goblin valley

Goblin valley state park is a crazy spot to camp. Some short hikes lead through an incredible group of rock formations. These were created by the ebb and flow of an ancient ocean. Powerful tidal surges sculpted the rock over time. Use your imagination, there are goblins everywhere!

willis canyon

We met Alysia in a nearby town and went to willis canyon, and hiked a not so tight slot canyon on a grey day. At the visitor's center where Alysia worked, we had heard a story about a local guide leading a horse trip through the canyon when a flash flood came through.

Everybody got away except one horse that was flushed down the slot canyon with the 0ncoming water. I guess the guide found his horse ok, a few miles down.

the hogback, capitol reef

The drive into or out of Escalante from the east involves an interesting drive over the "hogback" a spot just wide enough for a road and a little room to spare in some spots. But, soon you passed through Boulder (nothing like the one in Colorado), and then through Capitol Reef.

Stunning red rock create amazing vistas that crank your neck as you drive through these testaments of time and the forces of erosion.

pteroglyphs

The local natives painted on the walls of the Escalante River and the main canyon the settlers used to get travel through. We wondered what kind of "paint" they used, was it from berries, or blood, or a type of plant or flower? It was in a protected spot on an rock that was not exposed to the sun very much.

The wind carved some interesting pockets on this soft sandstone.

main canyon

A couple of houses reclaimed from Glen Canyon sit just west of Escalante, one being a glassblower's collecting spot for multi-colored piles of glass. You can see the piles of purple glass laid out on tables in the yard. There were also piles of turqoise and green.

Our friend Alysia has a great view out her living room window, and a small stream you have to drive through to get to her house. Jake and Lizzie, her dogs, roam the property, as does a five foot long brown snake that Dina and I almost stepped on.

scramble up and out

We started hiking in the morning, to avoid the blaring afternon sun, b/c we knew that we had a hefty climb out of this steep canyon. We noticed a possible alternate exit, but after a discussion, and a quick scout by myself, we climbed and had to use our hands at times to exit death hollow.

Sage reminds us what it's really all about...having fun.

good ol' campfires

That's me way in the corner of the alcove, participating in the clean up of cow dung that was estimated to be b/t 50-90 years old. It was hard, but easy to gather. Alysia holds her favorite two piles so far! But, we were able to enjoy a three chunk cow dung campfire. I got up to use the faciliTREES in the middle of the night and it was still going!

The next morning, climbing into the alcove, I pulled a big rock off a ledge (Sage is standing next to the next big that 's gonna fall when someone pulls hard enough) and it almost landed on my leg and ankle. It was a close call that could've turned a normal, boring trip that you write about on the internet, into an epic that you later tell everyone how you hopped out on one leg and everyone else carried your backpack.
I guess I have a guardian angel...

river hiking

river hiking makes a hot utah desert that much more cooler and bearable. And knowing you have a lounge room supplied with rock furniture waiting makes that much better.

death hollow

Gary Long works for the BLM as an outdoor recreation planner in Cheyenne, Wyoming.
Dina's adjusting footwear while Sage can be seen getting on his knees for a close up of the paintbrush.

We hiked from our alcove through the stream and hiked out onto a dry ridge that led to spectacular towers and amazing rock formations.

shelter

There were a few rock chairs made and a lounge, where we laid out our tarp and then our sleeping pads, and then our sleeping bags on top.

Bats would fly just after sunset, Sage would play his flute and harmonica and Ollie would sing along.