Overview/Approach

I first did Stepping Out several years ago. It is considered a classic route at Island in the Sky. I revisited the first pitch in January, 2007. It is lined up such that you can go up and down the 2nd tier of what we call the “Sand Dunes” area of Island in the Sky, which is of course directly across from the sand dunes in Snow Canyon State Park, and climb both sport and trad single pitches if you do not want to commit to a multi pitch route. The first pitch of Stepping Out is my favorite of these single pitch options. The first pitch features a classic thin off-width crack at 5.9 and then the route eases off to 5.8 for the remainder of the route, which can be accomplished in one long pitch if you use double ropes to avoid rope drag.

As before mentioned, Stepping Out is in the middle of the Sand Dunes wall area of Island in the Sky of Snow Canyon State Park fame, not to be confused with a feature of the same name in Canyonlands National Park north of Moab. Snow Canyon State Park is a state park of 7100 acres just north of St. George, Utah. Island in the Sky has a minimum of 64 published routes from 5.5 to 5.12b. It is a significant piece of rock (small mountain) situated at the south end of the park that is broken down into eight different climbing sections along its west wall. In the winter it keeps one busy when many of the other spots don’t look so inviting. The Sand Dunes area is one of the warmer climbing options during the winter months being slightly angled to the southwest.

Stepping Out is one of 20 published climbing routes that make up the “Sand Dunes” area towards the south end of Island in the Sky. At four pitches it is one of the longer Sand Dunes routes. Park at the West Canyon day use parking lot. Walk south on paved road for about 100 yards and head east across the wash to an obvious scree slope for access to the second tier. There is some light scrambling required and even an aid chain to assist in bypassing Twist and Shout to the north, a popular 5.7 route on the lower level. Once on the second tier you need to traverse back right until you are below an obvious thin crack that is Stepping Out’s first pitch. It might be hard to see the chains from below, but you will notice the pins for Extra Texture to the left. There is also one pin at the start of the crack for Stepping Out. You will need gear for the crack. You can top rope the 1st pitch from Extra Texture which is a zig zag of a 5.7R. However, Stepping Out’s first pitch is a fun trad lead.

Route Description

1st Pitch- The first pitch is 50’ (photos) to chains. One pin low, small to medium gear in the crack. Start right, crux move back left (5.9), easier climbing to anchor.

2nd Pitch- (50’) 5.8 Friction slab through five pins to chains.

3rd Pitch- (60’) 5.8 Slopers through six pins to chains below large ledge.

4th Pitch- One pin to “intersection ledge” with two pin anchor. Climb chimney to south of ledge and make three single rope raps to ground.

Climbing Sequence of First Pitch (crux)

Essential Gear

60 m rope will suffice. Double ropes will allow you to combine pitches 2-4 and save you a rappel. Need a few pieces of small to medium gear for that first pitch. 6-8 draws. Red chalk only please!

Snow Canyon State Park

Red Navajo sandstone, capped by an overlay of black lava rock, makes photography, hiking, biking and camping in Snow Canyon State Park a double treat. Early spring and fall use of the park is especially appealing due to southern Utah’s moderate winter climate. Two recent volcanic cones are found near the head of the canyon.

This strikingly colorful canyon is 11 miles northwest of St. George. Facilities include a 35-unit campground, modern rest rooms, hot showers, electric hookups, sewage disposal station, a covered group-use pavilion and overflow campground.

Snow Canyon State Park Information

ELEVATION:

Juniper Park - Pine Valley

6,800 feet
FACILITIES:

7 single campsites
4 multiple campsites
1 vault toilet
1 vault wheelchair accessible toilet
Drinking water
Fire pits, grills, information board
RV dump station
Accommodates trailers and RVs up to 45 feet in length

OPERATING SEASON:

The primary camping season is from May 1 through September 30, 2008 (weather permitting).
DAILY FEE:

$12.00 for single sites
$22.00 for multiple sites
Extra vehicles are charged $6.00 per night
RESERVATIONS:

None
ATTRACTIONS:

Fishing
Stream near campground
Pine Valley Reservoir (no powerboats)
Timbered setting

NORTH JUNIPER PARK CAMPGROUND

ELEVATION:

6,800 feet

FACILITIES:

11 single campsites
1 multiple campsites
1 vault wheelchair accessible toilet
Drinking water
Fire pits, grills, information board
RV dump station
Accommodates trailers and RVs up to 45 feet in length
Trash Service

OPERATING SEASON:

The primary camping season is from May 1 through September 15, 2008 (weather permitting).

DAILY FEE:

$12.00 for single sites
$22.00 for multiple sites
Extra vehicles are charged $6.00 per night

RESERVATIONS:

None

ATTRACTIONS:

Dump station located 5 miles southwest on Highway 18
Stream near campground
Pine Valley Reservoir (no powerboats)
Lower portion of campground good for RVs
Timbered setting

Featured Photos from Hike:

An extremely demanding hike along an unmarked route traversing the length of Death Hollow, a beautiful deep, narrow canyon. This is the most difficult and challenging hike in the Escalante Canyons area, and should not be taken lightly. The hike is suitable only for experienced canyoneers in excellent physical condition. Hikers need to be mentally and physically prepared for the challenges this hike offers. Preplanning and proper gear is critical. There are also vast fields of Poison Ivy. During the lower half of the canyon, there are no exit points, so you must hike to the end.

5-7 day 30 mile hike (top to bottom and finish out down the Escalante River).

We would love to thank Casey for taking some awesome photos of the Death Hollow hike:

Casey has provided a site to view the photos:  caseyniederhasuer.com/death_hollow
This is a short video clip that Matt put together from the photos Casey took:

A Casey photo featured on niederhauser.com:

I wanted an idea of what to expect, so I jumped on a Utah canyoneering forum (http://bogley.com) and posted some questions, here is the text, and one guy’s reply.
——
Me:
Wondering if I can get some opinions on the best way to do Death Hollow in Escalante two weeks from now (6/5/08). From what I have read and researched, it seems that there are three basic options:

1- Top to bottom, Upper and Lower, from Hell’s backbone road to the Escalante, 4 days and 20 or so miles.

2- Lower canyon only, McGath Bench Road and Boulder Mail Trail to the Escalante, 1 long day or 2 short days and 7 miles.

3- Lower only, Up and back. Start at the Escalante and go up as far as you want and go back.

If anyone has a suggested route or experience of a good 2 day trip there, I would love to hear it. I am also wondering if it would be worth doing the upper canyon up and back from the Boulder Mail Trail. Any ideas on that?
Also, if you had to pick the best part of the canyon to see and hike this time of year, which would it be? Upper or lower?
thanks!

It depends on how sensitive you are to poision ivy. If you don’t know the answer to the question then you will shortly after completing Death Hollow.

If you aren’t so sensitive, I would suggest doing the entire canyon. Four days seems about right. If you are really sensitive, just do the bottom end from the river.

If you only have two days, either the upper end or lower end would work (i.e. the loop via the Boulder Mail Trail or just visiting the upper up from the BMT). Both are very beautiful. I would say the lower is perhaps more beautiful to me because of all the running water. The upper end is more challenging.

I called the Escalante Field Station and talked to a nice old lady that seemed to know her stuff-

1- Permits: she said that you can just fill out the permits at the trail head and they are free
2- Roads: She said they are really good roads going in, and that a 2WD will be ok
3- Fires: They are permitted on top at the trailhead but not in the canyon
4- Camping: You can camp at the trailhead, but not right in the parking area- she said to go a little ways down the trail.

She wanted to make sure we knew about the Poison Ivy and Flashflood danger.

If you have any questions, you can call:

Escalante Field Station
Telephone: (435) 826-5600

Web Research:  Wikipedia | Google images | link 1 | link 2 | link 3

Only problem is poison ivy- so we read up on how to spot it:  http://poisonivy.aesir.com/img/pictures/pi-pics-may/index.php

Link to current weather forecast.  Plan on having warm clothes and be prepared to stay dry (rain/stream water wadding).

Go to this link for map and directions.

Death Hollow hike - map and directions