Birch Hollow, Mystery, Right Fork, and Pine Creek, Zion National Park, UT

Did a few things before blowing the knee: Took a bunch of kids down Birch Hollow, as a start...

Here's a little rappel for a cute kid... (Zion)

Now, onto the soapbox. A bit early, but I'll try to dispense with it quickly. Birch was first descended (at least for our little group) by Kip and Brandon, and they did an outstanding job of building natural anchors and not needing bolts. Recently, it has been all bolted up. Gotta admit, whoever did it at least did a good job, but... Here's the first bolt anchor, a full 10 feet away from a perfectly good pinch. (I added a sling to the pinch to make it more obvious).

New bolts and pinch.

Extremely difficult to locate and use pinch anchor in Birch – NOT! This is about as obvious, easy to use and bomber as they get.

Here’s our crew.

Ms. Erica Stone en Rappel, looking just a bit nervous. (Zion)

Randi brought her delightful progeny along. Mom and daughter simul-rappel. (Zion)

Next day, did Keyhole with Ken and his kids. Then did Pine Creek with Randi, her kids, and Paul and Steve.

In the bowels of Pine Creek. Photo: Paul Neiman. (Zion)

The Grand Cathedral Rappel in Pine Creek. Photo: Paul Neiman. (Zion)

Then it was off to the Right Fork for a couple of days. After anxiously waiting for a permit (for this extremely crowded canyon), we drove up to Lava and hit the West Rim Trail a bit later than desirable.

Left Fork from the West Rim. Photo: Paul Neiman. (Zion)

Brushwhacking along the West Rim. Photo: Paul Neiman. (Zion)

First Rap. Photo: Paul Neiman. (Zion)

THE PLAN: Get an early start in the Right Fork. The "A Team" (Rick Thompson and Stephanie and Todd Martin) and the "B Team" (Tom and the two green-beans from Colorado, Paul and Steve) would drop off the West Rim and do the Right Fork. I would take the B Team over the regular route, while the A Team would go through the infamous pothole section. We would meet up at the Alcove to bivy.

An easy walk, then a tough bushwhack put us at the head of the canyon, standing around in the full sun. This is the emperor looking hot and bothered. (Zion)

Down the canyon. Photo: Todd Martin (Zion)

Down the canyon walks Steph. Photo: TM (Zion)

Down the canyon walks Tom. Photo: TM (Zion)

So we do the raps, and the day bleeds away. We do a little leap-frogging, but it does not help much. The group is too big, and the green-beans with big packs try hard, but are slow. Eventually, we get to the Right Fork itself and head downcanyon. Soon we are at the split, where the Normal Route splits off and climbs the hill to avoid the potholes.

It is 4 pm, kinda late. I tell the A Team - hey, no problem, 3 hours, 4 tops. They buy it. The Lads from Colorado and I charge up the hillside, then follow the ridge and drop into the lovely little slickrock valley. We make pretty good time, and inch our way down the Golden Staircase and back into the Right Fork. Are they ahead or behind?

We see signs of recent passage as we start down the Right. A pool shows up, and we don our wetsuits. Through some pools, and over some rocks. We work our way downcanyon. The famous Black Pool is low on water, and the swim is short. The slot rappel to floating disconnect is a little muddy on the bottom. Water levels are surprisingly low, considering how hard Zion got slammed last week. I think of the potholes - could be hard if the water is low - but the A Team is ahead of us, right?

The day, now evening, wears on. I'm tired and want to get to camp, but I had forgotten how greuling the Right Fork is. We work over boulders and around pools as the light fades. The boys from CO are strong, but it has been a long day. At a short rappel, I snap, then catch myself. OK, slow down. More important to get there in one piece.

The light fades more as we get to a short dryfall. We dash up around the side - hmmm, no obvious anchor. I climb down and across a dicey traverse - too hard. Paul and Steve have the rope, and set a rappel off a tree as the last light fades. Switch to headlamps.

The going was slow in the light, it gets slower in the dark. My poor memory helps a little bit. We plod on. The Alcove must be right around the corner... But its not. We discuss bivying, but the potholes look too scuzzy to pump. Finally, I hear water flowing. I look forward to the warm glow of the stove going, our friends cooking dinner, friendly conversation. We turn the corner and there's the alcove - empty.

I'm spooked. Why aren't they here? Didn't I see signs of them? Are they OK?

We're tired. We pump some water, cook dinner and set up for the night. We discuss options. Am I worried? Nah - they'll be OK, they're the A Team.

We turn out the lights and snuggle down for the night. It's bad. The potholes were full last time, and it was easy. What did they find in there? I had really played down the difficulties - what did they find? Not much I can do for rescue, being with a bum knee and 3 rappels between me and them. If they die, I have to give up canyoneering forever. What if one of them dies?

Fifteen minutes later, Paul says he hears voices. Of course, with the trickling water, we all hear voices, but he says this time for real. A headlamp. Two headlamps, then they're here! No one is as relieved as I. We pump water and fire up the stove, get some hot food into them.

The potholes were a bit more difficult, and took quite a bit of time. They reached the turn where we came in just as it got dark. That section is really, really slow in the dark. But everyone was OK, guess I'll canyoneer another day.

Alcove camp, in the morning.

Rick Thompson looking pretty good in the morning.

TarpTent in the Alcove. Photo: Todd Martin

Tom rapping out of the Alcove. Photo: T Martin

Steph rapping out of the Alcove. Photo: T Martin

Stephanie in the lower part of the Stevenson Alcove.

Rapping down Barrier Falls. A few extra slings on this one, consisting of one good bolt, and two old strap-type bolts.

We sleep in and get a late start for the slog out. The kids from Colorado head out early and dash for the road, driving back that evening.

Here we are at Barrier Falls. Some interesting bolt history here: one good, modern bolt, two strap types. Nearby is a Star Dryvin with an old SMC hanger, and a bolt with a modified-pin hanger. Are these protected by the Antiquities Act?

One new, two classic strap hanger bolts.

Antiques!

Rapping Barrier Falls. Photo: TM

A waterfall in the morning. No takers for diving through it.
Photo: Todd Martin

Very red flower. Photo: T Martin

Double Falls, no model.

Double Falls, Todd Martin as model.
Photo: SYM

Double Falls, Stephanie YM in victory pose…

Kiss it, its a frog…

Double Falls – never too many pics of that…

Then other people went off and did things, while I rested in camp. Worked on my tan. Etc. Here's a Mystery trip I did not go on, all pics Todd and Stephanie Martin.

Mystery Canyon – the start…

The first rap in Mystery

Another rap in Mystery

Is that Ian from Reno, rapping in Mystery?

Big rap into Mystery Spring

The jumping pool. Wait, are they sneaking around the side? Bad, bad, bad.

Swim Steph, swim…

Rap Steph, rap!

And a few leftovers. Saturday, sent the kids off to Imlay. They made such good time, that when I rode the bus up to the Temple, there they were, in the middle of the afternoon. How novel is that!