HikeArizona.COM

Getting ready to hike this next week Thursday - Sunday. Down Tanner - Escalante - Up New Hance and wondering if anyone has hiked Tanner or New Hance with snow at the top. Trying to get a grip on what the sketch factor will be with snow and ice on the trail at the top like how exposed it is up there with the trail and how close it gets to drop offs. It's a crap shoot planning these things in November with trail conditions so pretty bummed on the snow factor, but we are an experienced team so just looking to get info on people that have hiked Tanner and New Hance before with snow on the trail. I got the yaktrax if I feel I need them, but dang I don't want to pack the weight if I can avoid it. I'm hoping with the moisture the canyons will have water since it looks like the river is still running brown, but we are geared up to filter it if need be.

As always thank you for the input. Much appreciated!

louie wrote:wondering if anyone has hiked Tanner or New Hance with snow at the top.

I hiked down Tanner in late March 2019. I had Microspikes in the car, but decided to forgo them. The first 1500 feet down were nerve-wracking. I went slow and relied heavily on my poles to prevent mishaps. It was only an hour, but it seemed longer. We went to the Confluence, then went back downstream via Escalante and out on Grandview. The last 1000 feet on Grandview on the way out were a bit nasty, too.

@big_load Looking back do you wish you had gone with the micro spikes? Thank you for the info. Greatly appreciated. :-)

@louie

No, I figure those two slippery intervals were worth not having to carry the extra weight for eight days. However, if I had them in my pack, I would have worn them.

I'd say upper Grandview and S Kaibab have the most potential for danger when icy. HAZ says I hiked up NH in January 2014, don't recall any issues. But with snow in the forecast why even take a chance? Even the fancy yaktrax weigh less than a pound, just bring them.