Zion

 

One fine sunny morning in June I met Anthony and Sara at Anthony's house, and we transported ourselves to Zion National Park intent on exploring its fabled canyons.  The next morning we met Miles who had raced out to Utah's desert from California just to get a sip of water.

 



Any proper trip begins with a photograph of all the crap we brought along.

We got right into the thick of things with a trip down the famous Pine Creek.  This canyon is really awesome with plenty of rappels, swims, and excellent visuals.  As in most of the canyons we explored, the rappels are pretty much all bolted.  Taking decent photographs in the canyons proved to be a challenge, but I managed a few.

Miles showing off his athletic body type in his wetsuit.

A really cool rappel into a deep, dark pool

"I hope that is water down there."

"Moria... You fear to go into those mines. The Dwarves delved too greedily and too deep. You know what they awoke in the darkness of Khazad-dum... shadow and flame."

The sun has eaten Miles's hand.

In the depths.

Sara on the last long rappel

Zoom out!

Miles making his way down the last rappel in Pine Creek.

Our destination the next day was Orderville canyon.  This canyon was very fun involving a long hike in the pretty desert morning, a nice stroll down an fairly wide slot, followed by a bunch of pools to jump into and swim.  I really enjoyed this canyon; it had less rappelling than some of the other canyons, but the water park type of terrain at the end was exceptional.

Apparently this wall of the canyon had some good feelsies.

This section of the canyon was very geometrically pleasing.



The walls had great colors!

Layers in the rock!

Anthony navigates around some shallow pools.

And then decides the water course is the best course.

I managed to avoid getting any pictures of the pools as it had started to sprinkle and I didn't want to get my camera out.  The rest of the canyon is scenic ending with a stroll down the Narrows which was pretty choked with tourons (like ourselves) while we were there.

The same day we went for a late afternoon rally through Keyhole canyon which is short and really sweet.  We were a bit nervous about being there after dark so we cranked through the whole thing in half an hour or so.  It was well worth the effort though.  I didn't get any pictures but Keyhole has a lot of tight squeezes, cold swims, and rappels which make for a great canyon.

The next day we to the other side of the park to go down Das Boot and Subway.  Das Boot adds a little extra spice to the normal Subway route, and it was a quick and easy addition to a great day.  The approach takes a little while, and can be a bit confusing even with very detailed directions from the guide book.  It goes through some great scenery though.  In early June the cactus flowers were blooming.

Zion has some cool peaks

 Das Boot starts off with some chilly swims and fun rappels.

 



Anthony and Sara enjoy some cool water.

Miles has an orange helmet.

Miles worms his way into a BLACK POOL!!!!

But it didn't eat him

At the beach.

Anthony heads down the last rappel before Subway proper.

Kind of like a Subway!

Miles and some flowers growing out of the wet rock.

Subway was a long day, and the exit can feel a little long under the intense summer sun.  Some of our groups was definitely wilting a bit by the end.  I thoroughly enjoyed it because it added some suffering to a nice day.  I attempted to ignore the blazing heat and mild discomfort associated with it by gazing up at the endlessly blue sky that stood in sharp contrast with the colorful canyon walls, and by enjoying the kind of silence one can really only find in the desert.  There were also some cool dinosaur tracks on the way out!

The next day was one of the coolest canyons Zion has to offer: Mystery!  There are very few permits each day, but we snagged some and went exploring the little oasis.  First though we wandered through a blooming desert which was followed by a ferocious descent to the canyon bottom.

I really love when the desert blooms



An orange one!

Miles gets into the first rappel in Mystery.

About halfway down the canyon there is a huge rock fall that created a big hill in the middle of the canyon.  This is the view from the top.

Anthony navigates a slick log.

Anthony expertly setting up the huge rappel into the spring that mystery is most famous for.  I have a lot of pictures of this spot because it really took my breath away.  Just a stunning spot in the desert!

Sara heading down the rappel.

Miles baking in the sun on the edge...

He made it to the shade!

 The final rappel from Mystery is down a waterfall into the Narrows...Quite the superhero rappel with all the spectating tourons.


The next morning we hiked up to Angel's Landing which I had been to before while it was pouring rain so I was not aware of the view from the top.  It was a pleasant morning followed by a relaxing afternoon swimming at one of the local swimming holes.

From Angel's Landing

Our last day in Zion we went to Spry Canyon which has a beautiful approach through ancient sand dunes.  We even saw some critters (sheep)!

Spry canyon approach

Old sand dunes!

Miles at the start.

The first rappel was through a spectacular sandstone bowl. Sara

Miles

Anthony belayed us down this tight squeeze and then somehow managed to downclimb it...into this fetid pool.

Spray canyon has some tight rappels, that didn't seem to phase Miles.

And some cool rappels through green alcoves.  Anthony, Sara (on rappel), and Miles surveying from the top.

And a big rappel into a deep slot. Miles

Sara

Anthony

Miles at the second part of a double rappel, with a short swim in the middle.  This was a really cool spot.

Miles waits at the top of another rappel.

Anthony working his way down.

 Before we left in the morning, we hunted down one of Zion's little secrets which is a wall of petroglyphs.  Most of the wall is covered with bighorn sheep...hundreds of them.  Also some other cool designs.  A good trip with good friends.  I'm excited to head back.