Moving Day: Snow Canyon to Escalante Staircase

[westcoastas]

We finished our second winter camp hosting gig at Snow Canyon last week and headed out to canyon country outside Escalante, Utah. It reached the low 30s the last several nights. We have adjusted to a colder climate - we can feel the difference between 25 and 35 degrees, and 50 presents a warm day. That’s what we had hoped for - to feel the four seasons.

For many a home today presents a living space for family, room for entertainment, architecture and interior design to satisfy the artistic muse, and storage for possessions… all protected from the elements. If I had a large grand listening room, I would want an audio system that could fill the space with music, but I am content to listen to my music from a small Bluetooth speaker, filling the cozy “listening room" of my trailer. It is observed water seeks its level; one can perhaps assign that quality to people too. We want exactly what we need. And that need is fulfilled exactly with what we have. How fortunate are we?

Last night we could feel the hustling cold wind rock our trailer and the slightly opened fan vent echoed the gusts; rain made pinpricks by the velocity. We thumbed our noses against the forces of nature, grinning like kids sneaking for the first time into another movie theater, as we happily listened to our click-wheel iPod and read our books on the warm side of our aluminum wall. Before falling asleep I reached out and touched the inner aluminum skin of the Airstream; it was icy cold. I relished the idea that our home at that moment was at its most fundamental - merely shelter from the elements. I can live with that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9WWbhfIKcZM

[Lily&Me]

What a beautiful writing.

Thank you, and safe travels.


Maggie

[Tn Traveler]

Very well put together. A great story in a short video. Thanks for sharing.

[timmaah]

Nicely done. That spot looks awesome.

Does this mean your current location near Escalante has enough cell service to upload a youtube video? We are heading in that direction in two weeks or so and need a connection to work most days.

[spenfolder]

Great video! Are you in Grand Staircase? It looks wonderful. That is some of my favorite southern Utah territory.

Stan
Salt Lake City

[westcoastas]

Timmaah, I had to spend a couple hours eating a calzone and hanging out at the Outfitters Cafe while my video uploaded to YouTube - I know, boo hoo. It wasn't busy so they didn't mind but the wifi was slow going. I can only do minimal internet surfing and e-mail at our campsite and that depends on cloud cover; we have a Verizon jetpack with no booster. The skies are dark right now; I can't see the stars so I hope this goes through. Wish you good travels. Escalante is free of snow and rain right now with nights in the low 30s and beautiful daytime temps in the 50s. Watch out if you're going over Highway 20; we heard first hand there were several spinouts by semis last night. We missed the snowy crossing by a week...whew!

[westcoastas]

Hi Stan, and yes, we're camped in the Grand Staircase area just east of Escalante. It's still cold so not too many campers out yet - glorious solitude.

[spenfolder]

I am soooo jealous! I was heading down that way, but needed a little work on the tv. Well, that turned into a part only available back east with 3-4 day shipping. It came in this morning and hopefully will be installed by tomorrow. Probably not enough time for a trip now. So, living through you, have a great stay. How long are you planning to stay?

Stan
Salt Lake City

[westcoastas]

Stan, hopefully 1-3 months. We checked in with the manager at Circle D Motel and Restaurant and we may get jobs house cleaning and line cook. We're also hoping the forest rangers won't kick us out of our spot after two weeks as long as the crowds aren't in. Let me know if you're heading down this way - it would be cool to hook up and swap stories.

[timmaah]

Thanks for the info. Perhaps I could make it work. I'd love to slowly explore more of that area if possible. We'd be going thru Zion and up 89. Probably 2 or 3 weeks out. If no workable internet we will blast thru on a weekend.

I'll honk if I see an Airstream tucked away somewhere.

[KimberlyA]

I know Escalante very well. The wi-fi at the cafe is TERRIBLE. Where exactly is your campsite? I would love to take my 31-footer there. The last few shots of the video are very nice. It *feels* like Escalante in the winter.

[westcoastas]

We are on Spencer Flats Road, just past the first overlook coming down Hwy 12 east of Escalante. Do you know it? The post office worker told me about it last year. If you want easier and flatter access, there are plenty of spots along Hole In The Rock Road but Spencer Flats has more elevation and vistas. I think you can make it with your 31-footer; ours is 28'. There aren't a lot of established camp site areas - most of them are for tenters but there are a couple big enough for a trailer. It's a great BLM dirt road with hardly any traffic at this time of the year except for the cow punchers. Let's keep it a secret among ourselves.

[CAV]

Beautiful! Serene!

[gghayes]

Thanks for sharing. We are heading out to Utah in May and plan to spend 2 weeks seeing the parks.
Gloria

[KJRitchie]

How close are you to the edge of the canyon. Seems like you could almost step out of your front door and base jump.

Any concerns with rain the edge could crumble?

Kelvin

[westcoastas]

We're about 10 feet from the edge of a 12' cliff, so it's pretty stable. And uh, no base jumping in my future.

[Lily&Me]

Ummm, yes.

You are living your dream. That would be unnecessary risk-taking behavior, in my opinion.


Maggie

[westcoastas]

We found jobs in town at the Circle D Motel and Eatery - I clean rooms and my wife is a line cook. I only work half days so I get to come home and spend some time on the laptop. I can get a hotspot signal when the skies are clear. It's nice to sit out in the front yard...