Todo List
Capitol Reef
Escalante & Bryce
Moab
San Rafael Swell
Zion & SW Utah
Tick List
Diana's Throne Canyon - Zion East Side
Date: 06/01/2023
All five of us went, first time for the girls! There was a lot of water in potholes, some of it quite foul. We had to belay the girls up and out of the waterway between the first and second rappel because the pool at the bottom of the second was deep and disgusting. Sarah found out the hard way. There was a very easy walk-around for these. The second sequence of rappels could be started right in the drainage on good quality bolts or done from a few anchors a little down canyon on the right side. There was a huge party there using both anchors on the walls so we took the route down the middle, requiring wading through two shallow pools. We bailed after the canyon widened out before the start of the downstream slot section required an awkward start to a short rappel. It was a downclimb and up climb for Sarah but we decided the day had been a success for the girls and to call it at that point. The return hike from that point was probably a bit easier than it would have been from the end of the canyon.
All five of us went, first time for the girls! There was a lot of water in potholes, some of it quite foul. We had to belay the girls up and out of the waterway between the first and second rappel because the pool at the bottom of the second was deep and disgusting. Sarah found out the hard way. There was a very easy walk-around for these. The second sequence of rappels could be started right in the drainage on good quality bolts or done from a few anchors a little down canyon on the right side. There was a huge party there using both anchors on the walls so we took the route down the middle, requiring wading through two shallow pools. We bailed after the canyon widened out before the start of the downstream slot section required an awkward start to a short rappel. It was a downclimb and up climb for Sarah but we decided the day had been a success for the girls and to call it at that point. The return hike from that point was probably a bit easier than it would have been from the end of the canyon.
Cassidy Arch Canyon - Capitol Reef
Date: 07/15/2022
Amazing canyon. Calvin and Sarah started at the trailhead at 6 am and got back just after 9 for just over 3 hours round trip. We used a 200 foot rope and 100 foot rope which was easily enough for the two big rappels. I was a little concerned about the rope pull on the first rappel off of Cassidy arch because of the length and deep rope grooves but you are able to walk up canyon down below to improve the angle of pull. We did a short practice pull after Sarah reached the bottom to make sure it would work before I rappelled in. The traverse to the second anchor was ok but would be terrifying if there were even a bit of moisture on it. We didn't feel the need to protect it. We spooked a Mexican spotted owl between rappel 5 and 6 right after the down climb.
Amazing canyon. Calvin and Sarah started at the trailhead at 6 am and got back just after 9 for just over 3 hours round trip. We used a 200 foot rope and 100 foot rope which was easily enough for the two big rappels. I was a little concerned about the rope pull on the first rappel off of Cassidy arch because of the length and deep rope grooves but you are able to walk up canyon down below to improve the angle of pull. We did a short practice pull after Sarah reached the bottom to make sure it would work before I rappelled in. The traverse to the second anchor was ok but would be terrifying if there were even a bit of moisture on it. We didn't feel the need to protect it. We spooked a Mexican spotted owl between rappel 5 and 6 right after the down climb.
Sulphur Creek - Capitol Reef
Date: 07/14/2022
Did this from the bottom up because we were afraid the weather would turn us around and didn't want to just do the dry boring part and then have to hike back up it. We got to just above the uppermost falls. This was the girls favorite hike they've ever done. We got grandma and grandpa Morris up the ledge to the left (looking up canyon) of the lowest falls but it was a struggle. Everyone was able to slide back down the lowest falls into the pool without trouble.
Did this from the bottom up because we were afraid the weather would turn us around and didn't want to just do the dry boring part and then have to hike back up it. We got to just above the uppermost falls. This was the girls favorite hike they've ever done. We got grandma and grandpa Morris up the ledge to the left (looking up canyon) of the lowest falls but it was a struggle. Everyone was able to slide back down the lowest falls into the pool without trouble.
Mystery Canyon - Zion East Side
Date: 05/25/2022
Went with Hunter and Whitney two days after doing the Subway. We used Red Rock shuttles to get to the East Mesa trailhead. The descent down into the canyon from up on the rim is very steep and loose. We were making pretty good time thereafter but probably could have gone much quicker through the slot section if we set up with two ropes leapfrogging when the rappels are so close together. We got our rope temporarily stuck on the chock stone at Mystery Springs because we weren't careful on the rope pull. We didn't have a knife, which was stupid. In the end we were able to dislodge the rope without having to ascend or do anything else sketchy, but it was an important lesson learned. Still amazing though.
Went with Hunter and Whitney two days after doing the Subway. We used Red Rock shuttles to get to the East Mesa trailhead. The descent down into the canyon from up on the rim is very steep and loose. We were making pretty good time thereafter but probably could have gone much quicker through the slot section if we set up with two ropes leapfrogging when the rappels are so close together. We got our rope temporarily stuck on the chock stone at Mystery Springs because we weren't careful on the rope pull. We didn't have a knife, which was stupid. In the end we were able to dislodge the rope without having to ascend or do anything else sketchy, but it was an important lesson learned. Still amazing though.
The Subway (From the Top) - Zion West Side
Date: 05/23/2022
Trip with Hunter and Whitney. Navigation was easy with GPS and I think I could do it again without if needed having gone through once. Social trails are usually pretty obvious. Sarah and I wore shorty wetsuits and the day was mid to upper 80s.. I thought shorty wetsuits were just about perfect. We didn't try the first downclimb because it was a great place to instruct Whitney and Hunter on a first rappel. This canyon wasn't technically demanding but was absolutely stunning and Sarah's favorite.
Trip with Hunter and Whitney. Navigation was easy with GPS and I think I could do it again without if needed having gone through once. Social trails are usually pretty obvious. Sarah and I wore shorty wetsuits and the day was mid to upper 80s.. I thought shorty wetsuits were just about perfect. We didn't try the first downclimb because it was a great place to instruct Whitney and Hunter on a first rappel. This canyon wasn't technically demanding but was absolutely stunning and Sarah's favorite.
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