Up and Over Fiftymile Mountain | GEL Part 9

A change of scenery on my 33-day solo backpacking adventure in spring of 2023. In this episode I leave the canyons of the Escalante and climb up Fiftymile Bench and then continue up Fiftymile Mountain. On top I make my way across the mountain and enjoy some historical sites and natural sights along the way.
This is the extended series for my hike and includes a bunch more footage and stories not seen in the original all-in-one overview video. This 12-part series takes a deeper dive into the route I dubbed the Grand Escalante Loop and covers over 400 miles through southern Utah's amazing canyon country, remote plateaus, and high elevations. It was a slow go at times, but still a great hike. 2023 was a unique year with record-breaking snowpack over winter and a rainy spring. Thanks for following along!
The original Overview Video:
• The Grand Escalante Lo...
Detailed map of the route on my website:
www.acrossutah....

[@trinidadscorpion3835]

I hope that you never retire from taking these adventures and sharing them with us. No one else captures Utah like you do. Much respect!

[@Acrossutah]

Thanks! It's killing me that I didn't get out for a Utah hike this spring (long story.) BUT... definitely not retiring yet and hope to make up for it this fall. Thanks again for watching and the comment. 🌞✌

[@laramassano2340]

It's so so green up there! I'm with the person who told you never to stop taking these adventures and sharing them with us. 🥺

[@Acrossutah]

Thanks! Had to take this past spring off, but hope to be back out there this fall. Thanks again for watching and the comment. 🌞✌

[@A-K_Rambler]

Tall Boy for Mr Shadow!

[@Acrossutah]

Thanks AGAIN A-K_Rambler -- very appreciated! You might be Mr. Shadow's #1 fan! 😉🍻✌

[@lisatalley296]

Thank you again for showing us some of the hidden beauty in Utah!

[@Acrossutah]

Thanks again for watching! And for the comment too! 🌞✌

[@janwellington8663]

This part of Utah has always felt like home to me, and I miss it. Thanks for the gorgeous memories, especially the panoramas!

[@Acrossutah]

Great place to have memories from I'd say! Thanks again for watching and the comment. 🌞✌

[@KathyHenrie-xg3rb]

Thank you for the views of canyon country. I'm in awe. Fun and interesting hike today. I'm in 7th heaven following you!

[@Acrossutah]

Glad you are enjoying "following along". Cheers! 🌞✌

[@sirdevindavis]

You got Kelseyed ™.

[@utahdan231]

I was too years ago. It was the only good book.

[@Acrossutah]

Yep -- I was hoping that most people who watch my channel would get that reference. 😉 Actually, I think his maps/directions are usually pretty good even if slightly vague at first glance. Where he tends to get me the most is with his estimated times and stated difficulty for climbing! (ie "Most sturdy hikers should be able to make this climb..." -- really?! ) Thanks again for watching and the comment! 🌞✌

[@fishnsyd]

What a bummer about your gear issues. The abundance of green in the landscape surprised me! It looks beautiful there. Thank you for sharing!

[@Acrossutah]

Yeah, the new gear was definitely a mixed bag this year -- but the sleeping pad is really the only thing that truly impacted my trip. It has since been replaced. Thanks again for watching and the comment. 🌞✌

[@lynnnorthrup8914]

Great video to an area we haven’t explored. Loved the wild flower images. The views were stunning. Thanks for sharing. 😀😀😀👍👍👍

[@Acrossutah]

Yep -- not many people get up there. Even though it's usually just a "connector" route for me, I always enjoy my time up on top of the mountain there. Thanks again for watching and the comment. 🌞✌

[@potatothorn]

nice relaxing time in the pinyon forest and some interesting history thanks for taking us along

[@Acrossutah]

Thanks again for watching and the comment. 🌞✌

[@ikmarchini]

Such beautiful photography. Haven't seen you in some months as the fools who program FB unhooked us. Love your vids.

[@Acrossutah]

Good to see you back "following along". Thanks for watching and the comment. 🌞✌

[@TheWayOutdoors]

Another fantastic video! The views from up top Fifty Mountain were spectacular. It looked rough going to bed without water that night, yet was refreshing the next morning with a refill. I really enjoyed all the cliffs and views you provided. That is really hard work getting up there, let alone filing.

[@Acrossutah]

Thanks! It's definitely an area that I'd like to explore more -- but it's tough as everything is pretty spread including the water sources. In many ways one doesn't get as much "bang for the buck" hiking up there. One day I really want to get down to Navajo Point. Thanks again for watching and the comment. 🌞✌

[@WalkthePlanets]

Fantastic it is so therapeutic to watch your videos. Looking forward to the next one.

[@Acrossutah]

Thanks -- that's a nice compliment. Hope enjoy the rest of the series. 🌞✌

[@krigsgaldr5619]

Thanks for sharing Jamal, enjoying following the series a great deal. Cheers...

[@Acrossutah]

Thank YOU for watching -- glad you are enjoying the series. 🌞✌

[@WJr_88]

Great views from up on Fiftymile Mountain. It's amazing how the canyon land looks so beautiful yet can be so deceptive. Thank you Jamal for another great video!

[@Acrossutah]

Yeah, it definitely is a unique perspective. I remember the first time I saw the view from up there and was surprised to see the area east of the Escalante was so much higher than the west side. But -- guess it makes sense due to the Waterpocket Fold. Thanks again for watching! 🌞✌

[@westzonal]

Wow, what huge ears the rabbit has! Here the rabbit's ears are a little smaller. The hoodoos are really impressive. The cabin was interesting, it's just a shame that people don't clean up after themselves properly. All the best from Germany Martin

[@Acrossutah]

Yep -- the jackrabbits here are known for big ears, but still... those might have been the largest I've ever seen! Thanks again for watching all the way from Germany! 🌞✌

[@davidogle9247]

This and #10 are on my top favorite videos you've done. I've spent some time on Google maps looking around on top of Fiftymile Mountain wondering what it must be like up there. We visited Devil's Garden back in '16 and have wanted to go back to that area to explore more ever since... Wished you made it all the way to the south end, but no complaints.

[@Acrossutah]

That's really cool to hear. In many ways I wasn't sure this area would appeal to many of my viewers, but it is an interesting area none the less. I'd actually like to explore more up there -- but it's not easy as the main points of interest are pretty spread out. Some day I do really do hope to make all the way south down to Navajo Point. Thanks for watching! 🌞✌

[@drone_boss]

Great tour from on top of 50m!

[@Acrossutah]

I'd never been down to the southern end so it was cool to see. One day I need to get all the way down to Navajo Point. Thanks again for watching. 🌞✌

[@WalkthePlanets]

Thanks!

[@Acrossutah]

Big THANKS for the SuperThanks! It's very appreciated. 🎉🌞

[@lyndonreddick1888]

You really need a patch kit that has a glue in it like a bike tire kit or just Aquaseal. That view on the edge of Fifty-mile mountain- awesome. It was a reef or shoreline of an ocean once and you can almost see how it was. Mighty tough climb but with the intermediate plateau- is that where the tadpole pond is? Bush looks like Ceanothus. Did it have a nice sort of thick flowery scent?

[@Acrossutah]

Yeah -- that's what the pads used to come with and they worked well. In fact, I still have some old ones so I'll have to see if the glue is still good and give it a try (Klymit said I needed to ship it back to them for evaluation re: warranty, and I just ended up getting a new pad.) The tadpole pond was on Fiftymile Bench. There are a few earth dams and other waterworks systems up on the bench, but many have dried up over the years so I was surprised this one had water (but it was a very wet year.) The bush didn't have much of scent -- but you could still be right. I used to look up the names for all the plants/flowers I see -- but that's a chore especially since I don't know them well at all. Thanks again for watching! 🌞✌

[@lyndonreddick1888]

@@Acrossutah The Ceanothus blooms from Early May through almost the end of June in the scrub, deer brush type environment. That is up around Cal/Or border and is one of the most notable scents of spring. Great editing on your vids, thanks ✌

[@tangenttrails]

Too bad about your pad. I’ve definitely had that happen although not on a long trail or anything over 5 days.✌️

[@Acrossutah]

Yeah, it was a disappointment but I eventually adapted. Klymit wouldn't recognize the warranty unless I shipped it back to them for inspection and implied it could be considered "normal wear and tear" and not covered. I just got a different pad and so far, so good. Cheers! 🌞✌

[@mikekuhl2658]

I have learned that the average hiker should double the hiking time in Kelsey's books lol. In regard to your air mattress, have you ever tried using Tenacious Tape? I keep a small roll of it while hiking. I also use a Klymit Static V2 and had never had an issue. I would also be an unhappy camper if I could not get it fixed. I guess that is the chance we take when using inflatable sleeping pads. I have most of Kelsey's books and enjoy them. I have not seen anything new from him in a while. I wonder if he is done printing new books?

[@Acrossutah]

Yeah -- Kelsey's times and difficulty estimates definitely skew toward "advanced" hikers -- but I still love his material. Not sure re: new material from him, but I know someone who knows him and said he still hikes every day (though he gave up canyoneering.) Last episode I went on a bit of a rant re: Tenacious Tape and my pad -- it just didn't work for me. The hole was in an awkward position near a seam on top -- which made me think it was a defect. I've always liked Kymit pads so this was likely a fluke, but I was even more disappointed when they required me to ship it back to them to evaluate if it should be covered by warranty. At that time they told me most holes are not covered and considered normal wear and tear. 😒 I just gave up on it and changed pads. Thanks again for watching! 🌞✌

[@michaelpuett6358]

The cell tower is on Navajo? Interesting. I wonder if there is another one.. right around lampstand in capitol reef I've have service.. I always thought the defining factor was somewhere on top of boulder mountain. My motto was 'If I can see the middle of Boulder mountain Ill have service' .. but maybe its only Navajo?

[@michaelpuett6358]

Did some research. There is one on 'Barney Top' and Navajo Mountain!

[@Acrossutah]

Yep -- I've been told the same thing re: Navajo -- if you can see the mountain, you should have service (and it does seem to hold true.) And spoiler alert... we'll see the towers on top of Barney Top up close later in this series! 😉👍 Thanks for following along!

[@Javaslinger7730]

Really enjoying the series as always! Sorry you had such a miserable time with that pad! Wondering if you could recommend detailed maps of the Escalante region for planning a hike like this or just exploration.... Or really just for map lust from Virginia...

[@Acrossutah]

Thanks! Well... if you haven't already check out the detailed map for this hike (link in description). Also on my site is my Master Map which is an interactive tool for looking at all my past hikes, suggested routes, points of interest, and more. All that is good for reference/inspiration, but for on the trail I always carry the NG Topo regional maps as well as downloaded detail maps on my phone via GAIA (I no longer carry detailed paper maps.) Cheers! 🌞✌

[@Udink]

Better to be Kelseyed that Ralstoned. :D

[@Acrossutah]

Haha -- that is definitely true! 🌞✌

[@martinforrester8249]

Wonderful country, space to breathe. Does fifty mile mountain vaguely run North to South Jamal ? Also is Mt Trumbull on the base of Fiftymile Mt? Or am I completely wrong? I find your videos so relaxing, many thanks for your efforts.( I stand to correct myself, I'm getting mixed up with the road to Toroweap I think.)

[@Acrossutah]

Yep -- definitely more open space along this segment. So yes, 50Mile Mountain runs N/S for the most part and the Straight Cliffs make up its eastern side (facing the Escalante canyons.) And you are correct -- Trumbull is on the way to Toroweap. Thanks again for watching! 🌞✌