Most important lesson learned: Driving to the water tanks and hiking the entry down the nose just east of hamblins arch is way faster than hiking in from head of Hurricane wash.
We started hiking out of coyote gulch from our camp at hamblins arch, when this other group was barely waking up and getting breakfast. We headed out to our car at Hurricane wash that morning feeling sorry for any other other groups behind us that would hit the early afternoon sun. We arrived at the car at the trailhead and were headed home by 9:30 am. We stopped in Torrey to get a burger and lo and behold that same group at hamblins arch was in line in front of us at the burger shack!!! We all looked confused at each other “how did they get out before us?”… it then dawned on me that they did the nose exit just east of Hamblins. So I have now learned my lesson… I am going to do the extra driving and go to the water tanks and hike down in.
My only question for those of you who have done this, is the nose looks a little sketchy to be hiking up and down with a big pack on. Are there anchors to assist down with a rope? How long of rope should be used? From the point of view in the bottom of the canyon it looks pretty intimidating. Any thoughts?
Anyways weather was nice, the springs were flowing, and there were no biting flies. So it was a great weekend in escalante.
j b
Personally, I think that hiking down the nose is easier than coming back up. No one in my party seemed to have a problem shimmying down with a spotter. I don’t remember much in the way of anchors, but with at least one comfortable climber, a 20-30 foot handline got everyone else back up and out with little trouble.
Jeff
My only question for those of you who have done this, is the nose looks a little sketchy to be hiking up and down with a big pack on. Are there anchors to assist down with a rope? How long of rope should be used? From the point of view in the bottom of the canyon it looks pretty intimidating. Any thoughts?
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