Grand Staircase–Escalante

Dates: 11-28-20 to 11-30-20

The Grand Staircase refers to the geologic scale “steps” created by the erosion of the varying sandstone layers which form the majestic mesa’s, buttes, and mountains of South Central Utah.  Its hard to take a bad photo out here, just point a camera at the horizon!

 

 

The following day, we decided to stretch our legs a bit, and hike to Lower Calf Creek Falls.  One of the few permanent water sources in the area.

 

 

 

 

 

With a little time on our hands, we drove up to Hells Backbone, a road which bridges a gap atop a wind-swept knife ridge, connecting Boulder to Escalante, Utah.  With a drop of 1,500 feet below, and a 100ft span, it was quite the accomplishment for the CCC in the 1930s.  Prior to its construction, passing between the two towns was a perilous sand and dirt track down the canyons, with washouts and flash floods a common menace.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

 

Our next stop was Devil’s Garden, some photogenic Hoodoos along Hole In the Rock road.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The washboards were legendary…