here's a few pics from Coyote Gulch, which Stoy mentions above:

http://www.edmoweb.com/images/backpa...ges/11_jpg.jpg

http://www.edmoweb.com/images/backpa...lbum/index.htm

[BobMc]

If you are talking a long multi-day trip I'd second Twoplankers recommendation. Continue past the end of Buckskin and hike Paria Canyon on down to Lee's Ferry.

You'll need two cars for this hike, put one down at Lee's Ferry and the other at Wire Pass.

BobMc

[powderwhore]

I was planning on hitting Buckskin Gulch June 11th weekend. Plans fell apart, but if you need a permit I may be able to help you out. They only let 20 people in per day.