forward to Day 12 : back to Day 10 : up to Main Index

CJR Escalante Adventure 2005 – Day 11

Synopsis: Hike down Death Hollow from Camp V to Camp VI in a fabulous alcove nearly at the Escalante River confluence. Backpacking; May 27. View Day 11 route map.

As we’d heard thunder for two days in a row, we were concerned it might storm for real. We were up early and on trail at 8:00 am. The goal for the day was Mamie Creek, but we moved so quickly that we were at that point by noon and continued on to a campsite not far from the confluence with the Escalante, a beautiful alcove where I’d stayed nine years earlier as a Boy Scout. It was a gorgeous hike. I’m going to stop yammering for a while and just let you scope out the photos.

The squirter spring near where the Boulder Mail Trail enters the canyon from the east.

Photo by Charles Yeamans.
medium (174k), large (445k), full size (695k)

Taking a break not far below the Mail Trail.

Photo by Charles Yeamans.
medium (134k), large (346k), full size (663k)

A swimming hole below Mamie Creek. That’s John. I heard the waterfall well back in the bushes, and wondered what was in store until I suddenly popped out to find this wonderful spot.

Photo by Charles Yeamans.
medium (185k), large (505k), full size (692k)

Me and John in the lower narrows of Death Hollow. Observe my snazzy pose...

Photo by Charles Yeamans.
medium (104k), large (249k), full size (625k)

...and observe my snazzy pose! Same guy, same spot, date: 1996. I’m even wearing the same idiotic hat. This was a Boy Scout trip; we entered the canyon at the Boulder Mail Trail, hiked down to the Escalante, followed it to Boulder Creek, and then hiked out via Boulder and Deer Creeks.

Photo by Adam Light.
full size (97k)

That’s John.

Photo by Charles Yeamans.
medium (109k), large (280k), full size (616k)

View upstream past our Camp VI alcove. I also camped here with the Boy Scouts.

medium (178k), full size (406k)

View downstream from Camp VI.

medium (170k), full size (411k)

Home sweet home.

medium (168k), full size (409k)

John has clearly had quite a nap.

medium (151k), full size (408k)

The rushing stream near camp.

medium (206k), full size (430k)

The camp alcove, viewed from the sandbar across the pond from camp. If you look really hard, you can spot our tent.

medium (155k), full size (396k)

It indeed clouded over, thundered, threatened, and drizzled big drops. We were chased out of the swimming hole and (again) had to book it through some very pretty spots. One thing you didn’t see above is the gargantuan poison ivy: it was taller than we were in places, and we could do little to avoid it. (In fact, Camp VI was surrounded by fields of the stuff.) Fortunately, none of us had a reaction; odd, but we ain’t complaining.

A strange thing happened while we were hanging out in camp. Suddenly, there was a tremendous, echoing boom and the ground shook for several seconds. It was terrifying. But nothing happened. We never did find out a good explanation; it clearly wasn’t an earthquake or thunder. The best we could come up with was seismic exploration.

Dinner was Rice-A-Roni-Roni, cooked by Charles. It was very yummy.

Please continue reading on Day 12.

forward to Day 12 : back to Day 10 : up to Main Index