Lower Calf Creek Falls
Today we left Boulder to head to Escalante, which will be our base for the next few days. First we stopped for breakfast at Tumbleweed Coffee where we'd had our coffee each day. About 11 miles outside of town was the Lower Calf Creek Campground and trail head for the Lower Calf Creek Falls trail. We got on the trail shortly after 9am. It is a beautiful 6.2 mile (RT) hike, not too much elevation gain. It meanders along Calf Creek and is surrounded by the dramatic red and white cliffs that characterize this part of Utah. We passed Native American granaries and also pictographs! At the end of the winding canyon, you get to the falls. It was a nice pay off for a delightful hike. Yeti made the hike even though yesterday he'd had severe back pains. All went well luckily. At the end of the hike, we drove into Escalante on the dramatic Hwy 12 and had a fabulous lunch at the Escalante Outfitters. They make good pizza, so we shared one and had a salad, too. Next, on to the Grand Staircase Escalante park visitor center where I got my backpacker permit. Checked out the weather. Looking pretty good until Friday.
Tomorrow, Yeti will drive me to the Hurricane Wash TH so I can hike into Coyote Gulch, a highlight of this part of the Hayduke. I will do an overnight hike into the canyon so I can see the fabulous arches. It won't be terribly big miles - only 18 approximately, but that's the point of doing this. I won't be taxing my legs/ankles, so should be a nice hike in, camp by the arch, and hike out the next morning to Hurricane Wash. Yeti will pick me up at the same place he dropped me off and we'll go back to Escalante. I'll have the rest of Wednesday to rest and then start the next section on Thursday. Kind of wanted to take a day off in between, but Friday the weather may change and get wet. Since that section starts with a true slot canyon, I absolutely don't want to be there if it is going to rain.
Checked into the Prospector Inn, where we stayed the last time we were here. Everyone is so friendly. Haven't met any Hayduke hikers yet.