Behunin Canyon

Bo and I ventured into Behunin before it got too hot and while it was hot enough that we would not mind some cold water. Behunin is a wide wash located about mid-way up the West Rim Trail from the Grotto. It was an enjoyable hike into the canyon with some long raps throughout. The trail ends at the Middle Emerald Pool area in a rock pile. From there is a nice easy jaunt down to the Zion Shuttle.

Subway and Das Boot

This was a fun weekend where my hiking partner, Bo Beck, and canyoneer Shane Burrows did Das Boot and The Subway. Bo brought along another friend who likes to go nameless on the net, but most know him as the bushwacker. Das Boot is an exciting narrow slot with many fun downclimbs that opens up into The Subway. The water is cold in Das Boot so a wet suit is needed even in mid-summer. Bo and I wore 5/7mm suits and we were comfortable. Shane is use to going faster and wore a 3mm suit but I stop and take a lot of photos so Shane’s teeth were chattering. Das Boot is a great slot and one of the top on my list. If you attempt it be competent at downclimbing since the raps are short, awkward and downclimbing is usually done instead in many places in the slot. Shane Burrows writes the http://www.climb-utah.com web sit and of course you can find the trail descriptions on my site as well.

http://www.zionnational-park.com

Misery Canyon

Parunuweap and the Barracks are without a doubt my favorite place in the world. The hike getting there is an ideal adventure with a Zion National Part start, one of the funnest slot canyons anywhere and warm spring at the end! The East Fork of the Virgin River (Parunuweap Canyon) is as impressive as the Zion Narrows but situated in a remote and wild environment. I got to finally meet Dave Webb from Utah.com who I have been talking to about hiking together for almost a year! He brought his brother and his brothers son and radio talk show host Chris Draper. We all hung out in Mount Carmel Junction for the night and set out on our trip after Chris’s early morning Saturday Outdoor Show on KSL. He is able to do this by a satellite phone. My hiking partner Bo Beck went with us and one of his co-workers and his friend caught up with us at Fat Man’s Misery.

Dave put a video of some of the fun highlights of the hike on the net. People here at work keep teasing me about doing the dog paddle through the water. ~laughing~

Dave’s Pages and the Video
http://utah.com/travelheadlines/
http://www.redrockadventure.com/video/misery.html

Thanks Everyone! It was a great trip!

Bridge Mountain

Here are a couple of photos of the hike. The first is Bo Beck climbing the chimney and taking the rope up for those of us that are less skilled in climbing and the next is the brige itself. The mountain is often also called Crawford Mountain and the arch, Crawford Arch.

Wahweap Hoodoos

We went hunting for that elusive white hooodoo that is often used to promote the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument. We found it just six miles from the town of Big Water, Utah. The twelve mile round trip hike is an enjoyable one through a riverbed. However, the water is intermittent, so dont count on it year round.

Spring Hollow

Like Red Hollow, Spring Hollow is a hidden treasure, located on the east side of Zion National Park. This one is not a narrow slot, but it has its own beauty. When the water is running there is a wonderful waterfall at the end as well as a double fall up high that is seen during the hike.

Red Hollow

“This is the most incredible slot canyon I have ever seen. What a great, I mean really great, easy to access, unbelievably awesome slot canyon. I’m ready to get back in there. The water coming thru made it even more awesome than I can imagine. Gave it the feel of hiking Kolob Creek in Zion Park, without having to spend the entire day working at it.”
- Bo Beck

This is a great little slot adventure, that is idea when the water is running. Since the water is from snow melt early spring is the best time of year to go. If steeming your way through a narrow slot is fun, then this canyon will give it in spades with little effort to get to the canyon itself. There are no access issues which makes it all the better and there are no permits needed since this is outside of the parks.

http://www.zionnational-park.com/east-zion-red-hollow.htm

North Guardian Angel

This was a great climb. The weather was warm, but we were concerned there would be snow on the face of the entry. We hiked up to the North Guardian Angel and sure enough there was. We decided to go for it anyway and chose a route to the left of the usual crack. It was not bad at all, but we did have to still cross a couple of snow sections.

Bo Beck, my hiking partner led the way. He tied in and took the rope up the side of the mountain. I was terrified of him doing this but he said its a breeze. He took off up the side of the moutain (a fall here would be deadly) with his HUGE backpack on. I shook my head and decided that since he does teach climbing and he is a Zion search and rescue veteran I need to just trust he won’t get hurt. So I pulled out my camera and starting shooting. He threw the rope down and I climbed up, but he had the rope secured and I was totally safe. At the same time three other guys were climbing up the mountain side. I found this unusual that we had chose the same day to climb since when we got to the top and looked at the log it is obvious that few have ever climbed the North Guardian Angel. The peak is on some list hoewver as one of the top 100 peaks one needs to climb, so its getting more attention lately.

Bo had done the peak once before, almost one year ago. Our friend Ram had done it 13 times! I like a little more variety in life, but that is quite the accomplishment. We climbed the rest of the mountain in the same manner. We all got to the top and signed in on the book. (the book is modly and needs someone to bring up a new jar to put it in!)

On the way down we all went together. We had a hand line and climbed down to the ridge. The snow had melted quite a bit but we were stilll unable to go down the crack. The descent was actually easier than the ascent.

This was another great trip with my best friend Bo. I hope to do many more!

North Fork Taylor Creek

This was a nice hike but the highlight for us was spotting another arch. We seem to be into arches lately. This one is high on the cliff and can only be seen from certain angles. We were lucky to see it.  This hike is 7.5 miles (round trip) along an unmaintained route following the North Fork of Taylor Creek. The route begins at the Middle Fork of Taylor Creek Trail, which I had done before, but Bo had not. Take the middle fork to the first cabin and head to the left.

There is a fairly good path to take during the first section after the cabin, but then as it disappers just follow the stream bed to the end of the canyon.

Jug Handle Arch

This was an enjoyable day with my friends Dean Kurtz and Bo Beck. We met in Zion, 2 miles east of the little tunnel. After a quick map reading lesson by Bo we started up the hill. Bo was going to have me use the map to find the arch today, but he cannot resist leading, which I like it that way! We started up the hill towards the entrance to the Keyhole Slot Canyon. The path was well used to the top of the saddle. Its a fairly steep hike all the way to the arch, so dont go expecting a leiusrly walk. The entire hike was only 1.2 miles one way, but it took about 2 hours. We stopped and talked and took a lot of photos along the way however.

At the top of the mesa it’s a quick .2 miles over to the arch. The Jug Handle Arch is a propped arch, which hikers can actually walk right out on top of. Don’t make the mistake I did and climb down the side to get a better photo. A huge rock went down the side with the slightest touch of my foot. The whole mountain side is unstable with all the rain we have been having. I was lucky to have been holding onto a tree. My search and rescue friends were not thrilled when they heard the rock fall and saw where I had snuck off to. They made a hand chain and held onto me just incase the tree decided to give way as well.

We decided to go back a different way. We hiked down to the ridge and went to the western side of that, around the top, then to the eastern side of the ridge. There we found nice pot holes of water which were visible when standing on top of the arch. Bo jumped into the water for his usual cold water dip. Fairly odd considering he wants no part of cold water canyoneering. We all got a kick out of Bo and took a couple of photos before heading to see the arch. Its actually a better view from down below the arch, but standing on top is always nice.

In the morning we are headed out to Kolob Canyons. The weather is suppose to be 70 degrees. Spring is comming quickly.