On Sunday evening, April 5th we drove to to Escalante, Utah to explore the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument. The first two nights we stayed in this cabin outside of Eascalante. It was the origina lhome, built on the hometsead in the 1800's, by Isaac Riddle. It was moved to this new foundation and bathrooms were added. by the current owners. It was nicely decorated inside. We got some good ideas for our little cabin in Island Park.

Our first day we drove on a long dirt road to the Cottonwood narrows. This was a 1.5 mile hike one way. We took our time, exploring side canyons, and climbing rocks.

This canyon was pretty wide, but pretty

The sun shining behind this tree on the edge of the canyon gave it the appearance of being on fire.

We drove to Grosvener arch which is a double arch 300 feet above the ground.

Hanna and grandpa at the base of Grosvener Arch.

Day two of our trip, we drove 38 miles down the Washboarded dirt "Hole-in-the-Rock" Road to Coyote Gulch. We had to descend from the canyon rim 400 feet down into the bottom of the canyon. Lizzy is carrying Hannah.

Owen was the leader, leading us into the dark narrows of the canyon.

At the bottom of Coyote Gulch we entered the dry narrows of the canyon. The narrows can be followed for several miles. We followed it for a mile or so, then came back to the wide part of the canyon and had lunch.

This narrow canyon had beautifully sculpted walls, eroded from sand and water.

We found that this miniature alcove was just right for pictures.

Our next adventure was to climb up a slot canyon called "Spooky." It was the tightest canyon I have ever hiked. At some points it became dark, narrow, and twisting. We had to abandon the child carrier, and take off our back packs. We carried our backpacks and walking poles in our hands.

Not only was Spooky tight, it was convoluted, making us turn sideways, and squeeze around corners.

The child carrier was to wide to fit through the canyon, so Jeff had to carry Hannah. When he would set her down, she would run through the canyon. We could not keep up, as we had to walk sideways.

From the top of Spooky, we walked about 3/4 mile to the top of the next slot canyon, and began to descend "Peek-a-Boo."

Inside Peek-a-Boo Canyon, Hannah was not afraid of climbing up and over a little "Pourover."

The final descent down Peek-a-Boo to the canyon floor.

The last part of the descent down Peek-a-Boo Canyon is a scramble down a twelve foot drop. It requires the use of hand/foot holds that have been cut into the rock. After Lizzy descended, Jeff passes Owen and Hannah down. Then the rest of us descended with a little help.

Wednesday, we left Escalante, and drove north towards Boulder, Utah. We stopped at the Canyon of Calf Creek, and started the hike 3.1 miles up the canyon to Calf Creek Falls. The creek flows year round, and there is quite a bit of vegetation in the canyon, but no leaves have yet appeared on the trees.

Owen was a good hiker, and often insisted on being "The Leader." He hiked most of the 6.2 miles, with a little help from Lizzy.

As we contiued up the canyon, we saw these Fremont Indian pictographs on the opposite canyon wall.

Lizzy has great fun looking through Mom's "Ocular".

Those who persist to the end of the trail are rewarded by a cool (ice cold) pool of water at the base of a 150 foot waterfall. Owen could not resist the water, and went in with his shoes on. He then complained about having to walk back to the car with wet shoes.