Escalante River - Starting Out

 

 

The best boat set-up for the Escalante would be an inflatable 2 person Kayak.  This provides ample room for gear, like this.    As I recall the gentleman was from Tulsa.  My boat of choice was a 14' whitewater canoe, as on the front page.

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a one person inflatable - a Sevylor, with full gear.  This was however the strongest, most prepared paddler on the river at the same time as I.  The paddler is Tom Clemo, an experienced hiker in the area. Tom also brought a GPS and a rented satellite phone.  The seasoned Sevylor did leak a bit, but otherwise survived numerous rock encounters without a problem.  Tom was from Medford, Oregon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a two person boat, loaded with gear.  This is a couple from N. Seattle.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a family group from Buena Vista, Colorado.  I believe the Ik1 paddler is a thirteen year old.  The two person sit-on-top following has another younger paddler and an Adult.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The formations at the beginning of the trip are not huge.  This is actually more along the lines of what I expected for the entire trip.  But recall you are dropping through several formation 'layers' of sandstone, the Navajo, Wingate, Kayenta, and Chinle.

This provides for an excellent way to get to know the geology of the area.  Many books cover this geology.

Note the pink hue on the clouds - this is a reflection from the slickrock on the canyon rim.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It is not long before the formations  begin to get bigger.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Good campsites are everywhere.  This one was at an unnamed side canyon.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Day Two