Welcome to the Escalante Route Trail Series—a special set of episodes recorded on-trail during a backpacking trip deep in the Grand Canyon.
In this series, I’m bringing you along day by day as my friends and I hike the Escalante Route, sharing the real-time experiences, trail conversations, and behind-the-scenes moments from camp each night.
Day 1 was all about the descent.
After a shuttle shuffle and a later-than-ideal start, we dropped nearly 5,000 feet from the rim down to the Colorado River via the Tanner Trail.
The miles were straightforward but steep, with barking knees, tired ankles, and a whole lot of anticipation as the canyon opened up below us.
We were blessed with cloud cover, cooler-than-expected temps, and an early arrival at camp Tanner Beach where we celebrated birthdays, stood knee-deep in the river, and leaned fully into Type 1 fun.
In this episode:
- A downhill-heavy first day into the Grand Canyon
- Managing heat, water, and expectations
- Birthday cake in the backcountry
- First impressions of canyon scale and desert vibes
- Settling into camp early and watching the light fade
🎧 Hit play to kick off the Escalante Route with a big descent, good weather luck, and a sandy riverside camp.
Where to learn more about Allison:
- She Dreams of Alpine Blog
- Instagram @shedreamsofalpine
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