The Latest Rave is your resource for Utah Canyoneering know-how. From Utah canyon condition reports to narratives of mind-bending epics to wildflower sightings, you will find all the beta you need from Tom and his team on The Rave.
Ramoo was doing a prodigious (as usual) May trip, on which I was invited but, c'mon, this is my time to make hay, as in dough, so alas... But it was INSISTED I participate on one particular project, where certain chunks of metal were inserted in backcountry holes, rather unnecessarily, with our job to remove them and patch carefully with epoxy. Yes, dear friends, nothing like a little bolt removal to get ME motivated.
Read MoreI have some bruised ribs, so I am not up for much right now, but I could not resist getting out to my closest Zion trail to shoot some flowers. It rained last month, almost every day. Now we have had a week or two of hot weather, so the flowers are out something FANTASTIC! All shots here at near the East Entrance trailhead to the East Rim Trail… and actually within 100 yards of the parking lot. SO many blooms out. No mosquitoes. Hot hot hot though…
Read MoreNot the best conditions (excuse#1). A late start due to errands to run, etc. It was windy. There was not much light. But there were a fair number of flowers out, and Cassy Brown and I both got a few good shots, despite the excuses… uh, I mean, challenges!
Parking in Zions is tough at around 5 pm, on a Saturday, but we found at spot at Canyon Junction. Took a quick peek around there. Then Weeping Rock, in the shade, chilly. Then …
Read MoreWhat a difference 10 days make. Beautiful temperate weather here in Zion, and the flowers are out in the Main Zions Canyon. Not exactly a superbloom, but better than the last Flowerwalk for sure. Cassy Brown joined me and we followed the same route, more or less, as 10 days prior - hitting the Emerald Pools are first, then over to Weeping Rock to check on the hidden riparian area, and get some better shots with the better light of a bright spring day. By Emerald Pools, in addition to what was found last time...
Read MoreKind of a crazy spring, here in Zionland. First very warm. Then cooler and rainy, as in very rainy. Went down to the main canyon to see if anything was out in the lower elevations, taking the Kayenta trail to the Middle Emerald Pool, then near Weeping Rock went to one of my favorite riparian nooks. Not all that many things out, but many of the usual suspects were getting going. Also some species new to me, or at least that I had not carefully photographed previously...
Read MoreMemorial Day weekend. Zion is PACKED! I'm chillin, but decide to go for a flowerwalk. The wait at the East Entrance is 25 minutes... I wanted to do the main canyon to look for hanging garden flowers, but there was no parking to be found so I ran away to the KT Road, hoping to get some good cactus shots...
Read MoreTried to do Spry on Thursday, but rain intervened. Good thing it started raining at the top of the first rappel or this could be a very different story. (Most likely the canyon did not flash, just woulda been not so much fun in a steady light rain which we did not have sufficient clothes for)...
Read MoreSaw a bunch of good flowers at the Virgin Goosenecks on Friday, thought maybe I should do a flowerwalk in the Park, so I wandered down in the morning to walk the Pa'rus trail. I've seen some good blooms there in the past, but...
Read MoreOne of the many charms of Zion National Park is the wide range of ecosystems within its boundaries. Cliffs, canyons, rivers, alcoves, hanging gardens, upland mesas, dry ponderosa forests, etc.
Read MoreThe Subway seemed like a necessity, so I snuck away for a Tuesday descent. The weather had been hot, very hot, so we were a bit concerned about snowmelt overwhelming this small canyon
Read MoreI had been meaning to do a flowerwalk for a couple of weeks, and finally shook free for a day, so I headed up to Kolob Terrace. It has been quite dry the last couple months, and this is my first year studying the bloom after a dry winter.
Read MoreBrian Cabe and I ascended Hook Canyon to the Majestic/Cathedral pass and summit plateau in October 2000, and descended the canyon the next day. We found no evidence of descents in the upper canyon, but the final chimney section (below The Spearhead) was bolted for descent.
Read MoreMuch time was spent this summer, enjoying the wonderful texture of the inside of the short tunnel. But less time was spent enjoying the canyons of Zion, so with the season coming to a close, Evergreen Dean called suggesting, maybe, perhaps, an Imlay Canyon trip? This canyon, I am usually up for a visit…
Read MoreEvergreen Dean came out with a couple of friends to run a lap on Imlay. I thought a warmup day was in order to assess skills, spread the The Imperial Style of canyon ropework and teamwork
Read MoreReid says: Today I headed out with a couple of friends to explore a slot behind the Watchman, which may or may not have proven itself. They'd heard about it from another canyoneer and it sounded worth checking out.
Read MoreNext day, we were looking for something rather casual, so a quick lap through Cassidy Arch Canyon would fit the bill.
Read MoreI was up by Lava Point shooting flowers, a week or so ago, and measured the flow coming out of the dam as 12-14 cfs - which did not seem like very much - up there!
Read MoreFamous they are, these women from England, for being methodical, a polite way of saying "slow". This was their third year in Zion, at least for Sarah. Starting from a background of zero technical ropework, I think they do pretty well.
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