Hi fellow JOCers!!!

This summer, I'm inviting a small cadre of JOCers to join me for an extraordinary canyoneering backpacking adventure to my absolute favorite part of the world - Escalante, Utah.

 

More specifically, we will be spending 5 days backpacking our way through Death Hollow Canyon in an epic adventure like nothing else you have ever done in your life.

 
I have led over 15 weeklong trips for the JOC and I'm super excited to go to Death Hollow, a canyon that I have been hearing about and reading about for years.

Read on for details.

ESCALANTE? WHERE IS THAT?

Grand Staircase Escalante is a 1.9 million acre national monument in the heart of canyon country in Southern Utah. I first discovered the park in 1999, and have since come back for week long trips in 2001, 2003, 2006 and 2011. What is there? As one author writes, "Astonishingly beautiful and mysterious canyons; hidden within these canyons are sparkling swimming pools, soaring walls, exciting scrambles and rappels, enchanting chambers, spooky slots, fun potholes, and the most beautiful stone on earth."

I have been to nearly every National Park out West, and none of them compare, in my opinion, to the rugged beauty and surreal scenery that Escalante offers. It is, hands down, my favorite place on Earth.

WHAT IS THE SCENERY IN DEATH HOLLOW LIKE?

Some quotes from the web on the beauty of Death Hollow

"Death Hollow is an amazingly scenic trek that stretches from just west of Boulder, Utah at the northern end of the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The hollow is one of the most dramatic canyons in the area, boasting an extraordinarily deep gorge, a petroglyph panel, waterslides, and the general, untamed wilderness that has captivated countless people throughout history. "

 

"The setting is idyllic: crystal-clear slickrock swimming holes, surrounded by red sandstone cliffs decorated with green foliage and yellow wildflowers. "

 

"This beautiful slickrock paradise is criss-crossed with deep, seemingly bottomless canyons below.  From virtually all directions canyons begin, converge and end again. Its geology is best described as the world largest maze.  Inside, the canyons are filled with thousands of beautiful pools, surrounded by glowing Aspen, sweet Cliffrose and a striated sandstone backdrop. It is a slickrock oasis."

Photos are attached, and more can be found at:

HOW DIFFICULT IS THIS TRIP?

In no uncertain terms, this is a hardcore trip for extreme adventurers who enjoy serious challenges.

Each day is different, and while most days will be relatively tame walking in water in the canyon, day two in particular will challenge you mentally and physically.

Some quotes from the web:

The going itself is described as  "A strenuous 3-6 day backpacking trip through the deep and remote drainage of Death Hollow featuring hiking, climbing, wading, canyoneering and swimming.

 "Death Hollow is about as high adventure as they come.  You start out in the mountains, and descend rapidly to the desert through a wash.  Soon the trail narrows and you find yourself dropping off of chockstones into cold water below.  Then you must wade and swim your pack through the frigid pools, while avoiding poison ivy and drenching your pack and it's contents.  All I can say, is I can't wait to go again."

"In lower Death Hollow you will often be required to wade through pools of water, but they are seldom more than 3 feet deep. In the upper part of the canyon, however, the water barriers generally occur at the bottoms of deep V-shaped channels in the sandstone with sides so steep it is impossible to go around them. The slots can be up to 100 yards long, and the water in them is often too deep for wading. To make matters worse the narrow water-filled channels are frequently preceded by large chock stones that make it necessary to climb or slide down as far as 10 feet before splashing into the cold water."

"I've never been in a place where there are more ways to fall down and get hurt than in upper Death Hollow. One ski pole style walking stick per person comes in very handy. Expect them to be trashed by the end."

"Deep pools and channels were common, often requiring pack flotation and either full-on swimming or delicate stemming on slick submerged rock. "

A very good hike description can be found at

http://www.utahtrails.com/Backcountry%20pages/DeathHollow.html

 

If you want to know if you have what it takes, see this short video. What these two guys go through represented unusual conditions, but it is not impossible that we might come across stuff like this on day two. If it scares you, forget it. If it excites you, join the fun!

Just to balance things out a bit, here is a short video of a different part of the trek.

 

Also, keep in mind that since this is a backpacking trip (the only way to get to this remote area), we will be carrying everything we need for 5 days with us as we make our way down the canyon. A sense of adventure is not enough. You need to be in good shape!!!
 
WHAT IS THE COMPLETE ITINERARY?

Sunday, July 8  : Fly in to Salt Lake City. Rent vehicle, stock up on food and other supplies. Drive to Grand Staircase- Escalante (5 hours). Believe it or not, Escalante is incredibly remote, and this is the closest major airport. We stay at a motel that night.

Monday, July 9 : Shuttle to trailhead along Hell's Backbone Road. Begin 5 day trek through Death Hollow Wilderness, which begins as a steep downclimb through forested terrain.
 

Tuesday, July 10: The most adventurous part of the trip, involving our negotiating narrow, water filled slot canyons (see above)

Wednesday, July 11  : The canyon gradually widens and changes to a lush oasis that can only be described as paradise.

 

Thursday. July 12: More paradise

Friday, July 13: Exit the canyon. If time, explore Devil's Garden, a unique rock formation in Escalante (no hiking needed)

Shabbat, July 14:  A relaxing Shabbat in Boulder Mtn Ranch.

Sunday, July 15: Short morning hike to Upper Calf Creek Falls and swimming hole. Drive to Salt Lake City for return flight.

 

WHAT IS THE COST?
The cost of the trip is $595, which includes ground transportation, food and lodging. Please note that you may need to purchase (or borrow) equipment such as tent, sleeping bag, dry bags, trekking poles, and appropriate clothes. It is difficult to budget this trip perfectly, and if there are significant leftover funds, refunds will be given (this happened last year on the Grand Tetons trip I led)

The trip is for a total of 6, including myself.

 

 

To register, please send me an email with the following information:

a) Your name

b) Your preferred email address

c) Your cell number

d) Please share information on any past trips that you have done that indicate your readiness for an adventure of this type. This is not to be obnoxious -- this is a matter of safety. If a person of dubious readiness comes on the trip, it can be a seriously dangerous matter, as exits from the canyon are far and few between.

 

I'll set up a yahoogroups for those signed up, with whom I'll share information about flight information, food and equipment matters and much more.


ANYTHING ELSE I SHOULD KNOW?

1) The desert and its canyons are notoriously fickle places. In the rare, but not impossible occurrence of an early monsoon (usually later in July/August), we will have to abruptly change plans and explore canyons that are not subject to flash floods. In general, early July is a great time to go, since it is just about the only time you can do this trip without wetsuits.

 

2) If you are allergic to poison ivy, do not sign up!! Every description I have read talks about this hazard, and while we will do our best to avoid it (and wear long pants of course), there is always the possibility of getting it. One person who did the hike 6 times said that he avoided it the first 5 trips, but got a bad case on trip 6.