Escalante Adventure 2006 – Day 6

Synopsis: Hike out via Escalante River. Friday, June 2.

Day 6 was a little bit of a sad day, since this was the day I would hike out, alone. And to rub it in, my party critter had faded away in the last couple of days. I was leaving early in order to make the last day of my college reunion; everyone else was leaving the following day.

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Too sexy by far.

Photo by Bill Priedhorsky.
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Petey, myself, and my dad.

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After some puttering around and packing, I was ready to go. I waited until the dayhikers were nearly ready, then said my goodbyes and headed out.

I went upstream along the river, rather than back towards where we had come in. It was a straightforward hike: warm, but very quick, since the terrain was familiar, the trails were good, and I was alone.

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A nearly 360-degree view of the Escalante canyon floor above Bowington Canyon. The trail upstream is visible about 1/3 of the way from the left, while the trail downstream, back towards camp, is at the extreme right.

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One of many crossings. The trail out on the far side of the river is in the shadows under the cliff.

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After a while I began to encounter signs of other people. I entered the area of private land with the crabby signs about staying on-trail, and soon after there was the noise of machinery, perhaps a generator. Then a house tucked away through some bushes, and a dirt road, power lines, and the whine of the highway.

I kind of like emerging gradually from the backcountry. While sounds like these are frustrating and depressing in such a natural environment, the alternative — bursting suddenly out of the woods onto the highway — is worse.

I encounter several other backpackers, and then tourists, and then the bridge over Calf Creek and the highway. Charles’ red truck is waiting faithfully for me.

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The “after” photo.

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I unlock it and change clothes. I wander over to the river and have lunch under the highway bridge, which was the only place I could easily get to the river. Then, I return to the truck, start it up, and I’m off. The trip is over.

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