On the Trail of Everett Ruess with author Philip Fradkin September 26 - 30, 2010 in Glen Canyon One.
| Philip Fradkin, author of many books including Wallace Stegner and the American West, A River No More: The Colorado River and the West and Sagebrush Country : Land and the American West is joining us in the lower Escalante Canyons this fall to discuss his current project, a biography of Everett Ruess. |
| One of the most enduring mysteries of the Escalante is that of Everett Ruess. In 1934 he left the town of Escalante and disappeared into the canyons. Although only 20 years old at the time of his disappearance, Everett Ruess left a myriad of letters, poems, photographs, journal entries and artwork illustrating his journeys in California, Utah and Arizona. |
| Mr. Fradkin will share with us his unique perspective of Everett Ruess through a selection of evening readings. On day hikes we will explore the area of Everett Ruess' last known exploration in an area of exceptional beauty. |
| For more information on Mr. Fradkin's work and his attachment to the story of Everett Ruess, please visit Philip Fradkin. |
| Intro: |
These winding canyons are classic Glen Canyon. From above, a sea of orange slickrock domes conceals gorges hundreds of feet deep. Within these gorges, clear streams run over bedrock and pour into pools. Walls of the canyons overhang a stream lined with tall cottonwoods. In places, inner canyons of narrows twist between the massive larger walls. We will see narrows that rival anything we have seen.
We will hike four side canyons of the Escalante River in Glen Canyon. Each one is uniquely different. Keep in mind that this is a beautiful area in recovery from the waters of Lake Powell. This hike covers areas that are both pristine and in recovery. Further upstream, we offer many trips to areas that are in their original, untouched and very pristine condition. |
Please take a look at the gallery of images. These photos will give you an accurate picture of the hiking that this trip entails. |
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Rating:
The hike into this base camp is an easy one and the day hikes up and out of the canyon are challenging and involve elevation changes of about 800 feet, exposure and steep climbs. At least two of the day hikes are very demanding. There are limited easy hiking options on this trip.
In order to explore the country and accommodate different interests and abilities we may split into smaller groups on some day hikes; on the first and last days of the trip we hike as one group. |
Itinerary:
Day 1 - Meet at the Burr Trail Outpost & Grill in Boulder, UT at 9 A.M. We provide a duffel bag for your gear (25 lbs. max.). The beautiful drive to the trail head is approximately 2 hours. Our hike to camp begins in a shallow wash that deepens into a narrows then into a huge canyon with a stream. We will view many pictograph panels ranging in age from at least 3000 BC to 1250 AD. (5 miles.) |
| Day 2 - Our day hike is downstream. The canyon continually changes eventually entering one of the nicest narrows in the Escalante Canyons. A climb out on the slickrock for a fantastic view is an option. |
| Day 3 - We climb out of the canyon to the slick rock domes then down into another delightful, winding gorge that contains Anasazi ruins and petroglyphs. Pools of water, waterfalls and giant arches are a big part of this day hike. On this day hike we will visit the area of Everett Ruess' last known camp and the area where his burros were discovered. |
| Day 4 - This day hike leads us to a giant arch in yet another gulch. The stream bed in this u-shaped canyon with hanging gardens and tight narrows leads us through water chutes and pools. We climb out a hidden Anasazi trail to get back to camp. This day is epic; beautiful, challenging and thrilling. |
| Day 5 - We explore more alcoves and canyons on the way back to the trail head. Drive to Boulder, arrive 6 - 7 P.M. (dinner not included). |
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| Every trip is different because of weather, the group and, most importantly, spontaneity. Our trips are about exploring; this land is so vast and intricate that we always make new discoveries. The preceding is a sample description of what you may expect. |
| The fall is a beautiful time of year to explore both the canyons and the slickrock country above. The weather is generally warm in the day and cool in the evening with a 30 to 40 degree temperature difference between the high and low. Layers of clothing are the key to comfort. |
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