Utah conditions

I'll be heading out to Utah in a couple of weeks and was wondering about conditions in the area. I'm interested in two things: (1) flowers, and (2) water. Specifically, what should the flowers be like on the May 13th weekend in the south-central (Capitol Reef, Escalante) area, and has anyone been around the Escalante area to know about water conditions in the slots?

Flowers are not that good this year. There's some paintbrush, globemallow, and locoweed out but it's pretty spotty. Claret cup cactus is also in bloom in some places. No major areas of color that I know of though. Water levels are also generally low but I don't have any current data for slots.

Guy

The Moab area got off to a good start but slowed down quite a bit. I've seen quite a lot of primrose, some paintbrush, a fair amount of globemallow and that's about it. The mules ear this year is pitiful. It may still be early, though.

We've been in Escalante for the past couple of days and not many flowers anywhere around here. Driving down 24 from I-70 we didn't see many flowers either.

Not a whole lot of water around this area this year either; Escalante and Fremont rivers are at normal levels. No puddles or standing water to be found. The slot canyons are totally dry, which is a good thing.... heading into Zebra today.

Weather has been dramatic; mild temperatures with a bit of wind t-storms.

Will be in Bryce and Zion later in the week and will try and send a report then.

Thanks for the report, Nat. Our preferred camping spot for a vacation in the area is Cathedral Valley, but I already have some decent shots there and was looking for some flowers or slots to expand the collection.

Dramatic weather sounds interesting. Hope that stays around until I get there. Good luck in Zebra.