Life in Escalante

Snowshoeing on Boulder Mountain Utah

2012-01-23T10:16:00.005-07:00

Last Sunday, the day after we received a few inches of snow in Escalante, Utah, we ventured out to Boulder Mountain to snowshoe. The summit (almost 10,000') had grasses poking out of thin snow and we wondered if there was enough snow to snowshoe.
As the truck dropped down toward Torrey, Utah, the ground had more coverage of snow but no berms from snow plows. We strapped on our snowshoes and stepped into thigh-high snow!

Tell-taled avalanche warnings abounded: slabs of powdery snow broke off; spaces between snow layers when we dug holes, that "woomff" sound as clomped through fields; bottomless holes while poling; mounds of tall wind-blown snow to cross.
We kept close to trees and boulders but when on a mountain, you gotta go up. The snow continued to settled under our shoes but we wanted a work-out and up we went. No major slides only lots of snowballs that rolled down from our wakes.
It's snowing again but we'll wait until the snow settles (at least 24 hours) until we climb on Boulder Mountain again.

4-Wheel Driving Smokey Mtn Road Escalante, Utah

2011-12-01T12:59:00.005-07:00

As of 1pm today, 78 miles of Smokey Mountain Road is open with some sections needing high-clearance vehicles. Its not everyday you can drive this dirt road along the Kaiparowitz Plateau to Page, Arizona. Rain, wind & snow play havoc on this slow winding remote road. You'll want to go slow because you can miss this cache along side of the road or other ruins on the way to Lake Powell. The rugged desert landscape had long shadows as we descended into Big Water, Utah.
After spending the night in Page, Az, we headed back in search of an interesting hike. There are countless old ranch roads that go no where and that was fine with us. We walked a double-track ATV road that seem to connect with Last Chance Canyon for over 2 hours. Perhaps next exploration we'll ride our mountain bikes and find where the ATV track meets Last Chance Canyon.
Closer to Escalante, we had a rare glimpse of the elusive "Fins," tall castle-like fortress, lit up in the late afternoon sun. We recognized our next adventure off Smokey Mountain Road: to find a route to climb these secluded rock fins.

Friendly Flash Flood

2011-10-03T11:35:00.005-06:00

We saw all the symptoms of an impending flash flood: dark grey clouds over our westerly direction, thunder despite our sunshine, a 20 minute cloudburst, the creeping foamy trickle of water, newly formed waterfalls. Then our previous dry canyon became a ripply river within a minute.
Yet, the worse fear I had was my shoes getting wet. We had found a rock over-hang while the cloud busted open and ate lunch. Caramel, a Boxer dog, drank rain water that streamed off the overhang as if was coming from a Camelback tube. Later, she played in the foamy water by tossing up the foam in the air and catching it. We watched water shoot through conical slickrock chutes. As we continued to hike up Mitchell Canyon, we stayed higher than the caramel-colored river and hopped on rocks when we had to cross the rising river. We managed to record the GPS coordinates of "Sand Dollar Rock" (our objective) and I didn't get my shoes wet until the last crossing to the truck. The drive down Alvey Wash road was another story: How not to get your vehicle stuck in the mud. Not all floods are nice.

Moment Away

2011-09-14T08:24:00.006-06:00

The pressure was on: get from Park City, Utah to Escalante, Utah in less than 5 hours so Ricki (husband) could give his lecture on "Beekeeping." We were miffed when a caravan of tourists stopped on Highway 12 to gawk and film a huge horseshoe rainbow over Henrieville. How dare these tourists hold up our deadline! We sped past them and as we zipped into the Blues, a hologram of yellow, red, and blue spilled into the Blues' ravins. Was this the end of the rainbow? How to capture this moment when we didn't have time, nor was it safe, to take a picture of this pot-of-gold? I realized that this moment will never come again. The sightseers had it right: have your camera ready because you'll never be here, in this moment, again and there is beauty all around you.
Yesterday morning I did capture the moment, via iphone, as the Harvest Moon dipped below Powell Point.

Road Cycling to Kodachrome State Park

2011-08-09T14:55:00.007-06:00

We changed our usual morning exercise routine to an early evening road bike ride last night to Kodachrome State Park from Cannonville, about 20 round-trip if you go into the State Park. What a relief to have the temperature cool down the longer we rode bikes. The shadows were long as the sun lost it's luster. Highway 12 has fascinating scenery for road biking, West and North from Escalante, Utah but no shoulders.The road to Kodachrome rarely had vehicles on it, perhaps because of the evening time or it just isn't as crowded as the local National Parks. I felt safe and at ease riding skinny tires on this open road toward Cottonwood pass (just outside Kodachrome), home of Grosvenor Arch and back to Cannonville, and continued east on Highway 12 toward Escalante. Ah, this is where the missing vehicles were going, to Escalante.

Peak Bagging Mt Ellen

2011-07-26T16:30:00.006-06:00

This wasn't the first time we've tried to bag Mt Ellen, the highest peak of the Henry Mountains. In July 2009 the conditions were stormy, foggy, and viewless. This year we marched right up to the top of Mt Ellen (11,522 ft) and we could not believe we were at the summit, despite a mailbox of "yays, we did it," in a large cairn on top. No, we had to continue to the other peak, Dry Lakes Peak, a conical peak that drops 400 ft and back up to 11,506'. It did look taller and had a bona fide trail leading to this yonder peak. We saw Factory Butte in Cainville and the La Sals and the Book Cliffs around Green River. It's the 360 degree views that were amazing. We saw herds of buffalo and deer on distant fields and a few ATVer's looking for their wanna-be deer trophies. The drive to MacMillian campground was a 4 hour drive from Escalante but less if you ride a mtn bike to Sandy's Ranch from camp (save 2 hrs driving). Now when I see the Northern most nipple in the Henry Mountains I know that there is more than just one peak to be had.

Strolling in Upper Calf Creek

2011-05-10T14:39:00.004-06:00

Last Saturday was down right hot in Escalante, Ut. We headed to water, Upper Calf Creek to be precise, from our campsite perched above Boulder. I'm vague as to where this almost-pristine campsite is located because 1) we want to keep it almost-pristine 2) DEEP sand would most likely trap your vehicle 3) The winds can be challenging on this exposed bench.

We traversed down and over mounds of slickrock and came to where the trail from Highway 12 leads to Upper Calf Creek Falls. I brushed my knee on some Poison Ivy in an alcove before we traipsed down Calf Creek. The brushy steep banks kept us in the creek which was no problem with our trusty water shoes. After a mile and half of walking in this dappled-light filled stream, we found a way up over more slickrock to our campsite. This loop hike took us 6 1/2 hours and we welcomed the winds that cooled our brows from exertion. We toasted the views and to our wonderful warm day.

Local Lunar Camping

2011-03-22T08:39:00.009-06:00

"Extreme Supermoon" was last Saturday night, and I had to sleep under the influence of this March 19th lunar perigee.

We found a spacious, civilized camp spot at Deer Creek campground off Burr Trail, near Boulder, Utah, to watch the moon rise to its "closest point in orbit to Earth." It didn't appear any bigger or closer, especially if I compare it to a "harvest full moon" in September, which is HUGE.

Friday, we hiked five hours up The Gulch, exploring Water Canyon (the spring is flowing well and new green fauna is present), only meeting one family backpacking nine miles up to the arch.

The wicked winds came Saturday and we aborted our ridge hike across from our campground and found a few human tracks going down a canyon we dubbed "wind-break canyon," that is probably a tributary to Deer Creek. Five hours later, with help from the GPS and our nuclear reactor landmark, we were back in camp.

Due to high winds, we drove and ate at Hell's Backbone Grill in Boulder, for a sandless wonderful, albeit expensive meal, ten minutes away from our campsite. Desert camping in March is not madness but pleasurable.

Glory Skiing

2011-02-24T12:09:00.004-07:00

Every once in awhile the snow, the weather, the wax is just right and exaltation happens. Skiing in Bryce Canyon has been magnificent: clear views (see Powell Point, end of Escalante Mtn in picture), easy & fast glides, remanent of corduroy grooming, Ponderosas and Douglas Firs clutching snowballs, sunshine with crisp breezes, and accessible trailheads. Adventure abounds with over 50 kilometers of trails to classic ski in the parallel tracks or skate-ski diagonally on wide courses set by a professional groomer. And the price is right - its free. Ruby's Inn has classic skis, boots & snowshoes to rent if you don't have equipment. Red rock with contrasting white snow will make your winter Southern Utah trip glorious.

Freshies In Escalante

2011-01-10T07:25:00.006-07:00

What I like about skiing in Escalante is the fresh untracked powder snow. There is no competition with snowmobilers or other motorized vehicles for these forest service roads that run perpendicular to Highway 12 or Pine Creek road heading up to Posey Lake. Breaking trail can be challenging, but our ski tracks are set for the rest of winter so we can kick & glide to our heart's content. When was the last time you skied without seeing any people, with only traces of animal footprints marking the snow?

Slots of Fun

2010-11-28T10:11:00.005-07:00

Ever want to keep a secret to yourself? Part of you wants to share this clandestine canyon with friends, giving them the gift of experiencing a pristine, spectacular hike through narrow & slot canyons, with an arch to boot. Another part of me is warning to keep quiet, let this one canyon remain unspoiled by humans & cows.

I'll compromise by giving clues as to the location: We bush-whacked through throngs of Tamarisks. Its off Hole-in-the-Rock road. Red rock is not always lonely.

You may not find what I'm calling "Anvil & Arch" canyon but you may find your own secretive canyon hike. After all, there are millions of acres of wilderness to explore here in Escalante, Utah.

Cream Cellar Road

2010-11-14T13:44:00.011-07:00

Yesterday, we (new girlfriend & I) packed up the dogs & headed NE from Escalante, Utah on Hwy 12 past mile marker 73. According to the GPS we parked the truck at N 37* 46.028' W 111* 25.652'. There was plenty of sunshine and cool breezes, as we hiked across a sage bush field with gobs of eyelash grasses toward Escalante river overlook. We found the tracks of the old Cream Cellar road that once connected Boulder & Escalante, Utah & trekked up toward the Head-of-the-Rocks. The Cream Cellar road has carved in switch-backs & rocks built up along the sides of domed buttes. In yesteryears, vats of milk and cream were taken from Boulder farms via mule & stored under the now dilapidated dugout shed near the Head-of-the-Rocks on Hwy 12, for the Escalante folks to pick-up their diary later.

We discussed how easy this antiquated road was to navigate with only a few cairns to guide you up to the cellar shed. Trail-running & snowshoeing is very doable on this round-trip 5 mile excursion.

The Cream Cellar road is not going anywhere, only us.

Sounds of Escalante Canyons Art Festival 2010

2010-10-12T11:26:00.005-06:00

It was double-duty volunteering and filming the Escalante Canyons Art Festival this year. During the week of the Plein Air Competition, artists were sprinkled through-out Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument with their easels and brushes, capturing their visions onto canvas.

The last two days of the festival, energetic & lively music was heard in town as the tensions mounted for the outdoor paintings being auctioned off. Pertinent speakers gave food-for-thought as they orated historical views or futuristic probabilities regarding the Colorado Plateau.

Hear for yourself the excitement of the varied sounds during Escalante Canyons Art Festival and see the diverse award winners & sold paintings.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0YqY3Gxxb3c

Rain, Rain Go Away

2010-08-09T08:20:00.003-06:00

The Monsoons have arrived & I have other newbies asking me (5 year full-time resident), "is this rain normal?" Yes & no. Previously, we bragged about not having to use our swamp-cooler because of summertime thunderstorms. With all the precipitation from cloudbursts this past week-end, we almost used our heater.

I admit I love the drama of thunder, lighting & the clatter of rain pelting down on the roof. Our rain gutters are linked to thick hanging chains directing massive flows of water from our house roofs to our greediest trees. Rain & dirt smells permeate all around us. We wonder which canyons will flash flood. The downpours bend the tall corn stalks in our garden. Lightening shows in the wee hours rival flashy rock concerts of the past.

And then the sun comes out. The corn & trees rise up again. Pools of water sink into the ground. Hummingbirds return to feed from the penstemons. We love the sun rays on our skin, the optimism of another hike & the wishful beauty from the lingering rainbows.

Quick Overnighter

2010-06-19T10:12:00.005-06:00

2-night minimum used to be our motto, until we packed our raft up to Long Willow Bottom lake, above Barker Lakes near Escalante. We scoped Wide Willow Bottom lake first but dozens of rowdy boy scouts had invaded the area. We found a secluded lakeside camp spot on LWB.

Yep, the mosquitoes were so thick I was inhaling them. The specks in the picture are just some of our encountered swarms. I paddled out in the lake to find relief from the pests.

It was a cold & star-filled night. There was frost on my deflated raft the next morning. We hiked out mid-morning taking only 2 tiger trout, trash, and a few mosquitoes bites.

Escalante River Packraft Trip

2010-05-12T10:00:00.009-06:00

I'm not a neophyte to inflatable rafting but definitely a novice to packrafting. I'm also a sucker for new ways to explore Escalante Canyon.

Last week, 3 friends & I packrafted down Escalante river when the river was 8 cfs (cubic feet per second). We all had Alpaca rafts which can glide on 2 cfs water courses and weigh only 7 pounds. We strapped our heavy dry bags and packs to our bows that contained provisions to camp overnight. We were to haul our raft, paddles, camping gear, etc up 5 miles to our shuttle vehicle.

My 1st indication that this was NOT a leisurely float trip when I was ensnared in spiky thorns from Russian Olive branches hanging (thriving) in the river's current. The 2nd clue was when I scrambled for my bilge sponge, bandana, water bottle after my raft flipped over. Omen #3 came as I pulled out my stuff from my "dry bag" that got wet from being submerged. I was never cold or miserable.

It was an adventure cuz I discovered new-to-me petroglphys & pictographs in weird places. Our camping site (Twin Caves) was spacious & not trampled on. The weather was warm and the river inviting. Will I return to finish running the Escalante River? We'll see.

Dogs Allowed

2010-04-23T07:46:00.003-06:00

I'm not a fan of organized campgrounds, but I had to get out of the house where we work and live. Somewhere close and dog friendly. Kodachrome State Park is only 45 minutes west of us and they allow dogs. Yay! I did feel a bit guilty when my dog made foot-prints on the Zen-like raked dirt that surrounded our campsite. And what a treat it was to take a HOT shower after mountain biking a single track through weird red rock formations on Panoramic trail. When the sun set, the towers and monoliths lit up as if they were on fire. Sometimes civilized camping is pure pleasure.

Joke's on Me

2010-04-01T07:59:00.007-06:00

Yesterday my head was in the clouds after YouTube suggested we "revenue share" on my PC912Condo video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7GNSwd7-DQ

Sally Field's "you really like me" speech came to me as I gathered cloud photos for my new video production website: www.abovegroundproductions.net

I couldn't even sleep, thinking what a great filmmaker I was. NOT! This morning YouTube rescinded their offer. Hummph! Its hard to place an ad on ad. So, I'm grounded here in Escalante, Utah wondering how to cook my husband's garden turnips for supper.

Find Bob

2010-03-02T11:31:00.003-07:00

I missed my poles while snowshoeing up & down Boulder Mountain Sunday, especially stomping up steep hillsides. I could have used the extra push from my arms during ascends. Ah, but the freedom of using my hands without cumbersome poles was worth the extra grunt uphill. I could grab my hankie from a pocket, blow, don my gloves and keep up with the others on top of several feet of snow. And I was able to be impulsive with camera shots.

To Ski or Not to Ski?

2010-02-20T17:09:00.004-07:00

Since my snowshoes broke, the metal frame sheared apart, I can only ski these wintery days. I've miss the security of knowing I could traverse deep, steep and sweet snow between the trees. Actually, it's easier to break through thick, crusty snow using fat metal-edged skis verses to snowshoe. The speed from kick & gliding in open valleys and downhill slopes is more exhilarating. Yes, I'd rather ski, than not.

Why Journal

2010-02-10T15:37:00.006-07:00

Why do I journal everyday when I could be blogging or tweeting or doing housework? I don't expect anyone to read these volumes of ramblings. Sometimes I ponder, "what if the universe has a melt down and we could no longer access the web." Then all my journals would be one record of this time and place in history. My journals would reveal my daily trials and tribulations living with my spouse of 26 years, inner revelations, changes in the world, and future creative ventures. I write down 3 wishes (small & personal to mythical large), affirmations to move me through health or mental blocks, and my highlight of the previous day. When I have nothing more to write, I note the present moment: birds flitting around, detectable smells, distant airplanes, current weather, etc. Everything changes but if I can record the moment maybe the memory can last. It's a luxury to journal.

1st Youtube video

2010-01-06T16:51:00.007-07:00

There are millions of possibilities out-there, but I did finish this promotional video for our nightly rental after downloading iLife software for editing movies. Previously, I had tons of footage but not able to string together clips or even find my projects after changes. Having a script helps but knowing the where, the settings, is more important, albeit this video is my first and certainly not my last. I wish my feedback on this 1st project only include what worked. Writing and making videos is like showing yourself with your pants down. Please don't tell me about my blemishes, say something about "nice ass." http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TjZTM2sGJro

C.O.Y.O.T.E.

2009-11-12T12:54:00.007-07:00

Each letter of Coyote describes our week-end backpacking trip in Coyote Canyon.
C: Calm, no winds. We watched leaves fall to the ground and marveled at the warm weather.
O: Otherworldlyness - utopia may be a better word, where clean water spouts from walls and arches & alcoves are prolific.
Y: Yellow was the color reflecting in Coyote stream from huge fan-like yellow cottonwood leaves that also blanketed our path.
O: Outrageous monolithic rocks we hiked around with outrageous views of Coyote Canyon.
T: Travel time to trailhead from Escalante, 1 hour. Ricki's new big tires helped with the washboard roads.
E: Easy-going conversations and fun games at night (Farkle and Cribbage).
Coyote Canyon is the quintessential canyon in the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. Come hike it.

Sustainable Lifestyle

2009-10-29T12:17:00.004-06:00

Last night I thanked the elk my husband shot but not the veggies. These exclusive homegrown meals are less rare due to his cold frames (which grow veggies into the winter and early spring) and our large freezers. Yes, the chopping, peeling, cooking gets tedious during harvest time but sitting down to an "off the land" meal is a reward in itself. Now if I can only get my husband to grow wine grapes...

Building Better Bones

2009-10-14T16:24:00.007-06:00

Ok, we could've driven to the mouth Wolverine Canyon verses carrying 40 lbs on our backs to sleep two nights in the "wilderness." I wondered why a day hiker traveling up Wolverine Canyon smirked when he said, "the road is great condition." As Wolverine Canyon merged with Horse Canyon, a newly graded road dominated the landscape.
Time did slow down as I noticed golden Cottonwood trees and weird figurines on top of steep stained walls. While we trudged back up Wolverine with heavy backpacks, my mantra was, "weight bearing exercises builds better bones." Have SUV I shall travel, just not to all my wilderness experiences.

Inspiration

2009-09-28T16:19:00.005-06:00

Even though I did not purchase a Plein Air picture at the Escalante Canyons Art Festival, I was inspired to visit the location of my favorite painting in the exhibit, Barker Reservoir. Jake, my grandson, caught 4 fish as I walked through the golden falling Aspen leaves near the lake with 2 y.o. Luke. It was slow going and this carefree stroll morphed into a glorious warm afternoon. I may not have a physical painting, just the memories of my two grandsons taking in the wonders of Escalante's fall weather and beauty.

I Get to Go Too!

2009-09-03T11:53:00.003-06:00

As I age, I appreciate getting out of the house even more. Lately, the big dogs (my owners), leave me behind to guard the house and to sleep on the forbidden couch. In this picture, the big girls took me backpacking to Blind Lake, close to Grover, Utah. The vistas were spectacular, water abundant, and the scents diverse. I'd go back to Blind Lake and bring fishing gear to catch my supper. I'm forever young when on an adventure with the big dogs.

Camping Accessories

2009-08-01T11:34:00.003-06:00

I went camping up in the mountains with a bunch of Escalante folks last week and used my friend Ellie's bag she gave me to haul all my camping accouterments. As I unpacked, I noticed what items I ignored and made use of.
The obligatory camera was never picked up; too busy biking, hiking or petting horses. And fortunately, the bug juice was never applied. Either I wore long sleeves and pants or was moving too fast for the bugs to settle on my skin.
I did write 3 pages every morning in my journal I brought along. I recorded my dreams and reflected the life of a fly and my dog.
I read magazines cover to cover and got cozy with my Kindle at night in the tent. Having bear spray next to me was worth its weight in comfort.
Ellie's bag gave my camping experience more options for luxuries and pleasures.

Beating the Heat in Escalante

2009-07-26T08:00:00.004-06:00

Yep, it's hot in Escalante Utah. A couple of days ago, my husband Ricki drove my friend and I up Main Canyon 24 miles and dropped us, with mountain bikes, to find our way back home. The high altitude and the cloud cover made me wonder if I had brought enough clothes. Soon I was sweating by tackling the hill climbs and distracted by antelope running through open meadows. We pedaled and pedaled and finally had lunch at Cyclone Lake and marveled at the sheer coolness in the air. One more climb and it was all downhill, past Posey Lake and into the furnace of Escalante. Five hours later and maybe 30 miles behind us, we reveled in how we beat the heat in Escalante.

Bird on Bird

2009-07-05T08:00:00.004-06:00

We have at least a pair of Mockingbirds (maybe a juvenile too) that have taken up residence near our home. Their garbled telegram-like messages, or songs, usually start 8 or 9 in the morning and disappear by midday. Unfortunately, other small birds have vacated. No longer sweet melodious songs from Meadowlarks or rhythmic whistles from Say's Phoebes grace us. Instead, the bold and boisterous Mockingbird swoop down with its white patch wings blazing, scaring insects or to commandeer our berries. They are conspicuous until you want to photograph them. As I waited with camera in hand, I noticed the silence.

Nasty Gnats

2009-06-16T06:42:00.003-06:00

My face bears witness to the destruction from the tiniest creatures Mother Nature can dish out while camping in the Cedar trees last week-end. I understand why we saw no one while hiking in the vast wilderness of the Kaiparawits mountains: who would want their skin gnawed on by incessant gnats that are not deterred by poison, tight clothing or flight? We escaped to the high ridges where weird boulders and old snags reside in the unhampered breezes. Taking in the vistas on high hillsides, we rejoiced in the freedom from gnats.

Setting the Stage

2009-04-12T11:10:00.008-06:00

Last week we, my husband, our friend Nick, and I, went for a spontaneous 4 night backpacking trip up Stevens Canyon. The weather looked reasonable, with only one threatening stormy day. Our only daily obligation was to find the perfect campsite: flat, near water, some shade, off trail with a view. Otherwise, we spent our energies plowing through Escalante River knee-high water to skipping over Stevens Canyon slow-moving stream. Streaked half-domed walls surrounded us as we meandered up Stevens wash. Of course, all our campsites were perfect except when the winds howled and shook the Cottonwood trees to the ground. Our tent looked like it had been abandoned for decades because three inches of sand had accumulated inside it. We picked up the tent, sand and all, and moved to a near-by sheltering wall. We settled back, the stage set, to watch the golden light show and the moon rise between the canyon walls. Everything was complete.

Daily Sunsets

2009-03-25T16:13:00.003-06:00

Yep, we do have these frequent sunsets here in Escalante, Utah. Clouds have been blowing in and the sunsets are plentiful. Beauty abounds.

Time Tested

2009-02-05T17:08:00.006-07:00

Time was I kept a schedule with no time lapses. Lately, I've taken out time to keep up with the ever-changing positioning of the stars and planets. Wintertime nights are filled with twinkling specks of starlight and I wonder if this is endless time. No, I could make a timetable with the moon's cycle and the mercurial stars. For instance, one evening Venus was on top of the setting moon and then Venus jumped over the moon to the western horizon the next night. I'll make time to watch the dark skies and stay with the everlasting.

Go from Here

2008-12-18T15:52:00.008-07:00

Today I skied for 2 hours from my front door. I slipped away from laundry, Xmas obligations, the financial crisis and didn't look back. Aided by a 4-wheel truck that had broke through the 8 inches of snow, I kicked and glided up to a flat mesa while listening to Michael Franti singing, "lift up my arms higher because you never know when you might die." This area should have been familiar, but snow laden branches and misty vistas were disorientating. I caught a glimpse of ice patches floating in Wide Hollow reservoir and knew it was time to turn around. My only fall was around a bend when the thick powder grabbed my ski. When I returned home, a new snowman addition awaited me. He winked at me, letting me know everything is changing.

Leisurely Snowshoeing

2008-02-14T11:44:00.006-07:00

Yesterday I strapped on a pair of snowshoes after a brief hiatus. The first thing I recognized: I wasn't skiing. The snaillike pace forced me to look around for my stimulation. Changes were happening fast in this isolated canyon: rocks were weeping, ice covered smooth boulders, strained-striped walls dripped like tar. The steep cliffs narrowed as I stomped through crusty, shaded snow. Birds (Juncos?) hopped in and out salt bushes or ventured up a towering Ponderosa tree. Sage scents wafted around me as the snow evaporated. Yep, time was not moving very fast snowshoeing. Now, if I was a snowflake...

Winter Safe Haven

2008-01-11T11:04:00.000-07:00

Winter has settled in and I'm trying to stay put myself. I have groin muscles that are strained and I'm homebound. The dry crunchy snow beckons my X-country skis outward. This is the time for me to tour Escalante's mountains on fluffy powder. I could smell the crisp metalic air as I glide through the popcorn laden trees. Hear only the tweets from birds and try to identify animal tracks before I smash their tracks with my poles or skis. I would dress for the cold to get hot from the exercise. I miss playing in the snow. I must remind myself it's all temporary, all things must end. Just like my injury.

Desert of the Heart - Book Review

2007-12-05T10:14:00.000-07:00

Karen Chamberlain's pretty prose describes the wild desert in simple and bold words. Her hiding place was discovered by many zany and worldly live-in visitors, adding invigorating life to this memoir. After reading Karen's reflections on winter's solitude ("hear the music at the heart of existence"), I now rejoice the cold quiet months in the desert. This short, sweet novel left me wanting more.

Living My Dying

2007-11-09T16:34:00.000-07:00

I had a vivid dream last month that I veered off a high mountain while I drove a car, took a huge gasp (knowing I was to die), and was suspended in the air when I woke up. I think of this dream every time I drive or ride my road bike down Highway 12 from what the locals call "Head of the Rocks." This section of the road takes a wide right swing, descending a 12% grade over-looking mottled white and red slickrock. The Henry mountains loom in the background. If I gaze over the mounds of slickrock while the centrifugal force from the curve is on me, I can feel that same suspended sensation from my dream, like being cradled in a half-moon's lap. Next time you are traveling from Escalante to Boulder, see if this part of the road takes your breath away too.

You are Welcome

2007-10-15T14:46:00.000-06:00

Listening to Don Montoya's archaeological and culture speech at Escalante Canyons Arts Festival last Friday, I finally felt welcomed. We built our first house over eleven years ago as a vacation home here in Escalante, Utah. Now its been over two years of living full-time in our original abode and renting the new La Luz vacation home to tourists. People of all clans throughout history have visited our Colorado Plateau for thousands of years. And then vanished. Like the pioneer families that came to Escalante in the 1800's, second and third generations have to move from Escalante for economic reasons. Its hard to make a living here. Travelers passing through as migrating birds do, are well-received in our community. Surrounded by millions of public lands, we're all visiting temporarily.

Fall Equinox

2007-09-23T13:24:00.000-06:00

I sensed the changing intensity of the sun's rays as we set off on our trail run yesterday. Not only from the double rainbow in the west, but I was able to run comfortably in the late morning. It was as if five pounds were lifted off me. The sun wasn't hot. I even carried a rain jacket and wore a pumpkin-color long sleeve tee-shirt. Orange, or any derivative of that color, is my favorite autumn shade to wear. Seasons do dictate what I wear, when I'm active, where I go and even the food I consume.
Tis the season to eat and eat and eat..vegetables. Our prolific garden has yielded peppers, tomatoes, squash, potatoes, and of course, pumpkins. Chop, peel, cook, freeze are my dominating activities lately. I appreciate the abundance, but not all at once.
It was the SUDDENNESS or impatience that surprised me during this fall equinox day. There were early clues: Aspen trees on Boulder Mountain freckled with gold, sunrises and sunsets arrived later and sooner, the flies disappeared, I shut my bedroom window at night. Autumn in the desert wants to be noticed.

Skywatching

2007-09-11T20:45:00.000-06:00

Its been an interesting summer for sky-watching: Lunar eclipice, meteor showers, finding the north star, seeking Uranus moons.
I had a perfect position to view the Perseids meteor shower. We camped on a peak with a 240 degree view of the sky high above tree line to watch the show. My portable chaise lounge supported me along with a minus 15 degree sleeping bag to see the spectacle in the wee hours before sunrise. I counted 53 falling stars. The streaks came from all directions and time intervals. After each falling star I'd make a wish: peace in the middle east, I'd lose five pounds effortlessly, our front road be paved, see more falling stars... Fifty-three was a good number to crawl back into the tent on.
I regret not taking a photo of the Lunar eclipse. The moon looked like an old picture of red Mars. Eerie. Being awake in the dead of night is spooky too. Coyote howls seemed to be only ten feet away. Bushes rattled as if creatures were convening on how to attack me. Paranoid thoughts ruled during the slow, shadow moon show.
Lately I've been using the binoculars to locate Uranus moons in the southeast sky in the early dark evening. Clouds or my forgetfulness has prevented my newest discovery in the heavens.
The persistent north star or Polaris, has been chased by the Big and Little Dipper for centuries. I've only recently noticed there are other worlds to unearth out in the dark skies.

Up or Down?

2007-08-22T12:55:00.000-06:00

Lightening sparked our debate as to where to backpack last week. Canyons or the mountains? We could wear our shorts through the night in the desert canyons. Recent rains would have filled water-pockets for all our water needs. Cottonwood trees are in full-leaf and would shade us. Those pesky fears of flash-floods made us look upward toward the high mountains. Water is plentiful in the alpine lakes and streams. The nights are cold enough to zap the blood-sucking critters. It would be a relief to be chilled after the desert heat. Then I thought of the time my hair stood up during a close thunder and lightening storm in the high mountains. No place to hide except under a tall, scorched dead Ponderosa tree.
We compromised and backpacked on the head of a narrow canyon. We hiked across slickrock a couple of miles and erected our tent on a sand island under a pinion pine tree. We heard and watched thunderclouds burst all around us. South, Lake Powell was was having its own electric light parade. The city of Escalante was shrouded in gray sheets of rain, hidden in it's own drama. Big anvil clouds swallowed up the Henry Mountains. We toasted to our clear donut hole sky and watched a rainbow travel through time.

Little Big Rain

2007-07-14T13:18:00.000-06:00

As I set off for a casual mountain bike ride, I didn't believe it would rain. How could rain come from such puny far-away clouds? Two miles down the dirt road big fat drops plopped on my bare arms. I welcomed any moisture and charged forward in the cooling wetness. Then I relented and put on my nylon "water-resistant" jacket. The sky above me was still blue. Thunder cracked above the side canyons. I found some shelter under the canopy of an old Juniper tree. The huge raindrops turned the dirt road into a bubbling mass of miniature suction- cups. I smelled the steamy mud. Twenty feet away a new channel of foamy water gushed over the road to force its way to Alvey Wash. This new water-channel was like a hunting dog on a scent. Nothing would deter its course. I waited for the rain to let up.
Ten years or so ago, a big monsoon rainstorm hit our desert home. Our boys played in the mud and tried to block the waterways that played havoc through our yard. The trenches still exist. During the storm we raced to Alvey Wash and was rewarded with red rapids of churning water. Debris of tree branches, pine needles, boulders, plowed through the once dry bed. It took out chunks of the banks as it curled around corners. Expert kayakers would have had a hard time navigating through this force of water. We were in awe.
Twenty wet minutes later I ventured from beneath the Juniper and pedaled my way back to the house. It was like parting the red sea as my fat bike tires split the water. A newborn river crossed my pathway that had taken out part of the road stopped my passage. Patience. I walked up and down this new watercourse to find a way to jump it. Ten minutes later I forged through this brooklet. I made it back home, albeit muddy and soaked, pleased the monsoons have arrived.

The Lost Birthday Wish

2007-06-04T16:37:00.000-06:00

Ever gotten lost? You know that disorientated, heart-racing surge of where-am-I doom feeling for hours? You probably haven't if you've stayed on the designated trails.
Yesterday I left the known path and crossed down boulder fields to reach an alpine lake nestled in pines and cattails. Just a little side adventure. I wanted to help fulfill my friend's birthday wish of swimming in an alpine lake. After the icy plunge, we climbed over the dumpster-sized boulders back to our Great Western Trail. Thirty minutes later we still hadn't reached the well-marked GWT path and decided to return to the boulder field. We never did find those particular rocks. The downed dense timber slowed us but we persevered through thick folage as evening descended. I realized we were walking in circles because my shadow followed me from different sides. Finally we stumbled on a creek and we hacked our way down the stream until it became a marsh.
I took stock of what I had on me to survive the night: small knife, a tarp, quart of water, some jerky, fleece headband and my dog. Knowing I could live through the night kept me calm and moving.
Back up the creek, we crashed through twisted branches and soft satuated soil. We didn't know where else to go but higher to spy any landmarks we knew above the trees.
After three hours my girlfriend got her birthday wish: She found the Great Western Trail after her swim. This is her lost birthday present. Next year will be the year of the compass and map.

The Echo Effect

2007-05-06T11:37:00.000-06:00

I remarked last week to my husband as we slogged up the Esplanade in the Grand Canyon, how the Escalante canyons could look like this without the cows.
We can drive to the pristine North Rim of the Grand Canyon in 2 hours SW from Escalante. Grand Canyon is a national treasure with it's untrampled cyptrogamic soil, indigenous plants and critters, and relative low tourist impacts. Yes, the springs that spout from rock walls have visitor damage from the Colorado River's easy access. Five days of hiking in and out the North Rim is only the tip of the Grand Canyon.
To the north of Escalante (hour and half away) the girls from Colorado and I road biked though another National Park - Capital Reef. The Fremont river cuts through sheer stained walls with its own set of canyons. Capital Reef is surrounded by pinnacles and castles and a few gargoyles. I broke my personal fastest record riding down to the visitor center: 40.9 MPH. I almost fell off my bike going up the same hill, pedaling too slow: 3.5 MPH. At least I was slow enough to see blooming Desert Paintbrush and Penstemons.
Bryce National Park surprised me last winter to have been able to skate-ski through vast pine forests. Only 45 minutes west of Escalante, Bryce's red canyons and forests are obtainable year-round. This is the most photogenic park with its endless hoodoos.
I'm listening to the echo effect from the other national parks as the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument develops it's own voice.

How You Know When it's Cold

2007-03-18T08:27:00.000-06:00

At a yoga class my backpacking buddy was asked about her purple middle toe. That's when I knew it was COLD crossing the Coyote and Escalante rivers a few week-ends ago. We plowed through the penetrating FREEZING ankle-deep water to hike the other shoreline. The sunshine was heaven and hell: the joy of the warming rays to piecing pain as my feet rapidly de-frosted. The group agreed to find a higher route to Stevens Arch Canyon and stay out of the streams.

We found a faint trail high-up with the tops of hoodoos and an orange monolithic locomotor. We followed a winding single track and filled our bottles with sweet spring water. Our original Stevens Canyon destination was below us, shrouded in dense shade and unmelted snow. Our sunny side was the place to be in the beginning of March. We'll save Stevens Canyon for a hot summer day when the cool water is welcomed and after our war-wounds have healed.

Finding Inner Peace in the Desert

2007-02-02T09:15:00.000-07:00

As I flipped over my January calender page, I read the inspirational message by Erkart Tolle: "All the things that truly matter- beauty, love, creativity, joy, inner peace - arise from beyond the mind." The desert brings me pleasure and inner peace. If I think about the loveliness of the wilderness I'm not getting Tolle's point: going beyond the mind. I do sense the timelessness yet ever changable characteristics of the desert. Rocks are alive, absorbing the stillness. Clouds come and go, never the same. Animals enjoy eating succulant plants and hording food for upcoming seasons.
At times I may see heat waves shimmering and undulating in the distance. This maybe what Buddhism calls "dissolution." This is where elements begin to dissolve and flow into each other: earth into water, water into fire, fire into air. Here I go again, into my head. Out in the unpeopled desert I just try to be. Later I reflect on the beauty and my love for the untamed wilderness here at my doorstep.

Ricki Bagged Zebra Canyon

2007-01-04T13:54:00.000-07:00

I have this fantasy of leading a trail running group to Zebra slot canyon and back. The problem was I couldn't remember how to get there. My initial approach to Zebra was different. Ricki, my husband, wasn't with me when I bagged (conquered) the twenty yards of Zebra-striped slot canyon years ago.
Ricki and I tried different routes. Once we went over the mounds of slickrock and discovered acres of Moqui marbles but not the treasured banded canyon. Another attempt we went deep down Harris Wash to other interesting side canyons worth more exploring. Others ventured with us but water pools stopped us.

When I entered the twisty tunnel the walls progressively became tighter and more streaked. At one point I had to squeeze through a close slit that opened into an obstacle to climb. The others wedged their agile bodies up and over. I was stymied. I couldn't get my butt up to scoot across the tall wall while bracing my feet against the opposite wall. Several scrapes and bruises later I rammed my backside along one wall as my feet supported me against the other wall.
I scooted horizontally across the walls until I reached the famed stripes of Zebra. The effort was worth it. Symmetrical bands wound through the wavy slot canyon. Another difficult climbing hurdle stopped me from going deeper. I went back through exotic Zebra-land and up and over my previous climbing challenge with confidence.
I'm now closer to fulfilling my trail running group fantasy.

Escalante - Your Destination Now

2006-12-06T09:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday we discovered new large Hoodoos down Hole-in-the-Rock road. There are millions of acres in the Escalante Grand Staircase National Monument waiting to be discovered during all the seasons. The winter sun starts shining at 7am and doesn't stop for ten hours. That's 600 minutes of wild hiking and exploring time. The golden light is soft but clear, allowing photos to become more picturesque. We saw no other souls when we found the pinnacles in the EGSNM, only the pinnacle family of five: dad, mom. two kids, and grandpa who presided over the clan.
Escalante is between two National Parks, three state parks and a monument worthy of exploration. Why not take a winter vacation and investigate our natural wonders that has been perserved for us? Wake up to flaming sunrises, spend your waking time in the wilderness and rest while the stars fall overhead.
I understand why the general population does not travel in the wintertime. Most of the country is seized with icy roads and freezing temperatures. Not Escalante - we keep on hking in the desert year round.

Fall Reflection

2006-10-27T20:09:00.000-06:00

I wore heavy eye-liner last night under my Scream costume. It's been over a year since I've even applied make-up. I'm noticing patterns or developing them since moving to Escalante full-time. Our guests are booking fall and springtime reservations for La Luz Desert Retreat months or a year in advance. Sometimes the weather isn't as predictable. Last October the rains came at the end of the month. This October the warm Indian summer is happening now. I'm still shaving my legs so I can wear shorts in the daytime. Frost hasn't softened the outside pumpkins. I am waking up before sunrise and witness the sky change colors.

Our garden has gone from bare ground to a jungle of produce. The remaining dry corn stalks rustle in the breeze, scaring up some thoughts of the upcoming Day of the Dead, Halloween, evening. We have more local friends to celebrate seasonal closures.

We've explored new wild areas where no trails exist, places we want to remain untrampled by the masses, territories where I've wondered if anyone else has dared (or want) to venture. There is 1.7 million acres of National Monument to roam and few identifiable trails for tourists to explore. Only the brave and foolish get off the well-marked paths. Not knowing where you are can lead to discovering who you are--one with all.

When I leave the city of Escalante, I'm excited to purchase luxuries, see a movie, eat someone else's cooking, see new sights. The crowds and the tainted air can be challenging to tolerate. I come back home with my goodies and no cosmetics.

Escalante Arts Festival

2006-10-12T13:46:00.000-06:00

Last week we had three artists, painters, who stayed at our desert retreat, competing in the Plein Air competition here in Escalante. Bruce was particularly excited, since he was a winner in last year's contest. The other two women recognized the painter of my framed artwork in their bedroom. Anticipation sparked the house as they scuttled about preparing for painting outside. Plein Air means painting out-of-doors.

The first two days were rainy in the mornings but the sun burst out in the afternoons. Our group chose a location off the Burr Trail in Boulder. Peggy, a watercolorist, painted her paint brushes stuck in a tree trunk. Oils were the medium of choice for Bruce and Lee to color their blank canvases. I loved how Lee captured the vastness, all the way to the Henry Mountains.

We had major rain storms the rest of the week. Our guests persevered and painted under the eaves of La Luz. Clouds became focal points as well as the view from La Luz. Peggy drew a detailed picture of our garden and watercolored over her detailed drawing. These are painters who create art in any circumstance.

The artists had to choose one of their new paintings to enter the competition by last Friday. Lee selected her cloudy Full Moon picture, Bruce his landscape of slickrock, and Peggy entered her paintbrushes. The Gala and silent auction was Saturday night. The artists voted for their favorite painting and the local choice was announced that night. The appetizers and drinks were devoured during the intense bidding on esteemed paintings. Peggy won a Honorable Mention award and sold her framed picture for a fist full of money. Lee and Bruce left with promises of returning next year, no matter the conditions.

I want to give special thanks to Peggy for giving me the "unfinished" painting of our garden. It's artwork to me.

Rocquette, my dog, wants the artists to come back too.

The Weight of Comfort

2006-10-08T09:01:00.000-06:00

When I'm backpacking in the wilderness there are certain extravagances I must have. The weight factor is a consideration I take into account when choosing and hauling my personal pleasures. Thus a small pack is preferred due to less weight that can be carried. I always have space for my chair that encases my sleeping pad; the ounces are worth the back support. Lately we've been using a GPS unit and debated whether the decreased anxiety out weighed the bulk. I have since made room in my pack for the unit, easing our anxiety.
A mind-candy type of paperback book is another necessity. Once in camp, I've often wondered, "now what?" I kick back in my chair, delve into my mystery, and sip a cocktail from my lexan plastic bottle. Another luxury I bring is hard alcohol: tequila, whiskey, vodka, or rum. More bang for the buck. If a lexan is used it won't absorb the smell from the booze.
These are weighty matters as one decides how to luxuriate in the wild.

Flamboyant Flashes in the Night

2006-09-15T16:06:00.000-06:00

I woke up last night to a rumbling noise and wondered if a train was coming down the tracks into town. No, I live in Escalante, where no trains can venture. But the loud boom had the same intensity as a train's horn: it rattled the windows and my teeth. Flashes of brightness, like disjointed strobe lights, made me realized this was one crazy lightening storm. A calmness descended, then, Kaboom! The flashes and blasts were coincided. I fantasized if this was like the bombings in Baghdad. Could the lightening pierce through the window glass and strike me?
The thought of my computer being struck got me out of bed to unplug it. Rocquette, my dog, was whimpering and shaking. She found her refuge under our claw-foot bathtub as I watched the flamboyant flashes while I disabled my computer. I didn't feel any safer walking around nude, so I snuggled close to my husband in bed. The thunderstorm seemed directly over us. I cringed as the turbulence erupted inside our small bedroom. Rain pounded on the roof. Wind streaked through unknown cracks. Gradually, the thunder became fainter and the flashes more occasional. I rolled over to my side of the bed and listened to the steady pitter-patter of the rain and fell asleep.

Dabbling Dilettante

2006-09-14T11:43:00.000-06:00

Warning to readers: this blog my contain grammar errors. I do not claim to be a professional author. I see this blog forum as a glorified journal. There are never ending possibilities of ideas to explore and if I get hung up on being perfect in my execution, I wouldn't be able to give birth to my perceptions. I don't want to be self-conscious that I'm not fitting into the collective norm of writing standards. Perfectionism can also hinder the listener to a musician who can not read music but who is singing or playing his heart out. Or the simple painting not seen for its orginal beauty. Flawlessness is a curse. I want the freedom to write my opinions without the fear of being criticized by the "superior" writers.
So excuse my mess. I hope you get my point.

Birding in my Backyard

2006-08-16T07:45:00.000-06:00

I inherited my Dad's Peterson Western Birds Field Guide and my grandma's hand-sewn parrot cloth pocket-sling to carry it in. His "RLH" initials are inked on the top edge of the book. I use my husband's heavy cumbersome binoculars to spy anything that flies and lands in my view.
When Escalante becomes hot we head up into the mountains. Posey Lake is a favorite lake full of fish and lively birds. The lake's surface had the typical swimmers: wigeons, coots, grebes, mallards, a red bodied duck with a blue bill. My field guide said he was a ruddy duck with it's plain brown mate. As my mate fished I took a trek around Posey Lake with the binoculars tugging down my neck. Finches flitted by and robins bobbed under pine trees. A yellow bellied, red headed bird flew onto a Ponderosa branch. A western tanager!
I watched my dog Rocquette do her own birding. She swam franticly toward the ducks with long strands of grasses stringing along her body, like a streaking comet. The mallards were unfazed by the dog's pursuits, their web feet glided smoothly away from the persistent dog.
My girlfriend, Melanie, saw a pygmy-owl flying down her lane one night last May. She's a practiced birder after our annual Audubon Christmas Bird count. What a treat for her.
A freak spring snowstorm pushed a few exotic smaller waders to our local Wide Hollow reservoir. We witnessed an avocet, royal terns, and a couple of black bellied plovers hung out along the shore. Gulls darted around the uncommon flock of birds.
Our neighborhood female northern harrier swoops low near our house, usually daily, searching for the exposed cottontail rabbits. Hopefully, she won't mistake my little Jack Russell Terrier as easy prey. We have a pair of golden eagles breeding up the road where I have found their aerie in the rock band in the face of the Kaiparowitis plateau.
Birds come and go as they migrate through our area. I sometimes wonder if my Dad encourages the birds to cross my path from his position in heaven or if it's me just waking up to the world of birds. Whatever. I'm glad I'm alive and alert to any birds that I may see or hear in my world.

Abundance

2006-08-09T12:44:00.000-06:00

I'm confronting my fear of hunger. This is my 3rd day of my 10 day juice fast. I'm hungry. I have to leave the room when my husband eats. The smells of the cooking food drives my stomach juices crazy. I leave and take a walk. The critters I see are wanting for food too. The ruthless turkey vulture flying over head wants to eat the fly encrusted dead rabbit on the side of the road. My dog wants the foul smelling meat too (didn't I just feed her?). Is that lizard scurrying by ever have its appetite satisfied? I've never come across a wild obese creature. I tell my self to ignore the ravenousness emptiness and get nourishment from other elements. The sun warms my body. Ever changing cloud formations distract my cravings for food. Sage scents engulfs my senses. I hope this odor will fill my belly.
Being a Hedonist I love to eat well. My fear of moving to a small rural town was the inaccessibility to good varied food. Our local grocery store has the basics and will try and get organics whenever available. We have a few restaurants, one that even serves alcohol with meals. I've learned to make my own gourmet meals. The fresh farm eggs are a treat and now our garden is full of organic veggies. I belong to a food co-op. I appreciate the abundance of food here in Escalante.

Eating Aesthetics

2006-08-05T15:55:00.000-06:00

Wilderness is all around us, even outside of Escalante.
I finally noticed an old bumper sticker in town that reads: "Wilderness. Land of the Useless," on a local's old truck. That sticker and attitude has been around a long time. At least it makes me think of why wilderness is important to me.
I could be at the ocean watching the subtle tides ebbing and flowing or wondering if a flash flood could sweep through the canyon I'm hiking in. The sandy washes and beaches don't care if I'm trudging through sand to reach my destination. I'm a thief to the blue herons or turkey vultures by taking their coveted sea food or carrion. Rockslides and earthquakes happen whether I'm present or not.
I'm the useless entity. I don't produce coal. Or wood for my house. The wilderness does not want to consume me.
Solitude and silence soothes my soul. To hear nothing is a treat or a threat to some. What would happen if you can only hear your thoughts? Maybe the voice of a bird will bring you to the moment and not to your destination or memories. Imagine waking up in the morning to the sun versus the alarm clock. See no man-made structures or signs for a day and get a glimpse of your spirit conversing with wilderness. It may be useful.

Real Estate in Escalante

2006-07-06T10:04:00.000-06:00

Since moving to Escalante full time, in September 2005, more friends and guests of our La Luz Desert Retreat have asked us about real estate here. When I returned the question of why would you want to live or retire to Escalante I've received different answers: "The golden light- it highlights certain areas." or "I'd buy a slice of land just to breath the clean air" or "Because there are no people here." Whatever the reason people are constantly looking to buy that cheap piece of property.
Quite a few "newbies" have relocated to Escalante in the last few years. They bring their own money and usually don't need a job to survive in Escalante. Yes, the property values are still considerably lower here than in cities or suburbs. The newbies want to "shut the door" and not let others proliferate their big city ideas. The long-time locals don't want any changes. Both parties may get their wishes come true because of the moratorium on water taps, in town and a mile outside of the town's radius (drilling for wells). Yes, there are plenty of good deals for land without water. One must gamble that the city will get more water allocated or a second city well will be drilled in the future. Why would the city council hussle for more water when they truly don't want the town to grow?
There are a few houses in Escalante for sale if you want to raze the dwelling to build your own perfect home. I know of a cute gear store on Main street for sale, which includes a paid-up water tap. You may have to work for a living though. I'm grateful we have found the end of the rainbow in Escalante. We'll share it with you.

crop of me

2006-06-29T17:36:00.000-06:00

Conquering Fears in the Wilderness

2006-06-24T17:30:00.001-06:00

I usually have the confidence to handle whatever comes my way while backpacking in the canyons until this last trip. My smaller backpack contained all my essentials (food, water, party favors, etc) and I realized I forgot my Phels Naptha soap to rid poison ivy oils off my skin and dog, Rocquette. A steep trail laden with poison ivy lead to our creek-canyon. No one else have had any reactions to poison ivy and there was no more petting Roc because she ran right through the offending plants. I donned my pants and long sleeve shirt in the blazing heat while the sweat dripped off my face. It's now been over 36 hours and no blisters have erupted on my skin. I think I've dodged this bullet.
I stripped down to my quick-drying shorts and cotton tee shirt and slowly waded out in a deep pool to rock-trough, a narrow tube of fast moving of spring water. I assumed it was spring fresh water. I gulped down the cool soothing water. No? We needed to filter this creek water? How long is the gestation period for giardia? I think I have 2-3 weeks until I have symptoms. Keep in touch.
Quicksand was my next fear as the slimy fine sand that sucked my Crocs off my feet under the waist-high water. I wanted to keep my Croc shoes. Barefoot was the way to handle the deep silt, even though the mud stayed slathered on my feet as I slurped and suctioned through the mud. One short section I had the choice to plow through "Poison Ivy," my husband had declared or wade the bottomless sludge pool. I'd given up my backpack to forge the deep pool. What happens if it is quicksand and I get sucked under? "Oops, there's no poison ivy," my husband, Ricki, yelled before I could take the plunge. I chose to slash through the high foliage wondering why I didn't I just swim?
I'm ready to call it quits after 8 hours of negotiate the slick wet rocks with a 35 pound pack on. I don't normally question my endurance but it's time to camp. I'll sleep anywhere. The sand near the creek looked good. Just one more push up a tower of boulders to an ancient granary site and bugless steep streaked U-shaped wall which gave some shade. I was a captive on an exclusive ancient bench, no way to get down without assistance. Morning turned into a traumatic, "no, I can't go down there," event. A rounded boulder dropped off and the higher boulder jutted out to make me swerve the 12 feet down to my freedom. I opted to slither down on my belly, held onto a crack and scraped my thighs raw until I found my footing, a flat rock.
We waited in the heat of the day under Broken Bow Arch before pushing up and out. It was still hot. There wasn't anymore water to filter for the trudge up a sandy, relentless hill to the truck and I couldn't drink enough to quench my thirst anyway. I got over my fear of failure when I reached the truck. I did it!

It's me.

2006-06-17T11:17:00.000-06:00

Roc Against Rock

2006-06-15T09:42:00.000-06:00

The Starship Enterprise floated overhead as I jogged home on the dusty road. Home, where I'll be forever young. I saw no one on the ATV made roads through the pinion and Juniper trees. I was grateful for the small water bottle I carried in my hands and the sweet breezes that licked my sweaty body.
Just returned from the big city of Lost Wages. Las Vegas has become an extension to Southern California. Cars, people talking on cell phones, track houses, strip malls, and I was ready to go home before I arrived.
My trail runs are even more precious after being around cement and hordes of cars and people. Rocquette, my Jack Russell Terrier, is a good dog while running on a leash. Otherwise, she'd be chowing down on carrion, dead meat full of who-knows-what. I change my routes to break up the routine. One favorite route is around Rattlesnake Butte which has short and steep ups and downs and takes only fifty minutes from my house. I roll up my shorts to get those white thighs a chance to tan like my calves. Even though most of thoughts are of the recent past and near future, I catch myself in the moment. A bird song will bring me to the now or a breeze graces my senses.
The weather has been warm with light breezes to gusts of wind churning small spindly dart grass ends in circles. Weather is big topic of conversation in Escalante. When will it rain again?

Popcorn clouds

2006-06-09T07:26:00.000-06:00

I woke up to a sky full of popcorn clouds and a wide deep-pink streak of color along the horizon. Another day of beauty and adventure. I'm driving over Boulder Mountain this morning to a little town called Bicknell to have my teeth cleaned.
Our rain barrel is full from yesterday's rain. The dust has settled down and so have my allergies. All is quiet except for the persistent hum from my Mac. A crow caws as it flies over the house. A new bird is hanging around the garden- kee, kee is its song. I hope to identify it soon.

Weather or Not

2006-06-08T08:40:00.000-06:00

Escalante's weather has been/is nice and cool. The grey low clouds are lingering over and the sun hasn't peeked out once this morning.
It was a treat to ride my mountain bike down a gravel road through the Firs and Aspens while being sprinkled from the light rain. Burnt, gnarly tree trunks reminded me of dark ghosts clinging to the transit present. What was amazing we were totally alone during our 4 hour bike, hike, and 4-wheel drive wilderness adventure. I understand how a Floridian couple was blown away from sight-seeing all day in this beautiful area because they saw "no one."
The hike we found is called Stump Springs. It winds under a coral color cliff and clings to a ridge overlooking the Blues. Only a horse rider had been there before us. An avalanche or flood had cut through the spring and we bush-whacked our way around the debris. The vista were panoramic, albeit smoky from local controlled burns on Boulder Mountain. Biking seven miles to Stump Springs trailhead would be uphill an uphill grunt but with a screaming downhill to Highway 12.
My Pioneer spirit was happy yesterday exploring fresh territory and mapping out our next outing in Dixie National Forest.
I'm off for a trail run, probably on an illegal ATV road, with my dog, a Jack Russell terrier.
The sunset last night reminded me of whipped egg whites with a little pink coloring added.

Life is grand.

2006-06-07T18:39:00.000-06:00

2006-06-07T11:03:00.000-06:00

Just start writing. I pulled the "Student" in from my Caroline Myss archetype cards. I'm always learning something new. My "Pioneer" intimate archetype and the student will be friends today. My husband (he's not an archetype) and I are planning to drive up Main Canyon to scope out a mountain bike loop. I'll bring my bike and at least ride down-hill home.
Main Canyon leads up over Barney Top through Dixie National Forest to Bryce Canyon. We won't go to Bryce today but will cut over on 4-wheel drive roads and to our potential bike rides.
The sky is somewhat overcast; the sun is burning to get out. The air is still sweet from the cleansing guts last night. We had a spectacular sunset, albeit without much colors. The grey clouds continually transformed into galactic messages with their mother ships and alien shapes.
More on what we discover on our outing and tonight's sunset.