Escalante Petrified Forest State Park Utah Service Project

Join us for a week long service trip at Escalante Petrified Forest State Park, a half mile north of the town of Escalante. This park is only seven miles from the famed Hole-in-the-Rock Road, which takes you deep into Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.

There are numerous gorgeous hikes in the National Monument, including Coyote Gulch, the best backpacking trip I have ever taken in my entire life.

So that we have a chance to do some serious hiking, the State Park Manager, Chad Jones, has given us three full days off. Saturday, September 23, Tuesday the 26th, and Friday the 29th. This means we will work all day on Sunday the 24th, Monday the 25th, Wednesday the 27th and Thursday the 28th.

At the State Park, we will have access to showers, water and power.

We have scheduled another Service Project the next week at Arches National Park. https://www.meetup.com/austin-sierra-club-outings/events/292751249/

So what will we be doing? From the Park Superintendent: "I have two projects currently in mind. One is to create a couple back country camping spots within the park that people can backpack into. The sites still need to be identified. We would need to clear out brush to make the open tent spaces, and the trail to the sites.

The second project is to upgrade the existing Petrified Forest Trail. The hill climb to the top of the plateau is in rough condition right now. Signage isn't as good as I would like it to be either so that might be part of it."

More from Park Superintendent Jones as to our duties: The plan I have will be moderately strenuous. What I would like to have done is the scouting of potential "back country" camping sites. Once sites are identified then we can begin trail clearing. Before any dirt is moved there will need to be an archeological survey done. We have an archeologist on staff with state parks so as long as she is able to schedule her time for us we should be good to go. If all we accomplish is the site identification and laying out the trails, I will be happy.

We will likely be working the usual volunteer hours of 8:30ish to 3:30ish.

The $100 fee is a deposit. You show up at the campground, you get it all back. Due to the high demand we anticipate for this Service Project, we only want you to sign up if you are really really committed to showing up.

If you don't show up, your check will become a donation to Sierra Club. No refunds will be issued.

Participants are responsible for their own transportation, camping equipment, and breakfasts and lunches. You and your team will cook for the entire group on just one night. Then the other nights you will get to eat what the other teams prepare.

This includes bringing and preparing the food, Dish Patrol and washing said pots and pans. Each participant will need to bring their own dinnerware and cutlery.

You must be in excellent health in order to participate. You will be attending a trip with folks who are both vaccinated and unvaccinated for Covid-19. You will need to show us proof of vaccination. Exemptions are OK with a negative PCR test 72 hours or a negative Antigen test 24 hours before trip departure.

There will be a pre-trip face-to-face meeting in September in Austin.

The Park Service provides all tools and safety equipment. Your park admission and camping fees will be comp'ed. Sorry, no dogs allowed.

Salt Lake City and Las Vegas are both about 300 miles from the park. If you choose to fly into SLC, Jim Paull MIGHT renew his generous offer from last year. If he does so, he will pick you up at the airport, put you up for the night, and then carry you to Escalante. But we will not know if he will do this until August 1.

Let’s Do Service!

TO RESERVE A SPOT:

1. Write a check for $100 payable to "Austin Sierra Club". If you do not have access to a check, you can get a money order at any bank or convenience store.
2. Print, Fill out and Sign a Participation Agreement: https://tinyurl.com/SCSignUpSheet2020
3. Print, Fill out and Sign a Medical Form: https://tinyurl.com/SCMedicalForm2021
4. Proof of Covid-19 vaccination, unless you test negative at the beginning of the trip as explained above
5. Mail items 1,2,3,4 to leader:
   Stan Peyton
   8408 Hanbridge Lane
   Austin TX 78736-3021
6. VERY IMPORTANT: IF WE HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR DEPOSIT AND THE ABOVE PAPERWORK WITHIN TEN DAYS OF YOUR SIGNING UP, YOU WILL BE REMOVED FROM THE TRIP.
   Don't sign up unless you are serious!

We will contact you for additional discussion. WAIT UNTIL APPROVED by leaders before making plane reservations.