Grand Staircase April 2023
In the spring of 2023, my desire to return to the Grand Staircase – Escalante in southern Utah was irresistible. Having been introduced to the Death Hollow and Sand Creek regions of the northern Escalante on a guided trip with Andrew Skurka Adventures the previous year, I felt compelled to explore further. Despite being new to hiking the slick rock and canyon regions of Utah, I was emboldened by my prior experience and felt confident enough to strike out on my own this time around.
Originally planned as a two-person expedition, my partner in crime had to bail at the last minute, due to work responsibilities. Unfazed and comfortable with hiking solo, I charted a course further south in the Grand Staircase. My seven-day journey spanning fiftyish miles was to encompass the Escalante River and include Twenty-Five Mile Wash, Harris Wash, Silver Creek, Choprock and Neon canyons, with an overland return to Early Weed Trailhead.
The weather was mostly perfect, with clear sunny skies and nighttime lows dipping to the upper 20s, while daytime temperatures hovered around the upper 50s to lower 60s - ideal hiking weather. The rugged beauty of the area was hard to put into words. The alcoves and slot canyons were vast, and without other people for comparison, it was hard to convey the scale. Hiking was challenging because the scenery was so mesmerizing that it was easy to trip over oneself. One spent a considerable amount of time with wet feet hiking through the washes and slots. Furthermore, the Escalante was a bit colder than last year, due to the heavy snowfall in Utah this year.
The highlight of the trip was successfully navigating the various washes and canyons that made up the journey. I must give credit to Skurka Adventures, whose beta inspired my route. However, the lowlight of the trip was having to bail early on day 6 due to a hand injury I sustained while entering a canyon earlier in the trip. The resulting 17-mile road walk was definitely Type 3 fun.
Looking ahead, I have already set my sights on Bear's Ears for next year. There's nothing like a good hike to cleanse the soul and rejuvenate the spirit, and I can't wait to hit the trails once again.
