Friday we left our packs at the Junction of Stevens Canyon and the Escalante River and hiked up Stevens Canyon. We walked through a shoulder—deep pool with everyone holding his camera over his head and hoping he wouldn’t fall into the water. No one did. We climbed a short wall to a ledge (some people needed a belay)and then walked up a narrow, colorful canyon to a beautiful grotto. After lunch we made camp at the confluence of Coyote Creek and the Esoalante River. In the afternoon we hiked up to Stevens Arch, took pictures, and loafed. Peter Preston sketched the spectacular view from Stevens Arch (see accompanying picture).
Saturday we started a leisurely trip out by way of Coyote Creek, with time for photographing Cliff Arch, Coyote Natural Bridge, and Jacob Hambliri Arch. About a mile above the Escalante River on the north side of Coyote Creek is a seep where we filled our canteens, and. we filled them again at the seep near Jacob Hamblin Arch. We camped a short way above the intersection of Coyote Gulch and Hurricane Wash and arrived at the cars at 10:30 a.m. Sunday.
The following maps were used for the trip (all Utah):
Moody Creek
The Rincon
Sunset Flat
King Mesa
Big Hollow Wash
This year, I have had the pleasure of completing both the HPS and DPS lists. The following data, compiled from my climbing log, compares the mileage/gain for both lists.
Note that the “average” DPS peak is about twice the mileage/ gain as the “average” HPS peak. The totals are less for the DPS list because of the three—to—one difference in number of neaks. It would be interesting to see comparable statistics for the SPS list. Even more illuminating (or embarrassing) might be the total car mi1es for each list.
| Current | Distance(mi) | Gain (ft) | |||
| List | Number | Total | Avg. | Total | Avg. |
| HPS | 268 | 1140 | 4.2 | 370,000 | 1370 |
| DPS | 92 | 740 | 8.0 | 280,000 | 3040 |
