click here to view a gallery and slideshow of all 237 photos from this trip
This is Page 1 of a hike along The Escalante Route Page 2 Page 3 Page 4
sunrise at Lipan Point
In January of 2010 I finally booked a permit to hike the Escalante Route. I had been up and down the Tanner and New Hance trails before, but the Escalante had remained untouched.
The hike for the first day coincided with my friend and solo hiker Jed Dryer. Jed planned to go down the Tanner Trail and ride his inaugural packraft experience across the Colorado River below Tanner Rapid. I intended to continue west along the Escalante Route, so we hiked down the Tanner Trail together.
We took a few moments to put on our crampons and admire the views at sunrise from Lipan Point before starting down the trail.
photo by Jed
first light on Cardenas Butte
As always on the Tanner Trail, Desert View Watchtower looms above.
Escalante Butte and Cardenas Butte – along the “Escalante Route” I’ll be crossing side canyons that go by the same name.
Views from the point at the top of the Redwall – this is reputedly one of the best campsites and sunset views in all the Grand Canyon, though I have never spent a night here.
Comanche Point is clearly seen above as we descend the Redwall.
This little side-hill stretch of Hakatai Shale has always been my favorite section of the Tanner Trail. There would be much more of this sort of terrain to come along the Escalante Route.
lower Tanner Canyon
We turned west away from Tanner beach as Jed searched for a suitable place to put in with his packraft.
This area looked good. He was making for the mouth of Basalt Canyon.
test run
All of his test runs went well, including one that went over halfway across the river. We took this timed shot together before he set across for good.
Once across the river, he dragged his things up a hillside and waved to me, signalling that all was well. It was comforting to see that his maiden voyage went safely, and I turned and continued solo along the Escalante Route. Jed would later return to the river near Lava Canyon Rapid and exit via the Beamer and Tanner Trails.
The afternoon sun was very warm, and it was quite novel to strip down to a T-shirt in January!
This was an interesting little campsite at a random spot along the river.
The Escalante Route is much more a “trail” than a true route, as you can clearly see a well-defined footpath in many of these photos.
I really enjoyed the way this section stayed close to the river, as I’d later discover much of the Escalante Route would do the same.
This is Page 1 of a hike along The Escalante Route Page 2 Page 3 Page 4
click here to view a gallery and slideshow of all 237 photos from this trip
