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Show www.daflyutahcnronkle.cpni ( . . . • • • • - * ~ ~ One-of-a-kind hiking Gear List Lower Escalante offers varied beauty There are two keys to an enjoyable, multi-day hiking experience: A light, well-fitting pack and plenty of water. The rest are just extras. -it'- Hydration: Coyote Gulch Hike Two to three days '**£$• Difficulty: Medium/* • * Directions from Salt Lake City A southwest look through Jacob Hamblin Arch reveals the first leg of Coyote Gulch when starting from Red Well or Hurricane Wash. Hamblin Arch is the first of four major monuments on the Coyote Gulch hike. •1-15 to UT-28 (96 miles) j •UT-28 to US-89 (45 miles) "" •US-89 to UT-24 (30 miles) 4JT-24toUT-12(44miles) •UT-12 to Hole-in-the-rock. Road (58 miles) ' : - ' -j •Hole-in-the-rock Road to Red Well (33 miles) i . -To Red Well (306 miles) •Hole in the rock Road to v, Hurricane Wash (37.5) •To Hurricane Wash ' (310 miles) „ : :• This is the first ideal place to filter or boil water, although it will still be SPORTS EDITOR murky and warm. Your other best bet &'- ' ; • •••'- / : v - ' . : : ^ v v > : : You're probably familiar with the for a semi-clean drinking source is to common expression of being up a cer- find where the water is gently running Elevation Deviation: ^ tain four-letter creek without a paddle. over rocks, instead of sandstone. Red Well or Hurricane Wash Same goes for being in a gulch in EscalFrom the waterfall, the trail winds ante without a proper map. through Coyote Gulch and forces hikers trailhead to Escalante River: Grand Staircase-Escalante National through a series of switchbacks across about 650 feet. . - * Monument was the last place in the the river and back. There is plenty of continental U.S. to be mapped, accord- opportunity to seek higher ground to ing the Bureau o( Land Management. keep a faster pace. If you're keeping a Try to traverse the area and follow your consistent pace and aren't stopping progress with a gas station issued topo- for a lot of pictures, your pace should of along day. graphical map, and you won't doubt the be about a mile per 45 minutes to one Most hikers choose to ditch the camphour. The scenery in the first six miles ing gear on day two and take a day pack truth of that claim. In EscaJante, there's likely no hike is wonderful, but good campsites off from Hamblin Arch to the Escalante that offers the variety of numerous the stream bed are few and far between, River. About 90 minutes from Hamwaterfalls, a handful of narrows, three although safety from a potential flash blin Arch is a short series of flooded narrows that require one to lose their arches and a natural bridge that the flood is plentiful Coyote Gulch trail offers. At about mile six. Hurricane Wash clothes or take a 15-minute detour. After Visitors looking to tour the highlights and Red Well meet and the scenery that, it's less than one mile to the next can take Hole-in-the-Rock road 35 miles turns from wonderful to spectacular. monument, Coyote Natural Bridge. to the Forty Mile Ridge Road and take If scenic canyon views, limited traces My time limitation and late deparit seven miles to the Forty Mile Ridge of human beings and a complete break ture didn't allow me to get to Hamblin Roadtrailhead. There, only novice rock- from technology are what you're after, Arch by day one, so I only made it as far climbing capabilities are necessary to then this is where you start rinding your as the Natural Bridge before having to take a two-day, eight-mile leisurely trip rewards. In the summer, simply tread- make the trip back home. Even the abto see Jacob Hamblin Arch, Coyote Nat- ing through the water is the easiest and breviated trip was worth it, but the sceural Bridge, Cliff Arch, Stevens Arch most serene way to eat up the mileage. nic reminders left me wanting more. From the trailhead junction to Jacob and the Escalante River. From what all the guidebooks say, Those wishing to experience Escal- Hamblin Arch is about another mile, there are several more waterfalls and ancient pictographs near Cliff Arch, ante and earn the reward at the end can and so is the gulch's best campsite. start at the popular trailhead Hurricane Jacob Hamblin Arch has such an over- which looks like a tea cup handle. From Wash or the equally popular Red Well powering presence in a tightly packed Hamblin Arch to the Escalante River, Trailhead. canyon, so people become specks in which is the western arm of Lake PowBoth trailheads have their set of ad- photos that attempt to capture the en- ell, is six miles, which makes an ideal tire arch. The*sandy beach-like camp- day two, 12-miles round trip. Optimally, vantages and disadvantages. Hurricane Wash Trailhead to the site to the west of the arch provides the day three is an early hike back out of the Escalante River is a little more than perfect scenery for a day one campsite. gulch, which should leave enough time 12 miles one way. Starting at Red Well There's also a perfectly cool and clear for a daylit drive back to civilization. tacks on nearly a mile, but also reaches spring that sprinkles from the north That is, if you can stomach going back. water faster and is supposedly the more rock wall on the east side of the arch, t.pizza@ scenic. If you plan on reaching the awe- which offers an added bonus to the end chronicleMtah.edu some campsites around Jacob Hamblin Arch before dark, plan on starting your trek before 10 a.m. If you don't want to haul a lot of water at the start of your trip, starting at Red Well is the way to go. Although there isn't an established trail, there's no need for a map, because following the stream will suffice. From the trailhead to the start of the gulch is less than one-half mile. Once you hit the gulch, the beginning of the stream bed is completely dry in August, but there is plenty of evidence of how powerful the water is. Every reed and plant is bent drastically in the direction the water flows. Within a mile, you hit water, and the true adventure begins. Although the red i rock landscape in the canyons and cliffs above hardly change, the ground is a shifting amalgam of quicksand, sandstone, pot holes and slick stream bottoms. This hike requires several switchbacks across the meandering stream. Barring numerous side trips or photo TONY PIZZA Ifirikih l/rsi,i breaks, you should reach the first waterfall that sits at the bottom of a saddle Chimney Rock is one of the prominent landmarks on the Red Well leg of the Coyote Gulch hike. The in about 90 minutes to two hours time. beauty of the towering cliffs and the natural sculpture are just a few of the highlights on this popular Tony Pizza *=•' ' • ' • . " - 1 " - . ' hike in lower Escalante. Coyote Gulch tips: •Leave no trace: Hikers are expected to take out any trash they carry in (including soiled toilet paper). •Minimum impact: The fragile desert environment requires care around stream beds. Keep to stream areas and off vegetation wherever possible. •No dogs or campfires allowed in Coyote Gulch. •There is one toilet near Hamblin Arch. Except in this area where the high usage requires the drum toilet to be used, dig at least an 8-inch hole and cover. •Camping is free but a back country permit is required. All established trailheads have permits available, as well as tips pertinent to your chosen hike. First and foremost, you'll need to make sure you have enough water to last you for the duration of your hike. Iodine tablets, water-boiling capabilities and packing enough water are all options. The most comfortable and efficient choice is a water filter. For added ease, get one that is built to attach directly to your Nalgene water bottle. The MSR Miniworks Ex Water Filter is a handy way to extract 99.99 percent of all bacteria. It costs about Pack: For a two- to three-day hike like Coyote Gulch a 35- to 45-liter backpack will allow room to fit all your essentials, while not being too bulky or allowing you to take unessential items that will weigh you down further. The key is to travel as light as possible. As a general rule of thumb 30- to 40-liter packs are good for day trips up to two days. For trips up to a week, 50 to 80 liters will suffice. Use a pack that can store more than 80 liters for trips longer than a week or for overnight winter camping. Although tons of hooks, gadgets and compartments look nice, a simple top loader works fine. Footwear: • ^ For hiking in Escalante with frequent water crossings, like Coyote Gulch, Croc-like footwear with adjustable straps is ideal. They dry fast, have sufficient padding when walking through fields with stickers and still maintain enough traction to climb up washes or muddy stream banks. Tennis shoes are an alternative, but they will retain more water and will require more ^ time to remove rocks and mud. For k any other type of hiking, normal tennis shoes or hiking ^ footwear is suitable. Speedo and other swim companies make suitable water shoes that ••*,*:•?•<'•• ^ , cost about $35. Cookware: Most backcountry camping doesn't allow open fires. A lightweight propane burning backpack stove can cost you $85. You could go even more rugged and use an Esbit stove with fuel tablets for about $15. Just don't inhale while cooking. For cookware, G5I Dualist Cook systems are sleek, with a foldable handle and a lid that doubles as a strainer or steamer. It also has a separate bowl and can store food or other utensils all in the space of a grapefruit. It's also super light and made of titanium so it won't warp or rust as fast over time. It will cost you about $35 to $50. Really, all the utensil you need is a spoon, but why not be safe ..... ; and get a titanium spork ^v- r i ' _•_••*:• that will cost you ; ' - • . about $10 but last forever and is multifunctional. Sleep system: Ultra-light sleeping backs are the way to go, because they are soft and can usually be reduced to the size of a 2-liter bottle. The downfilled ones can cost about $250, or you can go for a cheap fleece bag for as cheap as $25 for summer camping. Mats can be rolled up tight and serve as a head pillow at the top of your bag. Most are light and essential to a good night's sleep. Top-end, self infiators can cost about $50. Tent: '$*-'.•;- • / This is where the majority of the bulk in your pack can come from. Most two-person tents come in a two-pole system that takes fewer . than 20 minutes for two people to set "up. Make sure it has a rain hood, ..J ^person dome tent will cost about $100 to $150. Clothing: Really, if you're hiking for less than a week, you need the clothes on your back and an extra change of socks and underwear for summer .hiking. Also bring a wind breaker top and bottom for the possibility . of rain. The most efficient form of clothing could be a pair of pants t that convert to cargo shorts. Northface makes a comfortable and ^ durable version for about $50. . '• .. Food: This will be your heaviest item on multi-day trips unless you pack efficiently. "Dehydrated foods counteract the weight, and protein bars offer the dual benefit of a balanced diet in a food that doesn't weigh much. Instant oatmeal also makes a good breakfast that doesn't require cooking. Granola, trail mix and beef jerky are all good fuel sources that aren't a killer on your back. If you can get your hands on some military Meals Ready to Eat, they are high calorie and lightweight and there are many delicious varieties. Try the chicken in salsa. Delicious. Tony Pizza •Ensure you have enough fuel to get from last gas station to trailhead and back. (Approximately 70-80 miles round trip). •Heavy deer populations are present 30 miles outside of Torrey, Utah to Boulder, Utah. Drive in daylight when possible. •Hole-in-the-rock road is unpaved, and is frequently washed out. Fourby-four vehicles might be required. •Leave Coyote the way you found it. Don't take artifacts or souviniers except for the occasional mud splotch and sticker or splinter. •Avoid sleeping near stream beds. The bugs will eat you alive and this is a flash flood danger zone. Tony Pizza |
