Once a year, it is good to get out with the Bushwhacker, among the few individuals who has done more cayons in the Zion area than I have. These days tend to be EPIC, or, more exactly, Kipic! Several of my longest days out have been with Kip in the Zion backcountry. He enjoys canyons FAR off the beaten track, and as such, I am sworn to keep their location to myself. This year's canyon was 'light', and would only test us for 12 hours. Good thing, given the (not too durable) shape I am in. So we drove, hiked for hours on dirt roads, and, de-rigeur, did some gnarly bushwhackery to get to the first drop. Our other companion and young buck for the day was Clint from Hurricane.

And just so you know, because we were outside Zion National Park - no flower pictures!

Clint and Kip at the first drop.

Da goofy grin of the Whacker of Bushes.

Clint enjoying the first rappel, kinda a nuisance rap. Spidey woulda just downclimbed.

Kip on the second rappel, a nice sixty footer.

And suddenly, the BIG Event. A rap in the slot that snaked down and out of sight. One hundred seventy five feet.

Kip rapping, lower down.

A couple more nuisance rappels, and…

… unfortunately, the end of the canyon. Now all we had to do was get out of there

There were a few obstacles to getting out… a bit of a walk, a few snakes…

Who were in a surprisingly placid mood. Three of them.