Slot Machine
03-11-2012, 09:46 PM
I soloed Egypt 3 on Saturday, March 10th, 2012. It was one of the best hikes I’ve ever done.
I had never ventured out to the Egypts before Saturday and was hoping for some peace and quiet. Boy, did I chose the right place. I had the Egypts entirely to myself. I didn’t hear a sound from any human on this hike, no airplanes overhead, no cars passing by. For me, it was a unique and refreshing experience.
Egypt 3 is a fantastic canyon with two distinct halves. The top half contains chutes, slides and a large pothole. The walls are stunning and the obstacles are fun.
The bottom half is dark, narrow and sinister. The walls are rough and passage is slow and hard earned. The width of my hand is 9 inches from my thumb to the end of my small finger. I could nearly span my hand the width of the canyon along much of the lower slot. I estimate the minimum width of the canyon at 10 ½ inches.
The Egypt area is pristine. There are many balanced rocks that would be easy to topple, there are many sandstone fins that would be easy to crush. If you head out there, tread lightly.
Currently conditions are ideal for hiking in the Escalante area. The high temperature on Saturday was around 60, the low was around 30. The entire canyon was dry except for one pothole that contained a bucketful of water.
Free advice: If you decide to visit this canyon, wear long sleeves, long pants, gloves, knee pads and elbow pads. You will be glad you did. Don't do this hike mid-summer. The hike back to your vehicle is up a southern facing slope that is completely exposed to the sun. Mid day temps of 60 degrees are just right, 80 degrees would be nasty, 100+ degrees could be lethal.
Lastly, before any grandmother reading this freaks out- YES several people knew where I was, YES there was a note on the dash of my car, and YES I knew what I was getting myself into.
And YES it was awesome and I would gladly do it again.
Bob http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww173/prestonjjrtr/Smileys/3.gif
Here\'s a short video of Egypt 3. Sorry about the shaky footage.
http://vimeo.com/38349051
Upper Egypt 3.
52072
52063
Looking straight down onto twisting slide.
52069
Large pothole with a slide in the background.
52066
Another larger slide, about 20 feet long. People can upclimb this??
52064
52073
I came across a rope ladder about a third of the way down canyon. Was it left for those that choose to ascend Egypt 3? :crazycobasa: I would argue that you\'re missing the best part of the canyon if you skip the top section.
52065
52067
Lower Egypt 3.
52068
My half full pack lodged easily between the canyon walls.
52070
52074
52071
After the hike I drove down to Hole in the Rock for an awesome sunset and a celebratory beverage.
52075
http://amazingslots.blogspot.com/2016/05/egypt-3.html
I had never ventured out to the Egypts before Saturday and was hoping for some peace and quiet. Boy, did I chose the right place. I had the Egypts entirely to myself. I didn’t hear a sound from any human on this hike, no airplanes overhead, no cars passing by. For me, it was a unique and refreshing experience.
Egypt 3 is a fantastic canyon with two distinct halves. The top half contains chutes, slides and a large pothole. The walls are stunning and the obstacles are fun.
The bottom half is dark, narrow and sinister. The walls are rough and passage is slow and hard earned. The width of my hand is 9 inches from my thumb to the end of my small finger. I could nearly span my hand the width of the canyon along much of the lower slot. I estimate the minimum width of the canyon at 10 ½ inches.
The Egypt area is pristine. There are many balanced rocks that would be easy to topple, there are many sandstone fins that would be easy to crush. If you head out there, tread lightly.
Currently conditions are ideal for hiking in the Escalante area. The high temperature on Saturday was around 60, the low was around 30. The entire canyon was dry except for one pothole that contained a bucketful of water.
Free advice: If you decide to visit this canyon, wear long sleeves, long pants, gloves, knee pads and elbow pads. You will be glad you did. Don't do this hike mid-summer. The hike back to your vehicle is up a southern facing slope that is completely exposed to the sun. Mid day temps of 60 degrees are just right, 80 degrees would be nasty, 100+ degrees could be lethal.
Lastly, before any grandmother reading this freaks out- YES several people knew where I was, YES there was a note on the dash of my car, and YES I knew what I was getting myself into.
And YES it was awesome and I would gladly do it again.
Bob http://i717.photobucket.com/albums/ww173/prestonjjrtr/Smileys/3.gif
Here\'s a short video of Egypt 3. Sorry about the shaky footage.
http://vimeo.com/38349051
Upper Egypt 3.
52072
52063
Looking straight down onto twisting slide.
52069
Large pothole with a slide in the background.
52066
Another larger slide, about 20 feet long. People can upclimb this??
52064
52073
I came across a rope ladder about a third of the way down canyon. Was it left for those that choose to ascend Egypt 3? :crazycobasa: I would argue that you\'re missing the best part of the canyon if you skip the top section.
52065
52067
Lower Egypt 3.
52068
My half full pack lodged easily between the canyon walls.
52070
52074
52071
After the hike I drove down to Hole in the Rock for an awesome sunset and a celebratory beverage.
52075
http://amazingslots.blogspot.com/2016/05/egypt-3.html