Hast thou a large thirst for Slot Canyons? Here you go. Miles of slots. Long sections requiring sideways shuffling. A journey of wonder through the bowels of the Navajo sandstone. Bring a rope and a harness, and you can finish with a short rappel into a pothole and a quick wade or swim.

Scars have recently appeared on the final-rap arch from people pulling their ropes. DO NOT PULL YOUR ROPES OVER THE ARCH. It is very easy to return to the wash on the way back and fetch your rope, so please, don't be a snoid - don't pull your rope, just go back and get it.

	Bridging near the start of Egypt3

Getting There: from Escalante, drive south down the Hole in the Rock Road 16.5 miles to a good dirt road on the left, signed to Egypt. Follow this badly washboarded road 9.0 miles past two obvious canyon heads (E1 & E2) to an unimpressive gulley crossing the road. This is Egypt 3. Continue .2 miles to a fork in the road. The right fork is signed "Egypt 1". Park at the fork.

The Start: walk back to the unimpressive gulley, and drop into its bottom. Follow 1/4 mile to a big dropoff. Follow the rim to the left. In about 1/4 mile, a side canyon comes in from the left that allows access downward. Descend steep slabs to the slot at the bottom of the side canyon, and find a reasonable way in. Walk, squirm, bridge and chimney your way downcanyon past potholes and small difficulties. The side canyon drops into the main canyon.

The Slot starts slowly and builds. Or should I say narrows. Proceed downcanyon through many amazing narrows. Many places require shuffling sideways for a hundred yards at a time. There are several short downclimbing sections and quite a few places where athletic bridging allows keeping your feet dry. And a few places where the canyon opens out.

After several hours of very stimulating redrock spelunking, the canyon opens out in a major way. Follow the wash. After a 1/4 to 1/2 mile, the canyon starts to narrow again, with several interesting little arches and bridges. For those without a rope, this is the end of the line - head back upcanyon, then trend right, eventually moving onto the ridge to the right.

Downclimbing a short ramp in Egypt3

The Final Section: head downcanyon from the arches. Almost immediately, you come to a 40 foot drop off. Climb back to the last arch and tie off one end of your rope. Single-rope-rap down the drop off and into a pothole (often dry). You will pick the rope up on the way back.

DO NOT pull your rope off the arch. Not only is retrieving the rope easy, but pulling the rope cuts ugly scars into the arch. Please help preserve the natural condition of this canyon, and retrieve your rope on the way back.

Partner climbing is required to exit the potholes. Then a little wading from knee to nose deep, depending on water level, brings you crashing out into the sun. Egypt 2 comes in on the right, then the combined 2+3=5 feeds out into 25 Mile Wash.

Returning to the Trailhead: Turn left and head down 25 Mile Wash about 5 minutes. An interesting canyon comes in on the right (worth 5 minutes of exploration) and opposite, a sand dune allows exit from the wash to the left. Climb to the rim, then traverse left at a comfortable level, to return to the wash and pick up your rope. Head up the wash and trend right at a junction. You are heading for the rim straight ahead. Eventually join the ridge on the right, then follow the ridge, staying right of the Egypt 3 slot, for about 2 hours back up to the rim. We did this in the full sun on a hot day in late May, when it could be described as "Beelzebub's Weight Loss Program", so you may want to siesta at 25 Mile Wash until the heat of the day diminishes.