One of the things I love about the San Rafael Swell is the diversity of canyons From pothole challenges, like Quandary and the Squeeze, to more mellow en-devours, like Baptist Draw, or this one, Lupacchiotta lou-paw-key-o-ta, the Swell offers it all This is a short, casual affair in the highest region of the Swell Though only a couple of hours, it makes a nice casual break when passing through on nearby I-70 The canyon has straightforward anchors, and no downclimbing, making it very suitable for beginners or hikers...

Ah, Witch's Cauldron Canyon, what a history we have together! I initially explored it with Kent Beverly, Mark McCray, and Penny Martens in about 2004 It was one of our first explorations, and we got shut down at the Cauldron A year or so later Kent, Penny and I gave it another go, getting slightly below the Cauldron before fearing it would get too narrow to pass through and reversing out Foiled again! Due to scheduling and partner conflicts, I had given up on finishing the canyon In the spring of 2007 Mike Kelsey a...

Ah, BIG Tony, with emphasis on BIG! This one of the first X-rated canyons I did, and it packs a wallop! Like many of the neighboring canyons on King Mesa, this one has plenty of exposure and climbing to keep your attention! The upper section of the canyon contains hours of high stemming Most of the high stemming is at a reasonable width or was for me! and felt pretty secure, though a couple of crux wide spots will get your attention Looking down 12 m+ as you stem across a wide section reaching with all you've got t...

Afton Canyon is known as the Grand Canyon of the Mojave Along its steep-walled conglomerate cliff wall lies the short but dramatic Spooky Canyon Few canyons are as deep, dark, and cave-like as Spooky Canyon This is one that you will need a headlamp to explore its black depths Next door to Spooky Canyon is what I suppose could be dubbed Not Spooky Canyon A similar canyon, Not Spooky is not as dark as Spooky Canyon but has similar obstacles and a sinuous nature We, with limited information on our trip, ascended Not S...

Elephant Butte, at 5653 ft, is the highest point in Arches National Park The route, winding through the maze of entrada fins, requires good route finding or persistence, a rappel, and a bit of lower 5th class climbing to reach some of the best views around Elephant Butte makes a great outing for those canyoneers with a little climbing experience, or climbers It is not very technical, but very rewarding with excellent views Caution: I've had several groups e-mail me recently that Elephant Butte had very challenging ...

Fallen Roof Granary is one of the more photographed ruins on Cedar Mesa Its image is often seen in calendars and photos, and for good reason, the ruin and aspect make it very photogenic and scenic The lighting on the ruin can be really dramatic In addition to Fallen Roof, Road Canyon contains the Seven Kivas Ruin and several other fantastic ruins This is one of my favorite hikes on Cedar Mesa, both for the ruins, as well as the views from the canyon rim The lower trailhead, in particular, offers excellent primitive...

The Wasatch is steeped in climbing history Start in the 1960s; climbers have pioneered and enjoyed almost countless routes on the granite cliffs in Little Cottonwood Canyon I started climbing in the mid-1990s, and the routes up Little Cottonwood were where I learned traditional climbing With names like Split Pants, Schoolroom, Chicken Chickenhead, and Satans Corner, the routes always held adventure The climbing in LCC, for me, is memorable and a highlight of the climbing I have done The other highlight simply being...

No Mans Canyon, next to Larry, seems often overlooked by canyoneers Both forks, however, are good and intermediate canyoneer friendly The North Fork has one of the most scenic sections of canyon around and is highly recommended I recommend the South Fork only for those with ascending skills, and it can be visited along with the North Fork in one long day Route finding after the North Fork exit is straightforward, but several groups have struggled a bit in the complex terrain Be sure to follow the map carefully

Ah, Icebox, the often overlooked and seldom done canyon in the Kolob Canyon section of Zion National Park Reviews from the few I have known that have done it have been mixed No glowing recommendations, but also no scathing reviews either I finally got a chance to check it out in the summer of 2015 My verdict Well, at almost 13 miles and 2000' of elevation gain, the route has length a plus in my book It is definitely seldom visited and feels very off the beaten path also a plus in my book In hot times, it doesn't re...

Everyone I have talked to about Motorcycle Canyon has had the same response, "it's OK, I guess, especially if you go to Gold Strike Hot Springs on the way out" I, somewhat reluctantly, would probably say the same thing Motorcycle Canyon has some lovely narrows, but they are short, and require a fair bit of hiking in a boulder filled wash to reach I did still enjoy the canyon, though It fit the bill for a short outing on a winter's day that didn't require a shuttle A lovely outing if you don't mind more hiking than ...