Grand Staircase Escalante Backpack

Leader: Don Keller
Dates*: October 12–17, 2010 (6 days / 5 nights)
Cost: $850 Members/$910 Nonmembers
Difficulty: Strenuous

Cost includes transportation, meals, permits, and group gear.

Cut deep into sandstones of the Glen Canyon formations, the meanders of the Escalante River are verdant with willow, cottonwoods, and at several places, springs and hanging gardens. Sandy benches and sandstone alcoves hold the evidence of long prehistoric use at open campsites, rockshelter granaries, and elaborate rock art panels. In addition to better-known agricultural period Fremont and Anasazi sites, there are a number of earlier archaic period hunting-gathering camp and rock art sites. Archaeologist Don Keller will lead this twenty-mile, self-supported backpacking hike into and across portions of the Escalante River canyons east of Big Spencer Flat, between Boulder Creek and the mouth of The Gulch. Along with being a physical commitment in a remote area, this hike will engage us with fascinating cultural and natural history and a beautiful, challenging landscape under the warm sun of early fall. This unforgettable hike, and camping out with the waxing moon of mid-October, will be greatly enjoyed by both experienced and beginning backpackers.

Pre-Trip Information Packet (PDF Downloads)

» Medical/Waiver [33 KB]

Don Keller strives to help participants understand the landscapes, the resources they contain, and how these resources have been used over time to create human settlement... Read more…

“Trip was well-planned and visits to sites were very interesting. Don adds much to the enjoyment of the trip…I thoroughly enjoyed it.” —J.S.

“I thoroughly enjoyed the trip. The extra time built in allowed time to really stop and enjoy the scenery…I didn’t feel pushed from point A-to-B! ”—R.S.