climbsurfski
Favorite Trips
The Squeeze, Alcatraz, Neon, Pine Creek, Larry
Todo List
Escalante & Bryce
Tick List
Moonshine Wash - San Rafael Desert
Date: 03/07/2021
Short and slightly overrated; other non-tech slots like Buckskin or Wildhorse are better - although more crowded. Look for the optional scramble exit on west wall 0.1 miles before the junction of West Fork if you want to avoid the dryfall and potential wet exit.
Short and slightly overrated; other non-tech slots like Buckskin or Wildhorse are better - although more crowded. Look for the optional scramble exit on west wall 0.1 miles before the junction of West Fork if you want to avoid the dryfall and potential wet exit.
High Spur Canyon - High Spur
Date: 05/24/2020
Incredibly beautiful - to corkscrew section and back took about five hours. Early climb near first beautiful section makes for a quick exit
Incredibly beautiful - to corkscrew section and back took about five hours. Early climb near first beautiful section makes for a quick exit
Northwest Fork of Big Spring Canyon - High Spur
Date: 05/24/2020
Beautiful, short canyon! More down climbing than anticipated - somebody has rigged rappels on multiple 10-ft down climbs in this canyon. Definitely not needed
Beautiful, short canyon! More down climbing than anticipated - somebody has rigged rappels on multiple 10-ft down climbs in this canyon. Definitely not needed
Slideanide Canyon - Poison Spring
Date: 05/10/2020
Consistent, almost uninterrupted slot down climbs (no stemming or chimneys though) that begin and end with short rappels. Popular canyon - seems that families are targeting this one; you won't be alone. Don't bother with this canyon during hotter months - no water. Not a terrible exit hike but it does make you wonder if it was worth it
Consistent, almost uninterrupted slot down climbs (no stemming or chimneys though) that begin and end with short rappels. Popular canyon - seems that families are targeting this one; you won't be alone. Don't bother with this canyon during hotter months - no water. Not a terrible exit hike but it does make you wonder if it was worth it
Benign Canyon - Dirty Devil
Date: 05/10/2020
Absolutely dry canyon including exit hike, full sun almost all day. Pothole escapes were very minor - less down climbing than Poison Springs canyons. More beginner friendly than intermediate. Would not recommend this canyon unless done during late fall or early spring or unless there has been recent rains and you can guarantee there is water in the potholes
Absolutely dry canyon including exit hike, full sun almost all day. Pothole escapes were very minor - less down climbing than Poison Springs canyons. More beginner friendly than intermediate. Would not recommend this canyon unless done during late fall or early spring or unless there has been recent rains and you can guarantee there is water in the potholes
Arscenic Canyon - Poison Spring
Date: 05/09/2020
Nice first rappel, easy exit hike - enjoyed more than Slidenide. Very hot exit hike, no water whatsoever. Don't bother with the canyon during Summer or hotter months
Nice first rappel, easy exit hike - enjoyed more than Slidenide. Very hot exit hike, no water whatsoever. Don't bother with the canyon during Summer or hotter months
Boulder Mail Trail - Escalante
Date: 04/26/2020
Beautiful views along a rolling slickrock trail. Only hiked the final half (headed northeast to reach Death Hollow for a loop). At this time of year, there were multiple locations with unexpected watering holes - perfect to keep our dog hydrated through mostly dry slickrock. Campsite at Mamie Creek junction was amazing.
Beautiful views along a rolling slickrock trail. Only hiked the final half (headed northeast to reach Death Hollow for a loop). At this time of year, there were multiple locations with unexpected watering holes - perfect to keep our dog hydrated through mostly dry slickrock. Campsite at Mamie Creek junction was amazing.
Lower Death Hollow - Escalante
Date: 04/25/2020
Completed using the Boulder Mail + Escalante River loop. Poison ivy not bad yet and water temperature and depth was nearly perfect. More bush whacking than I had originally hoped between creek crossings - be sure to wear long sleeve and pants to make your day more enjoyable. About a half of the walking in the river was nice, sandy creek bottoms and the other half required navigating rocks that were oftentimes slippery. While this was a beautiful area, it is definitely not a laid back hike so don't expect this to be another Coyote Gulch.
Completed using the Boulder Mail + Escalante River loop. Poison ivy not bad yet and water temperature and depth was nearly perfect. More bush whacking than I had originally hoped between creek crossings - be sure to wear long sleeve and pants to make your day more enjoyable. About a half of the walking in the river was nice, sandy creek bottoms and the other half required navigating rocks that were oftentimes slippery. While this was a beautiful area, it is definitely not a laid back hike so don't expect this to be another Coyote Gulch.
Wonderland Canyon - Capitol Reef
Date: 05/26/2019
Anchors still in good condition. Wetsuits were nice but not 100% necessary.
Anchors still in good condition. Wetsuits were nice but not 100% necessary.
Nighthawk Canyon - Grand Wash
Date: 05/25/2019
Barely any water in the canyon, travel through potholes was easy. Final rappel currently at 197 ft with long webbing. Anchor in fair condition.
Barely any water in the canyon, travel through potholes was easy. Final rappel currently at 197 ft with long webbing. Anchor in fair condition.
Neon Canyon - Escalante
Date: 05/27/2018
Low water levels - no wetsuit required. Deepest water was roughly waist deep and intermittent sun in the canyon kept things warm. Did "More Fun" Entry/North Fork and it was absolutely worth it for the extra quarter mile we hiked. The semi-keeper turned out to be a true keeper (with an easy rappel around it) and we moved right through the actual KPH without actually noticing it. Great canyon...I just wish we had gotten to swim
Low water levels - no wetsuit required. Deepest water was roughly waist deep and intermittent sun in the canyon kept things warm. Did "More Fun" Entry/North Fork and it was absolutely worth it for the extra quarter mile we hiked. The semi-keeper turned out to be a true keeper (with an easy rappel around it) and we moved right through the actual KPH without actually noticing it. Great canyon...I just wish we had gotten to swim
Upper Red Breaks - Escalante
Date: 05/26/2018
Fun canyon with enough obstacles to keep it interesting...didn't live up to the hype as being "one of the best non-tech" canyons though. Do yourself a favor and wait to do this canyon from late Fall through early Spring - doing it in May was already too mind-numbingly hot (also lots of wash walking if you enter from the south). There was no shallow pool
Fun canyon with enough obstacles to keep it interesting...didn't live up to the hype as being "one of the best non-tech" canyons though. Do yourself a favor and wait to do this canyon from late Fall through early Spring - doing it in May was already too mind-numbingly hot (also lots of wash walking if you enter from the south). There was no shallow pool
Comments
Dunham Slot - Paria
Date: 2022-08-17
Comment: This canyon was featured on Running Wild with Bear Grylls - S1E1 with Natalie Portman!
Shenanigans - Middle West Butler
Date: 2017-10-30
Comment: Alright, so which is tighter: Alcatraz or this canyon?
SGR Canyon - South of Moab
Date: 2017-10-18
Comment: This canyon absolutely deserves the R+ rating! Sure, it's not the most technical stem you can do, b...
The Wives - Capitol Reef
Date: 2017-04-17
Comment: The gang and I accidentally did Wife 2 this weekend instead of Wife 1. It looks like somebody rigge...