Grand Staircase-Escalante NM, Utah
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Lower Calf Creek Falls Grand Staircase-Escalante NM, Utah |
October 10, 2018
Best of the Best Tour: Day-2
My hiker buddy Gary and I have just begun a 16-day tour of southern Utah, with little bits of Colorado, Arizona, and Nevada mixed in. This is intended as a 'Best of the Best' trip, not just because the itinerary is all new for Gary, but also because I consider this journey a possible "farewell' to many of my favorite places.
Granted, it's not a happy thought; yet at some point it behooves an old person to
face the fact that a visit to any place in particular might be the last opportunity,
especially when it's a thousand miles from home. Nevertheless, another two weeks'
worth of 'bucket-list' redrock destinations already are on the docket for next
year; but that's another story.
The highway snakes down to the Escalante River
The drive north from Escalante to the trailhead is on SR-12, which many writers have designated as one of the top ten or twelve most beautiful drives anywhere.
The Henry Mountains overlook the Escalante River Canyon
Just a mile or so past the river crossing is a recreation area with a
campground — and our trailhead.
Gateway to the best waterfall in Utah?
The road runs above the trail
The obligatory Ham-It-Up Arch
I promised Gary a "flat" walk
Oops!
Actually, the net elevation gain will be only 200 feet; but there are some ups and downs.
Prickly Pear Cactus
The trailhead is back in those trees
Ahead is a big group of returning hikers. One of them claims to be collecting a toll; so I point my thumb back at Gary and say, "Get it from him".
The gang waits for us to pass
No water up there today
The canyon wall is imposing
An arch in the making
After about two miles, there is quite a bit more green stuff. Gary is walking faster than usual, seemingly not even caring whether I keep up. I can guess why, but I'll let him find out for himself.
Rushing among the Horsetail Rushes
Scouring Rush, as the pioneers called it, was good for scrubbing pots and pans.
It doesn't look like much, but it's enough for a waterfall
Nice textures in the layered rock
The walls are closing in, It can't be much farther now.
Almost there?
Yep.
The scene is just as I remember it — absolutely beautiful.
Lower Calf Creek Falls, 130'
Side view
Gary had been hoping to get here in time to catch some sunlight on the falls. Knowing that they face eastward, I could have told him that the sun had set on this alcove before we started out.
This is why I go hiking
Hunting for a good photo-op
An interesting wall of water
Shortly after leaving the alcove, a tiny but beautifully colored bird seems determined to put on a show for us beside the trail.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (adult male)
That little guy weighs just a quarter of an ounce. Most kinglets reside in Canada, but they are permanent residents here as well.
Paintbrush
Daisies
Ambling back
Beaver activity on Calf Creek
One of many verdant spots
At Trail-marker #8 I ask Gary to look across the canyon; on the far
wall are some life-size Fremont-style pictographs.
The view at 11× zoom
The nice trail brochure says that there are three drawings on the wall, but that is incorrect:
Actually, there are four figures
Nice late-afternoon lighting
Bizarre patterns
Across the way is an amazing formation unlike anything I have seen except near a waterfall:
Water is seeping from a long horizontal dike
That cute little arch looks like a double
The highway has been nearby the whole time
Fremont Barberry
Clematis
Gambel Oak leaves
Near trail's end
§: Well, I presume that Gary liked his first-ever outing in the Escalante
area. Having photographed much of snow-clad Bryce Canyon just a few hours
earlier, this was a fine way to finish off the day.
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