Zion | September 2018

Zion National Park // September 22 – 26, 2018

Andy has been wanting to check out the Zion canyons for years and decided to wait until Brent and I moved from Phoenix to Denver before making it happen so we could all have an 11 hour drive because that’s how Andy is. The Krugers joined camp this year and spent their days in Zion and Bryce and helping out with the cooking and the holding down of the literal fort. Canyoneers this year were Andy, Brad, Juan Diego (all the way from Chicago), Brent and Cristina. James and Laura made a surprise appearance after the first canyon and though James was prepared with thigh-high rattlesnake boots and a harness, he wasn’t as excited about swimming in cold water all day and joined us for just the final canyon, but it sure was nice to see them back in Utah after all these years. Em stayed home with Myles LaFame having just survived a crazy typhoon in Hong Kong, but we have high hopes she’ll join us next year. Emma started grad school and is too smart for us, but if she’ll have us she’s always welcome to tag along.

Day 1 – Echo – Sunday 9/23

Andy tripped over the bug/weather shelter (that we never used) in the dark as we were getting packed up and hurt his shoulder (and pride). No one saw it to give him and hand (or laugh) and though it was an unwelcome first injury, it was the only real injury of the trip.

The approach to Echo started at ~9:15am with us waiting in line for about 20 minutes at the Zion visitor center for the shuttle to the Weeping Rock trailhead. It was a deceivingly easy start–we wound up gaining about 1,300 feet within an hour on the trail. It was the first and only canyon we’ve ever done that had an actual sign pointing in the direction of the turn off to the start of the canyon. We missed it. Andy claims it was hidden behind tourists. After a bit of backtracking we made the turn and cairns led us the rest of the way into the drainage. We had lunch there and, with lighter packs, made our way into short and sweet Echo.

The technical stuff started right away and a few awkward rappels had us practicing our left hand skills, which Brad mastered and subsequently bragged about. He also came up with the brilliant idea of putting his gloves in his helmet through the swimmers to keep them dry. He told me this after watching me swim through one with my gloves on. Thanks, Brad. We were thankful for wetsuits as the water was friggin frigid and there was lots of it. The water level was just right, however, to make navigating the potholes fairly easy and none of them were keepers. Having read the description of “Echo Chamber” ahead of time, the guys spent the entire canyon yelling to see if we’d made it to the chamber yet. Andy sang a song from the Little Mermaid. Eventually we reached the chamber which did, in fact, make for some great echoes, and even better acoustics for Andy.

The exit led us back to the Weeping Rock trail where we changed in front of confused hikers and made our way back down to the shuttle and the visitor center parking lot where we FINALLY remembered to leave cold beers in the car after 12 years of talking about it.

Total time ~6.5 hours and fairly easy for us old pros. Cristina ranks this canyon 6.5 out of 10.

Day 2: Spry – Monday 9/24

Inaccurate info on Climb Utah meant a false start and some time lost, but soon enough we found the never-ending slick rock hike up in direct sun. I went left when everyone else went right and found myself stuck and too far left. Heat stroked and off route, I set us back even more when I had to sit and rest to cool down. Juan Diego took this opportunity to soak in enough rays to get him through the approaching Chicago winter.

We finally made it over the last saddle and a fairly short hike down dropped us into the dry riverbed where we walked through a lot more green than we’re used to. A 165-foot rapp started us off and the rest of Spry was a fun mix of short and long rappels, down climbs and hand lines, and cold water followed by the canyon opening up enough to let the sun in and warm us up. We definitely didn’t need wetsuits for this one as there was plenty of opportunity to dry off a bit between technical sections.

After a long break from the first technical section, several long rappels (at least 160-some feet though Climb Utah made no mention of these) made up the second and somewhat unexpected technical section. Brad set two ropes and was putting out some serious co-captain vibes. There were a couple tricky-start free hang rapps at the end that offered some spectacular backdrops before reaching what was probably the most interesting boulder field we’ve ever scrambled. We underestimated the walk from here to the road and sent out the message for our shuttle to pick us up but still had one last beautiful sunset rap off a cliff face into the rest of the boulders (every enormous boulder was different!). Brad and Juan Diego were the first down and met Peder and Natalie at the road to get the car we’d left at the trailhead. Brent and Andy handled the ropes while I made my way though most of the boulder on my own. Andy was glad I didn’t break my neck only so that he wouldn’t have to hike back in to find me. The three of us met up and with headlamps on, we passed a few deer that startled us more than we startled them, and got picked up close to 9PM and headed back to camp for a fantastic chili dinner thanks to the Krugers.

Total time ~9 hours. Cristina loved this canyon the most and gives it an 8 out of 10.

Day 3 – Pine Creek – Tuesday 9/25

James and Laura shuttled us in to the parking lot trailhead where we wet-suited up and found our first obstacle into water within five minutes of our ~9:30am start. Somewhat flustered by having a group right on our heels and the rest of the way and panicked by the spanning over a pothole to get into the canyon, I lost some finger skin while using the ladder off of James for the “easy” way in. Leaving a little blood on the rocks in is a good way to freak out the next group.

This canyon was cold and the wetsuits proved necessary. Brad, officially securing his place as co-captain for the rest of the canyon and winning the humanitarian badge, sized down wetsuits and compressed his spine so James wouldn’t be the hypothermic of the group. Nice work, Brad. We were held up by two guys in front of us who weren’t very experienced, but enjoyed more Little Mermaid from Andy and Search & Rescue stories (partial ATC scalping!) from the group behind us while we waited. Co-Captain gave one of the guys his glove because they didn’t bring any.

The Search & Rescue group called us”efficient” which isn’t a word we’d normally use to describe us, but we did seem to make quick work of the obstacles and enjoyed some crazy chambers, the “grotto” and rock formations as we made our way through. Brad continued to not let anyone die with his knot-tying skills. Two long and beautiful rappels led us to our final rapp/handline (depending on whom you asked) and into a pool of the clearest blue water we’ve ever encountered in a canyon. The exit followed a slow-flowing spring-fed stream with more great boulder scrambling, which made for a cool and scenic last stretch. Juan Diego navigated part of it by hugging a tree (+10 points) and James took every opportunity to swim even when there was a way around it. The watercourse led us right back to the day hikers and a quick dirt trail uphill deposited us directly at the car which may or may not have been parked in a not-meant-for-parking spot. Either way, cold beer was waiting and after enjoying a few Sessions overlooking the vastness of Zion, the six of us piled into the car for the drive back to camp, in daylight.

Total time ~6 hours. Half of the group called this their favorite of the trip but Cristina still liked Spry better. Pine Creek gets a 7.5 out of 10.

Another fun and major-injury-free trip, thanks to Andy’s planning and guiding. There’s one last canyon that might be worth the trek back to Zion, but otherwise this canyoneer is ready for some remote BLM camping and tourist free adventuring next year. Poe, anyone?

 

Of note:

Juan Diego does not like being called John Doug.

J & J didn’t get a flat tire. The curse is lifted!

Brent steals from Walmart.

Brent paid for some lovely Jesus-style pleather croc sandals at the gift shop.

We took longer on every canyon than Climb Utah says by at least two hours (as usual).

Brent and James became brother husbands on our National Parks pass (when the ranger made Laura put her name on it).

It was hot, but not Labor Day 2017 hot. We know mid-October is too cold, so maybe the 1st weekend of October is worth a shot.

We saw Brianna Madia’s big orange van–our first celebrity sighting! Maybe next year one of the Kardashians will be in a pothole.

We decided to do the drive over two days and on the way to Utah, the three of us who planned to stay in a motel slept in hammocks strung between two cars because every motel for 200 miles was sold out. On the last day Brent, Cristina and JD left right after finishing Pine Creek to split the drive again, so we rolled into the Holiday Inn Grand Junction (with a lovely view of the dumpsters) (and beds, and a shower) at 11pm. We missed the traditional last day breakfast burritos, but were home by 1pm Wednesday.