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Foolin' Around
Foolin’ Around is the eastern of the three upper West Forks of Butler Canyon, in North Wash. It is a fun,
enjoyable canyon with just a hint of the “problems” found next door, in Shenanigans. A nice canyon in a wilderness setting, "FA" has a pleasant, casual rhythm to it, moving in and
out of interesting narrows and rappels, that makes it a good choice for a low-stress day.
The only water (usually) is in the last narrows, which also involves the highest, hardest climbing
problems. This section can be walked around (with a bit of scrambling to get back down) if the desire to
stay dry and warm is stronger than the desire to experience the best part of the canyon. Other sections in
the canyon include a bit of strenuous squeezing, but nothing too narrow.
Several exit choices are available. The easiest exit climbs slabs west at the top of the last rappel,
gains the ridge between Foolin’ and Shenanigans and returns to the car in perhaps an hour. Or, after
completing the last rap, hiking downcanyon leads to the “Kelsey Exit” (back up to the “Four-way junction”);
or follow the canyon all the way down to Three-Forks on Highway 95.
| Rating: | 3B III  |
| Season: | Spring, Fall or Winter* |
| Length: | 5-8 hours |
| Longest Rappel: | 100 feet (30 m) |
| Cold water protection: | Drybags for your gear. Wetsuits needed for the final section, in all but the hottest weather. |
| Equipment: | Helmets, Pads, Disposable Clothing, Gloves. |
| Skills Required: | Natural anchoring, downclimbing, squeezing. |
| Drinking Water: | None available, bring plenty |
| Anchors: | This is a natural-anchor area. Bring webbing and rapid links. |
| Kelsey Name (T2): | East Fork/West Butler |
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Approach - Driving - Logistics
Foolin’ Around is the eastern of the three west forks of the Butler Canyon complex. It is not named
on the USGS maps, but is the canyon running south-southwest from near point 5254T on the Stair
Canyon quadrangle. The canyon is east of point 5143T.
Spotting Cars: exit from Foolin’ Around can be made by: 1. avoiding the last rappel and climbing
to the ridge west of Foolin’, and hiking back to the starting point; 2. climbing out the "Kelsey Exit",
a steep, loose chimney with a few climbing moves (that pops out on the rim a half-mile from "The
Four-Way"); or 3. walking down Butler Canyon to Highway 95 at Three Forks. The walk out is 3.5
miles, pleasant but unspectacular. Three Forks is 4.9 miles down Highway 95 from the Bullfrog
Road. You may wish to spot a car there. Decide what options you wish to leave yourself, and spot
cars as appropriate.
Getting to the Top: from the intersection of the Bullfrog road (UT-276) with Highway 95 in North
Wash, drive north .6 miles on Hwy 95. Turn right (east) on a small dirt road, suitable for 2WD vehicles in dry conditions, and proceed 3.9 miles to an intersection and clump of trees, known as
"The Four-Way". Spot a car here if planning on the Kelsey exit. Continue 1.5 miles northeast on the
main road and park where a seismic survey road crosses the main road.
Approach - Hiking Across the Desert
Follow the seismic road east. If you ever wondered what the term “cowed up” meant, you can
discover it here. Cross the first drainage (Monkey Business) in about 10 minutes, and continue on
the road to the second drainage (about 20 minutes) with several sub-branches. Continue on the road
to the third drainage, about 30 minutes from the car. Follow the drainage south (right) to the first,
short drop. Follow the rim on the left (east) downcanyon 100 feet to a downclimbable slope that
leads down one level. Continue following the rim downcanyon to a twisting in the canyon floor that
allows easy descent to the drainage.
The Canyon - Part One
The canyon has short narrows sections interspersed with easy walking. About 20 minutes
in is the first serious obstacle, a 20’ rappel anchored off rocks in the
streambed, that some will choose to downclimb. Again, small slots and downclimbs, and a few
short, fun challenges intersperse with more open walking. About 40 minutes from the start, a cross-joint
allows easy escape to either side. About one hour into the canyon, a chockstone
creates a drop, and an extremely awkward 25 foot rappel into a narrow slot below.
The canyon continues with discontinuous narrows. Half an hour past the awkward chockstone rap,
the canyon opens wide with a sandy wash-bottom. A canyon comes in on the left – this is “Playin’
Around”, a short, fun downclimbing slot with a bit of high stemming and a bit of a tight squeeze to
it. (Follow slickrock up on the left side and work over into the canyon. The final narrow section is
really cool, but requires a bit of off-the-ground work and a bit of squeezing).
The Swirly and The Big Drop
Soon, a narrow slot develops in the canyon floor. While easily walked around, this slot is great fun
and very pretty - get down there and follow it! Which leads to the top of a big drop. (The slot is
easily exited here, either side). The drop has numerous small potholes, and looks like it might have
difficult pothole escapes, but the eye is deceived! This drop can be walked/downclimbed around on
the left, or can be rapped directly (65 feet); bouncing over MOST of the potholes with little
difficulty. You will most likely end up IN the pothole at the bottom. For an anchor, a deadman can
be constructed in the first pothole down, which has advantageous geometry. (A handline might be
necessary to get into this pothole – subsequent canyoneers can be assisted from below). A
sufficiently large and sturdy rock may need to be found and brought down to the pothole for the base
of the deadman anchor.
Canyon - Part Three
The short narrows / open walking theme resumes, but with each narrows getting a little more intense.
Twenty minutes past The Big Drop, a long, narrow section creates annoyance by leaning sharply to
one side. Survive this and a short open area appears on the left, before the narrow slot resumes.
Canyon – Part Four
The final section involves narrow stemming and a bit of swimming. The pool is not spring-fed, but
holds water exceptionally well – and a swim should be expected even in the driest of conditions.
Suit up and drybag gear at the open area after the slanted corridor. (Those wishing to avoid the
swim may climb up the slickrock to the east, then track the canyon southwest 1000 feet and find a
route down into the next larger open area. Getting down the last 20 feet to the canyon floor can be
challenging).
Re-enter the canyon. One hundred feet downcanyon, it narrows up and the floor drops out. Stay at
the same level and climb from chockstone to chockstone around a turn. Pick a place to worm down
to the canyon floor – but not too early, there are some tight spots down there! Best to send the
smallest person first. Follow the canyon as it progresses from being a little wet, to ankle deep, to
waist deep to a full swim! In dry conditions, the full swim will be just a few yards; in wet conditions
it can be as much as 100 feet. Run out of the slot and find a place in the sun to warm up!
Final Rappel – or Not!
The large open slickrock area is a great place to warm up, if the wind is not blowing. The 100 foot
final rappel is at the edge of the slickrock. A long sling around a large flake provides an anchor. For
those wishing to forego the final rap and return to the starting point, climb the steepish gully to the
right (LDC, northwest). A bit of slab climbing near the top is the hardest climbing on the exit.
Work your way up the domes and slabs and enjoy expansive views on your hike back to the start.
The Hike out, Part One
Rappel. Hike down the pretty, rugged canyon. The main West Fork comes in from the right a half
hour downstream, and the canyon becomes wider and more open. Another two-tenths downcanyon,
a pair of joint-canyons cross the canyon. The canyon/gully on the right (west) is the Kelsey Exit, and
is marked by looking unlikely in the lower section and impossible at the top.
The Hike out, Kelsey Exit
Hike up into the side canyon / slot and climb up it. Several spots will require careful climbing
through remarkably rotten rock. The middle section includes ascending up piles of loose boulders -
wearing helmets and managing the group well for this exit are good ideas. Two-thirds of the way up,
two exposed step-ups provide access to slabs and ledges leading right (north) to marvelous slickrock
bowls. Traverse the bowls and climb to the rim. Hike north-northwest to "The Four-Way".
Especially energetic people can hike west from the top of the Kelsey Exit, and drop down the East Fork of Leprechaun.
The Hike out, Down Butler
Interested in a nice hike to get out of there? This is my choice when it is dark, raining, or I just don't
feel like making the steep climb up to the rim. Continue downcanyon 3.5 miles to Three Forks,
where Butler and Stair canyons feed into North Wash.
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Tom's Experience
I've been down FA a couple of times, starting with October, 2004; then Dec 30, 2005; Dec 31, 2007; and Nov 1, 2008.
Trip Reports
Foolin' Around, Freeze Fest 6, December 31, 2007
Foolin' Around, Freeze Fest 4, December 2005
Foolin' Around, November 1, 2008
Foolin' Around, 2006 - TR from Scott Card.
Foolin' Around at Average Joe Road Trips by Ryan Cornia
Stories
Foolin' Around at Canyon Tales
Trip Notes
Nov 1, 2008 with Dave Buckingham, Deb Davis, Matt Brechja, Greg Cornelius, Carol Petrelli, Alicia Scotter.
Dry conditions.
9:30 am Leave Camp
9:50 Seismic Road, Park
10:00 Start hiking
10:26 leave Seismic road, follow wash
10:36 Edge of Canyon, gear up.
Walk around rim 100' on Left. Downclimb loose stuff, then upcanyon a bit and down very loose to canyon floor. Rock knocked off nearly knocks Alicia off. Bad. Better way can be found by going down one level, then continuing downcanyon 100' to EZ walk in.
11:00 On Canyon Floor. Small slots and dcs.
11:18 Rap 1: 20' off rock in streambed (or downclimb (easier than it looks)). Slots and dcs...
11:42 Cross Joint offers EZ exit either side. Slot in the canyon floor - TAKE IT!
11:51 Rap 2: 20' off rock in streambed. Very awkward on either side. Into slot area. (Lunch)
12:17 Rap 2 complete, continue through nice slot with a few dcs.
12:39 Big Open Area. Playin' Around comes in on the left - Dave and Deb ahead so no time to play.
Reach swirly slot in floor. Can walk around, but why? Follow swirly slot to big drop.
12:46 arrive Big Drop. Drop rock down in 1st PH for anchor. DC into first pothole (all dry). Build Deadman.
Note: dc into 1st PH is too big for free. Use meat, then spotting.
Rap 3: 65' past potholes into bottom pothole. PHs easily avoided except for the last. OR, trail on left to gulley, then down dirt and boulders (EZ)
1:30 continue downcanyon. Alternating small narrows and open areas.
1:58 strenuous, slanting corridor, long.
Open area on left for Lunch, suit up spot, walk around if needed.
Forward to narrow slot. Climb over... then elevator down in. Wading -> swimming.
2:30 arrive final rap.
3:15 un-suit, repack, ready rappel.
Rap 4: 100 feet from long sling around shallow flake.
3:35 rope packed. Begin hike out.
4:00 intersection with other forks of Butler West
4:08 Kelsey Exit on right.
6:30 Arrive at camp. Over Sandthrax ridge to camp. Lost 1/2 hour because I waited too long to climb to the towers. Went past, then cut back and through.
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