Heaps Canyon Zion - A Pictorial Journey

Heaps is closed. Hopefully opening soon - I hear they are working on the Kayenta Trail. In the meantime, here is a pictorial for the Canyon, from pics over many trips and from several sources. Enjoy.

Sunrise on the West Rim Trail - a common sight when doing Heaps.

Top of the Phantom Valley approach ridge.

Charly Oliver on the first rap into Phantom Valley.

Bill Aho on the “Knife Edge Ridge”.

Descending slickrock towards the bottom of Phantom Valley and the start of the Phantom Valley Narrows.

Pothole section close to the suit-up spot, Phantom Valley.

Francoise and Gigi suiting up, French-style.

Luca Chiarabini on the first rappel in Heaps.

Candid shot of Bill Westerhoff starting the second rap in Heaps.

Bill Westerhoff going off the end of the Log Walk.

The first keeper pothole. This is often where you find out how the day is going to go. I remember Scott Holley turning to me at this point, on a trip in July, and saying “I guess I won’t be going to work tomorrow”.

Rachel Ross enjoying her some good ol’ pothole action.

“The Jump”

A swimming corridor with LIGHT in the middle of the Crossroads section.

Coming out of the narrows of the Crossroads section.

The Big Sandy Corridor

Big Sandy Corridor plus water = Big Quicksand Corridor

Entering the Terminal Narrows

A narrow section in the Terminal Narrows.

Abby Wines on one of many rappels in this section.

A pool, a climb out onto a log. Another pool. Louis and Everett.

Brian Olliver rapping into the Green Room.

Not all anchors in Heaps are “modern”.

The slide-down. Photo Dakota Belliston.

The bivy ledges near the end.

Rapping into the Bird Perch. Photo Cassy Brown.

The final rappel, from about 1/3 of the way down.

The final rappel from below.

Thanks to all those providing photos, and to all the wonderful partners over the years. So many fond memories…