Results 1 to 2 of 2

Thread: Glen Canyon National Rec Area Backpack April 25-28,2016

  1. #1

    Glen Canyon National Rec Area Backpack April 25-28,2016

    This is a little travelled area near the end of the Hole in the Rock road that departs south out of Escalante Town traversing a long plateau above the Escalante River. 55 miles down the road is a joint unmarked trailhead for Davis Canyon and our backpack.


    I met Kimberly (Rainie Too), Linda, Barbara, and Robert in Escalante at the Escalante Outfitters for dinner and planning. Then we were off down the "H in the R" Road. We started with a dayhike loop of Brimstone, Spooky, and Peek-a-boo slot canyons (TR to come). Then our backpack began. This trip includes rim camping obove Reflection Canyon and Lake Powell and explorations of Cottonwood and Llewellyn Gulches.
    Day 1: Long mesa walk to Reflection Canyon/Glen Canyon (Lake Powell) junction.
    Day 2: Reflection to Cottonwood Gulch with exploration of Cottonwood to Lake Powell.
    Day 3: Great dayhike loop of Llewellyn and Cottonwood from a basecamp in Cottonwood.
    Day 4: The exit out of Cottonwood back to the trailhead.
    This trip turned out to be a fairly epic! Llewellyn gave us all we could handle (and more!) but we left with a sense of Pride and accomplishment, with plenty of fun thrown in! We somewhat accidentally entered the realm of semi-technical canyoneering as the chokestone drops and dryfalls forced us into rappelling to continue through, while a waist deep keeper hole required partner assist to escape! Don't do this one solo right now!
    Here's the story in photos:


    Hike to Reflection Canyon:


    Name:  IMG_6574 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 788
Size:  67.3 KBName:  IMG_6578 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 718
Size:  63.8 KBName:  IMG_6586 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 691
Size:  91.5 KBName:  IMG_6620 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 732
Size:  59.0 KB


    Arriving at Reflection to camp and explore.




    Name:  IMG_6628 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 679
Size:  56.5 KBName:  IMG_6631 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 697
Size:  45.5 KBName:  IMG_6648 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 782
Size:  63.6 KB


    Day 2: Moving on to Cottonwood Canyon:


    Name:  IMG_6654 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 729
Size:  65.6 KBName:  IMG_6656 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 729
Size:  75.2 KBName:  IMG_6661 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 824
Size:  65.0 KB




    Descending into Cottonwood Gulch. We established a camp for the next couple nights and explored the canyon in the afternoon and evening.




    Name:  IMG_6667 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 723
Size:  83.0 KBName:  IMG_6671 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 729
Size:  75.4 KBName:  IMG_6676 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 704
Size:  75.0 KBName:  IMG_6687 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 718
Size:  66.6 KB


    Day 3: The incredible Llewellyn Gulch/Cottonwood Gulch Loop. Exiting Cottonwood is Class 3 slickrock scramble fun. Descending Llewellyn we did three rappels of less than 20 feet even though we anticipated being able to downclimb all. There were plenty more down climbs over chokestones and a very long narrows to enjoy. To complete the loop back to camp we walked up on the pleasant mesa between the two gulches. Good stuff.


    Name:  IMG_6716 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 729
Size:  60.5 KBName:  IMG_6720 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 721
Size:  55.4 KBName:  IMG_6722 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 708
Size:  56.6 KBName:  IMG_6727 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 687
Size:  61.7 KBName:  IMG_6733 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 652
Size:  71.3 KBName:  IMG_6735 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 706
Size:  82.0 KBName:  IMG_6761 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 690
Size:  83.5 KBName:  IMG_6763 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 676
Size:  75.2 KB
    Name:  IMG_6797 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 648
Size:  57.7 KB



    Day 4: Racing the impending T-storms back to the Trailhead in order to not get stuck in the slick red clay of the H in the R Road for days on end.


    Name:  IMG_6803 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 745
Size:  71.3 KBName:  IMG_6805 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 713
Size:  64.1 KBName:  IMG_6807 [1024x768].jpg
Views: 714
Size:  52.0 KB


    What a trip, and adventure, this was for all of us! Great challenges, fantastic scenery, and wonderful company made this a Top 5 desert classics for me!
    There was plenty of evidence of the "Old Ones" (ancestral pueblo and Fremont peoples). I'll add some rock art pics later.
    PM me if you ever want details of the required gear, canyon entries/exits, and drops.

  2. Likes Sombeech, Scott P, Glenn, oldno7 liked this post
  3. # ADS
    Circuit advertisement
    Join Date
    Always
    Location
    Advertising world
    Posts
    Many
     

  4. #2
    Great TR...fun trip!

Similar Threads

  1. [Trip Report] Canyonlands Needles Crosscanyon Traverse April 10-15, 2016
    By John Morrow in forum Backpacking & Camping
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 05-07-2016, 12:33 PM
  2. [Trip Report] Canyonlands Natl Pk Needles Dist. Backpack April 25-30, 2013
    By John Morrow in forum Hiking, Scrambling & Peak Bagging
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: 06-03-2013, 09:22 AM
  3. [Trip Report] Zion National Park (Kolob Dist) Backpack April 13-16, 2012
    By John Morrow in forum Hiking, Scrambling & Peak Bagging
    Replies: 1
    Last Post: 05-13-2012, 02:00 PM
  4. [Trip Report] U Turn Canyon--Arches National Park--Spring Break 2012--April 10th
    By Sandstone Addiction in forum Canyoneering
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 04-18-2012, 10:43 AM
  5. April 20-22 or 27-29 Dinosaur Area Backpack-invitation
    By Scott P in forum Backpacking & Camping
    Replies: 8
    Last Post: 04-17-2007, 11:17 AM

Visitors found this page by searching for:

Outdoor Forum

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •