| Greetings to all you working
stiffs in the northeast. As many of you know I have taken leave of
my career, my home, my family and friends and, some may think, my
senses to travel this and other lands for the thrill of the send,
the joy of movement, the experience of new crags and new climbs. From
time to time via this column I hope to impart some of what I've learned
or discovered along the way.
I'm writing this from Maple Canyon, Utah which many of you have
probably long since heard of and visited. But have you been here
in the fall? There's a reason why it's called Maple Canyon. Maple
trees abound. And like New England's maples, the trees of Maple
Canyon turn glorious in the "fall". It's about the only
place this ex-patriot can feel at home out here at this time of
year where fall foliage consists of only one color - yellow. However
the fall foliage season begins in late August in these narrow canyons.
Peak season is early to mid September. Try to catch it. |
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| The Real Skinny A few noteworthy tips regarding a trip to Maple. As of this year camping is free beyond the regular campground and the start of the "Unimproved Road". This road is really quite reasonable. There are at least a dozen good sites along it. Overnight parking in the parking lot just before the unimproved road has been condoned. Many tent sites exist nearby in the woods. Always bring plenty of water as there is none available inside the canyon. Some people gather water from the spring behind the group campsite but I don't know of anyone who trusts the water. Water jugs can be filled from a water fountain and spigot situated in front of the post office in Fountain Green though last year this source was shut off by mid September. This year it continued to operate. Beware of camping in one of the regular campground sites without paying the now increased fee of $7/site. People do this and get away with it but a ranger does patrol periodically. I haven't heard of any citations being issued. Next summer the canyon may be closed due to "improvements" planned for the area and the campground. Two new vault toilets have already been installed with another planned. I've also heard that the road may receive a paving, a well may be drilled and, of course, the ubiquitous "day use fee" will be instituted. Some of you have already endured my opinions of the management nazis and the disappearance of our freedoms at their hands so I'll spare everyone the tirade. But the climbing is fabulous. Just don't climb any route that hasn't been around for at least a year. The established routes have long ago lost any of their shaky cobbles and matrix grit. More routes are going in all the offshoot canyons to disperse the crowds. Usually the grade is written in chalk at the base of the route. Give it a go! And be sure to pack a headlamp to check out some of the many caves such as the Pipe Dream Cave which is accessed via a knotted rope or the curvaceous catacombs beneath Eye Of The World - a cool adventure on a hot day. And if you're up for a hike there's none better than the Loop Trail for incredible views combined with crags that impart an almost prehistoric eeriness. Just be sure to hike it counter clockwise. Ciao |
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