Spry Canyon with Visitors, Zion National Park, UT

I consider hosting capable foreigners as part of my duties as Emperor of Utah Canyoneering; thus each year I take the opportunity to show off some of our lovely Zion canyons to visitors from foreign lands.

Canyoneering, Spry Canyon, Tom Jones, Trip Report, ZionTom JonesMay 19, 2010spry canyon, zion, zion canyoneering, canyoneering, spry, zion national park

Lower Refrigerator Canyon, Zion National Park, UT

I've had my eye on the 'end of Refrigerator Canyon' thingee for a while. Even tried it once, but the rain gods had other plans that day.

Canyoneering, Exploration, Tom Jones, Tom's First Visit, Trip Report, ZionTom JonesMay 9, 2010Great White Throne, Jonathan Zambella, Refrigerator Canyon, Scott Williams, lower refrigertor, canyoneering, zion, zion national park, zion canyoneering

Pipe Spring Canyon, Zion National Park, UT

I’ve had Pipe Spring Canyon on my curiousity list for a while, having stopped by and poked into the bottom almost every time I hiked the MIA..

Canyoneering, Exploration, Tom Jones, Tom's First Visit, Trip Report, Zion, Zion Adventure CompanyTom JonesOctober 25, 2009Cory McKee, MIA Exit, MIA route, Pipe Springs Canyon, Rob Schwarzmann, zion, zion canyoneering, canyoneering

Heaps Canyon in the Fall, Zion National Park, UT

I've been revisiting the 'classics' of late, as I have neglected them in the last two years the way life has run, so when a strong canyoning guide from Italy was visiting in late October and Heaps Canyon was suggested, a cautious *yes* was offered up.

Canyoneering, Heaps Canyon, Tom Jones, Trip Report, ZionTom JonesOctober 20, 2009advanced canyon, Heaps Canyon Zion, heaps, heaps canyon, heaps canyon zion, canyoneering, zion, zion national park, zion canyoneering

Canyoneering Anchor and Rigging Techniques in Englestead Canyon, Zion National Park

Recently I have heard about people having trouble pulling their rappel on the first rap in Englestead Canyon. I found this curious, that this problem would suddenly arrive for several parties this summer. What gives???

Anchors, Canyoneering, Englestead Canyon, Tom Jones, ZionTom JonesSeptember 10, 2009anchor rigging, Canyon Anchors, anchors, anchor maintenance, canyoneering anchors, natural anchors, bolted anchors, zion, zion canyoneering, canyoneering, englestead, englestead canyon

Pine Creek Canyon and Wildflowers, Zion National Park, UT

Randi was in Zion with a couple of Californiac friends, and invited me for some fun. I had a class in Yankee Doodle on Saturday, but joined Randi, Kelley from San Fran, and Jay from Death Valley for quick visits to Keyhole Canyon and Pine Creek Canyon

Canyoneering, Pine Creek, Tom Jones, Trip Report, Wildflowers, ZionTom JonesMay 31, 2009Cathedral Rappel, Pine Creek Canyon, Randi Poer, zion, canyoneering, zion canyoneering, pine creek

Lower Echo Canyon, Zion National Park, UT

(Middle) Echo Canyon is famous for holding snow in the "spring", which in Zion, can mean until July 1st, or even later. We had heard few reports for how the snow was this year, so Dave Buckingham and I (after cancelling a trip to North Wash due to the heat) decided to check out Middle Echo…

Canyoneering, Exploration, Tom Jones, Trip Report, Zion, Zion Adventure CompanyTom JonesMay 15, 2009ascending ropes, jugging ropes, Lower Echo Canyon, Middle Echo Canyon, echo canyon, zion national park, zion, zion canyoneering, canyoneering, exploration, Zion

Historic Zion National Park Maps from 1929 and 1941

I recently picked up a couple of NPS brochures printed for the 1929 and 1941 seasons, respectively.

History, Tom Jones, ZionTom JonesNovember 30, 2008historic Zion maps, zion, zion national park, map, maps, history, historic

Observation Point Canyon, Zion National Park, UT

Dear Ramoo - Finally got to that project we had glanced at, so long ago. Observation Point Canyon - dropping from near O Point into the Weeping Rock Cirque.

Canyoneering, Exploration, Tom Jones, Tom's First Visit, Trip Report, Zion, Zion Adventure CompanyTom JonesNovember 24, 2008Observation Point Canyon, Sarah Stratton, observation point, zion, zion canyoneering, canyoneering

Telephone Canyon & Flowers - Zion National Park - May 2008

Ram in Zion? Mon Dieu! Well, we had a project to do, so Ram assembled a top team, we got up really early and... and... and... and the weather did not cooperate.

Canyoneering, Telephone Canyon, Tom Jones, Trip Report, Wildflowers, ZionTom JonesMay 21, 2008bolted anchors, canyoneering anchors, Matt Brecha, Nat Smale, Steve Ramras

Angels Landing in Winter, Zion National Park, UT

Brandt Hart from Bluff was visiting the Zion area, and looking to get out and enjoy the sunshine (what there was of it). We thought Angels Landing might be adventurous in a small way, suitable for a days outing…

Hiking, Tom Jones, Trip Report, ZionTom JonesFebruary 3, 2008Angels Landing, Angels Landing winter, Brandt Hart, snow on Angels Landing, winter Angels Landing

Right Fork and Stevenson Canyon, Zion National Park, UT

Chris Avery came by for his annual Zion trip, this time with son Tanner in tow. We rounded up Lin Alder of Springdale and two of his friends, Pearl and Blake. We set up a wonderful Right Fork trip, but some of us snuck away to do a Zion first descent - Stevenson Canyon, the canyon that comes in just upstream of the Stevenson Alcove (get it?) from the northwest. We hoped for something good… we got a long rappel to get in, then not much, so…

Spring in Zion: Pine Creek, Angels Landing, and The Subway

Greg Cornelius really wanted to do Pine Creek with flow, so after a little precip reported, he rounded up Jason Robertson and I for a Pine Creek. Uh, no flow, sorry Greg...

Lodge Canyon & Mountain of the Sun Summit, Zion National Park, UT

The season is over, right? Well, not for a few die-hards. Comes 'round the first weekend of December, and folks were jonesin' for a canyon fix.

Canyoneering, Spry Canyon, Tom Jones, Trip Report, ZionTom JonesDecember 2, 2006Bruce from Bryce, Denise Manweiler, Hank Moon, Malia, lodge canyon, lodge, mountain of the sun

Zion Historical Photographs

Historical Photographs - While working on my Zion canyoneering guidebook, I came across the National Park Service Archive of Historical Photos and the USGS Archive of Photographs. Here are some from Zion I found interesting.

History, Photography, ZionTom JonesNovember 1, 2006black and white photos of Zion, National Park Service Archive of Historical Photos, USGS Archive of Photographs, zion, zion canyoneering, canyoneering

Just Imlay and Heaps in A Day: The Zion National Park JIHAD

We had thought of it maybe two years ago. The ultimate enchainment: Zion's two heavy-hitters, Heaps Canyon and Imlay Canyon, in a day. If someone was going to do it, it should be us.