The Escalante is a small volume large drainage river emptying into Lake
Powell (the Dam just upstream from the Grand Canyon) from the North. The
drainage has become quite popular for canyoneering, especially since its
formation as a National Monument in 1996. The commonly run section is 70
miles, however with the lowering of Powell due recent drought the river has
several additional miles open, if you can arrange or pay for a power boat
shuttle.

There are probably more years on the Escalante when it is never really
runnable than there are 'good' years. This is shaping up to be the best
year in at least 20 with optomists forecasting water through June.

I've just returned from one of the earliest season trips and would like to
recommend the river, and the opportunity, should it arise for you. The
river is easy, rated 2. This is a bit low due the continous nature of the
river, the remoteness and difficulty of rescue, and the large amount of
maneuvering needed. However a class 2 paddler in good physical condition
and in the company of more experienced paddlers would do fine - and be quite
ready for the class 3 by the time it arrives - not to mention smoking the
novice slalom class at the next race...

No pictures yet, but if you can, pencil this one in.

Mister_Tea wrote:

I've just returned from one of the earliest season trips and would like to
recommend the river, and the opportunity, should it arise for you. The
river is easy, rated 2. This is a bit low due the continous nature of the
river, the remoteness and difficulty of rescue, and the large amount of
maneuvering needed. However a class 2 paddler in good physical condition
and in the company of more experienced paddlers would do fine - and be quite
ready for the class 3 by the time it arrives - not to mention smoking the
novice slalom class at the next race...

What about the portage?

When I ran the Escalante about 10 years ago, below Devil's Gulch
(but above Coyote Gulch, the strenous take-out) river gradient increased.
At each horseshoe bend around a resistant purple-gray shale, there was
a set of rapids. One of them contained a portage. It looked like it
would have been class 4 without the logjam, but it was a mandatory portage
with all the trees and brush in it. Around a corner further down was a
long class 3 that verged on 4.

"Bill Tuthill" wrote in message ...

What about the portage?

There are actually two portages at this time.

When I ran the Escalante about 10 years ago, below Devil's Gulch
(but above Coyote Gulch, the strenous take-out) river gradient increased.
At each horseshoe bend around a resistant purple-gray shale, there was
a set of rapids.

I noticed the purple gray shale thing too, at the oldest portage rapid, and
the one or two following. Wasn't aware enough to remember if it applied
above as well. FWIW that particular formation is what attracts the Uranium
miners, or so I hear.

The first portage, the new one, is just below Scorpion creek. Government
Rangers are in the process of removing the invasive russian olive from the
Canyon and piles working from the lake up. If I recall correctly the
project is complete to the Moody Creek area, less than half of the trip
distance.

Much of this cut wood has ended up in the river, including blocking the
sneak channel at Scorpion Creek. The portage was simple and simply required
a short drag. The second portage was also not a problem, but did require
unloading.

One of them contained a portage. It looked like it
would have been class 4 without the logjam, but it was a mandatory portage
with all the trees and brush in it.

That section of the river has been cleared of the russian olive log jams by
late summer flash floods, which can peak quite high. The slots between the
rocks are just to narrow for a boat. Currently most of the wood is between
Moody and about that second portage - being pretty much clear below.

Around a corner further down was a
long class 3 that verged on 4.

That rapid was probably the toughest of the trip. Unfortunately none of the
rapids have names and the guidebook description - which I'm not writing
here - in the Nichols Utah book - is similiarly summary. Nichols rated the
entire run 2 or 2 plus. There were definitely a few tricky rapids in that
20 mile Scorpion to Coyote Stretch, but none with any consequence that I am
aware. The possiblity of undercut rocks certainly does exist, though in
**almost** all spots you'd just stand up after flipping. I am not aware of
any fatalities on this run. The river was just below the recommended flow
when we ran this section - in the 40's at the Escalante town gage - maybe
400 CFS at this section.

In my whitewater open canoe I flipped twice on the run - at the first rapid
below boulder creek, where the flow doubled to maybe 400 cfs at this point
(aprox. 60 on the Escalante gage upstream). The general character of the
river is a consistent 20 feet per mile, plus or minus just a bit - basically
gravel bed meanders between clif walls and an occassional boulder in the
bed, until Scorpion where the boulders become more frequent.

Boulder creek brings in a few larger boulders and the first rapid is more of
a boulder bar thing, steeper and with pourovers, which I pinballed off of,
and over. Unfortunately I had a small puppy with me. I was able to rescue
him and place him on a boulder next to where the canoe had hung up - both
canoe and puppy moving much faster downstream than I could wade. While
freeing the canoe from its spot the dog jumped off of his perch, I believe
attempting to follow me. By the time I noticed he was fifty yards
downstream. As there were few places where a dog of his size could've been
able to climb out I followed downstream as soon as I was able to get most of
the water out of the canoe looking for him on the bank or in the river. I
never saw a sign of him and my initial thought was that he went hypothermic
and drowned (the water is about 40 degrees at the top of the run, very
swimmable in temperature by the end.) However I, and others I spoke with,
believe dogs are more resistant to hypothermia than humans - I am hopefull
he survived, will be found, and will appreciate his adventure.

Perhaps the rapid should be named Lost Dog or somesuch?

FWIW, I think it is better run on the left.

Additional tributaries might add another 50 cfs or so during normal spring
runoff conditions in the rapids below this point.

One big bonus of running the river this year is that Lake Powell is low due
recent drought years. This means additional river below Coyote Gulch, which
is about five feet or so below full pool. When the lake was first lowering
it was not a good idea to run this stretch as the river widend beyond
paddleabilty and the river bed was very goopy. This goop has cleared out.
You still need to arrange a shuttle on the lake, else paddle 60 miles in
your inflatable. Aramark concessions provides this service at a quoted rate
of $120/hour (no idea how many people you could carry), minimum of about 4
to the Escalante Arm. Better deals might be around, but won't be as easy to
find or necessarily legal - the Navajos on the south side of the Lake would
be a good place to start. A friend with a boat would be best.

The river requires a hiking/overnight permit, but is not limited other than
a group size of 12. Plenty of camping - at the larger side canyons, if you
hike up, and along the river. Smaller side canyons are often limited to a
single party. Due the infrequent nature of the run and the ability of the
river to clean itself with flash floods I imagine restricted permits won't
be necessary. Then again though I'd imagine the popular spots might get a
bit messy by the end of this season - especially at the Coyote Gulch
takeout.

Inflatables are probably the best way to go, as they have more carry space
than a rigid boat - my 14' whitewater canoe worked very well, though I did
opt NOT to carry the 54 quart igloo marine cooler. It is definitely NOT a
rafting river, though you could probably get down it in one of those 8'
fishing catarafts. Also seen on this trip were a two person canoe - paddled
by interagency rangers and two person sit on top Perceptions.

Carrying out at Coyote Gulch is difficult - you are either on rock or sand
for the whole 5 miles, and the flat slick rock only amounts to about a mile
of the total distance. There is also about 25 vertical feet where you'll
definitely want to haul gear up by rope - and about the same amount of
distance where should consider it, right at the beginning of the haul.

I'd recommend making your last day short to Coyote, hiking everything aprox.
halfway past the two rock sections and camping at the rim that evening,
completing the hike out the following morning. Make sure to leave water,
lots, at your vehicle.

Julie and Dru Cruzy (sp?) at Escalante Outback Adventures provide shuttle
services, and also stock maps, etc at their building. The town is nice,
hasn't caught on like Moab, but has potential. Showers are available at the
State Park, as well at hotels in town. I ate at the Escalante Outfitters,
which also has free internet and a great house micro.

This is truly a unique desert canyon and seeing it via boat a rare
experience.