Escalante

This year we had our biggest group yet head down to Coyote Gulch in Escalante.  The ten of us left early Wednesday morning and started on our hike later that afternoon.  We had an amazing time with everyone and had absolutely perfect weather.  It was windy and cloudy at the trailhead but the rest of the time we had sunshine and blue skies.  

At the Trailhead:

{Jake & Kate} {Rilee & Tommy} {Dan & Shalane} {Sam & Marie-Reine} {Me & Marcus}

First you hike through thick sand and then over red rock.  It looks pretty barren and you can't really imagine where you are going.  After a few miles you get to a cliff, and are overlooking the most beautiful view.  You can see red sand, rock, a river, and an arch.  We lower our packs with a rope and then hike through a crack in the wall to get down.  From there we hike down a sand hill which is steep and quick, which means it is pretty brutal on the way back up.

The kitchen set up:  It is pretty awesome but the boys do 99% of the planning and cooking of the food. This year we tried a few new things.  Tommy made some delicious quinoa with lentils and Marcus impressed us all with an amazing homemade pizza.  

We camp in the best overhang.  We sleep out on the sand (although a few couples brought tents this year) and have lots of room to hang out, play card games, and of course cook.  

We hiked all day long on Thursday and loved hiking through the river, up and around several waterfalls, and finally came to the Coyote Gulch Natural Bridge.  Sam and Marie-Reine turned around before we got here so it was the eight of us at this point.

We kept hiking up and reached Jacob Hamblin Arch.  It is huge and so pretty.  There was just no way to capture the size and beauty of this arch with my camera.

Friday we headed down to the Escalante River.  There is one scary-ish part to cross here but it is my absolute favorite part.  It is gorgeous.  You are crossing the red rocks and below you is a deep green river, pooling up in deeper areas and surrounded by lots of red boulders.  

Stevens Arch:

The Pughs and Browers headed home a day early and left just after we finished swimming in the Escalante.  The rest of us continued exploring the river and finding more places to swim for the day.

Saturday morning the rest of us packed up and hiked out.  That sand hill is a killer and it was hot but it was also gorgeous and somewhat exhilarating hiking out of that place.

{This picture is kind of crazy of me and Marcus...I was a little freaked out that Marcus was going to trip and fall off the cliff (that wasn't all that close to us) as he ran back for the picture before the timer went off.  I was trying to get all ready to catch him.}

This year was such a fun trip - thanks to everyone who came and made it so fun!  I really do love the feel of roughing it, getting all sweaty and smelly and not having showers, having very few clean clothes, and carrying everything we need on our backs.  It makes me feel strong and grateful for my life, body and where I live.  I feel so lucky to have a good group of friends who love it as much as we do.  We had such a good time messing around with everyone and just enjoying being out exploring nature.  

Read about last year's trip here, and three year's ago here. I can't believe this was my fifth trip down there, and even more for Marcus.  We love it here and I'm sure this won't be our last.