Advice on backpacking in Paria Canyon

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heresay1

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Jul 27, 2006
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Was considering doing a backpacking trip to Utah's Paria Canyon in May. I have done a lot of backpacking and at times I tend to overpack.

I have backpacked to a few places where the thought of wilderness survival was not too much of a concern. Hard to feel you are out in the wild when there is a cafe, mini mart, hotel, pit toilets, and residences within sight or walking distance. Not to mention encountering Park Rangers and several dozen people everyday in addition to.

I remember hiking the Grand Canyon and camping at the Supai Indian campgrounds. The only knife I needed was a SAK Tinker. It's only purpose ended up being food prep, opening Mountain House packages and cutting tomatoes. I remember thinking it was like car camping without the car. Beautiful scenery but too many people.

Here are some questions I have:

1. Other than the standard equipment (backpack, sleep pad, thermals, hat, etc.) is there any recommendations?

2. Do I need to take any tools/blades besides my Leatherman Wave?

3. Is Paris Canyon more like a walk in the park or more of a truly wild area?
 
More of a desert trip than I have ever done. Basics are still the same however.

*Feet..... good wicking socks and boots.

*Layers. You're going in May so it could get quite warm, but still will be cold at night. Good wicking layers, and don't sweat.

*I traded up to an Outdoor Research sleeping pad from my U.L. Therma Rest. Warmer, and much more comfortable. Makes mornings much easier.

*Whatever pack you are using, make sure it's packed correctly. This is one thing I see done WRONG most often and can add stress to your back and hips. There are plenty of sites out there that go over how to pack for the most comfort/stability.

*I would take a small saw just for ease of gathering sage brush to burn. Will make much quicker work of gathering fuel.

*From what I have read, watch those narrow canyons. May might be wetter than the summer months, and I have read where flash floods can happen before you know it.

I'm sure some others with a little more experience with backpacking in that environment can add to it. Ohhh yeah........... have a great time. :)
 
I googled Paria Canyon and one of the first websites says to bring rope.

So, I'd bring rope. :)

Also, bring a fixed blade knife. You won't really need it until you REALLY need it.
 
I've done Buckskin Gulch to White Horse Landing, twice, with some buddies. For that section, you certainly don't need rope. Can't say for sure about the rest, guess it depends on how far down towards Lee's Ferry you go. I'd recommend some good water shoes or easy-draining hiking shoes. Your feet will get wet, and probably cold, and it's mighty tedious to be taking your boots off all the time to keep them dry. Best to just suck it up and barge through the pools. Other than that, just your normal desert camping gear should suffice. Maybe keep your pack trim. It's not a strenuous trip, but fat packs can get hung up in the narrows sometimes. If you have an extra few days in that area, head up around Hanksville. Capitol Reef NP is fantastic, and Goblin Valley SP/Little Wild Horse Canyon are pretty damn good in their own right. Hope this helps. Cheers!
ETA: Oops, almost forgot to address the blade question. I would feel comfortable with just a larger SAK, or multitool. A light FB, like a Mora, ESEE 3, or F1 would be nice to have too. But it's the desert, not much need for axes or choppers out there.
 
raindog101 said:
I've done Buckskin Gulch to White Horse Landing, twice, with some buddies. For that section, you certainly don't need rope.
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When did you do it?

http://www.blm.gov/az/st/en/arolrsmain/paria.html

WARNING: There were multiple 50-100 year floods between April and November of 2010 through Buckskin Gulch, Wire Pass and Paria Canyon that have removed high water campsites, added obstructions (trees, stumps, or boulders) and changed the river bed. It is highly suggested your party brings rope in case you come across an obstruction that has not been mapped. Do not depend on high water campsites downstream from your location if anyone in your party is tired as the campsite may no longer exist; for example, the big campsite at the confluence of Wire Pass and Buckskin Gulch is gone as is the one across from the confluence. The only safe site remaining is the one further downstream from the confluence just before it narrows up again.
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I've done the Paria from White House Ranch to Lee's Ferry as well as the Buckskin Gulch - Wire Pass to WHR dayhike. If you're a strong hiker, Buckskin is a wonderful start to the hike. You don't miss anything good on the Paria and Buckskin is truly spectacular. There's a place to camp halfway between Wire Pass and the confluence at the escape route. It will still be there. There is, or used to be, camping at the confluence, about 15 miles in. It's 7 miles from the confluence to WHR, mostly thankless slogging.

Neither Buckskin or the Paria are particularly narrow, but if you bring a big pack you'll probably be sorry as footing isn't the best. Since you'd better only go in with a good weather forecast, you won't need much kit. My groundcloth, pad, bag, liner, and bivy for warm desert trips weighs 2lb 10oz. Throw in the usual other stuff and your kit should look something like 10lbs plus pack plus food plus water. You'll be wading and then hiking. Shoes should drain well and be comfortable when wet.

Buckskin has no water before the confluence. It's an easy 8 miles in to the escape point, but you're dry camping there. The water in the Paria is usually really silt laden, so your water filter will clog after maybe a half liter. Bring a little bit of alum. Set a pan of water out before you go to bed. Wet your finger, dip it in the alum, and dip it gently into the water. Let it sit overnight and decant. Add your water purification stuff. I like Aqua Mira the best. It will taste a little funky and gritty. Along the Paria there are springs you can fill up at. Do so. When we did WHR to Lees, we only had to use river water on the last night. It's best to plan to camp near the springs.

Bring insect repellent with citronella in it in case the gnats are bad. They usually hatch sometime in May, but it varies a bit with weather and elevation.

All you really need knife-wise is a SAK. I would also bring a small fixed blade since I have some really light ones, some Spyderco Mules with cord wrap and a few Moras, but that would be overkill. A big heavy fixed blade will be useless. Probably the best from a survival standpoint would be a spare SAK in case you lose the first. :)

It's beautiful country. Have a great trip.

Gordon
 
Sorry, I didn't answer your last question. You'll see some other people, but the middle part of the hike is two days walk from the nearest road. There's no cell coverage when you do get to the road, at least at the north end as of last June. It's pretty remote.

Gordon
 
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