Winter hikes in Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument

Visiting Escalante Utah in the wintertime is cool (not cold) and very uncrowded. You can take your time taking photographs. These are your hikes and you can stop and shoot when you want to capture the timeless beauty of Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.

Slick rock is your friend when snow is present.
Tributarie to Harris Wash

Calf Creek Falls Winter 2011

Snow happens in Escalante Utah. Skis and snowshoes add
to the Southern Utah adventure. 

 

Glory Skiing

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.

Winter Safe Haven

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.