We'd heard rumors - a great canyon in the heart of Zion, big, bolt free, and unknown. Dead Englishman? How did it get that name? Where was it? Kip made a dash through it, and forwarded some beta. "It's good, very good." Sounded like a choice objective for Tuesday, so off we went.

An early morning start, for a change.

Found the canyon, traipsed down a pretty, open canyon through the woods, then WOW – it really gets at it, dropping about 600′ pretty fast.

First rappel is 300′ off a tree 40′ down on canyon left. Tom starts down a very long rappel.

Scott raps down second.

Looking up the fluted primary watercourse. Could probably rap this with a 100 meter rope in one shot, but it would require a 40′ rap off a cairn or something.

Rylin completes most of the 300′ rappel to the pothole/ledge, preceded by Tom, Dave, Brenda and Kellie. We actually rapped to the ledge below to complete the 300′ rappel. Building an anchor on this ledge would require a cairn or a bollard in the debris.

On the ledge – looks like water ahead – time to change to wetsuits.

Rylin goes first on the next rappel.

And down to another pothole ledge, and a nice choice of natural anchors. Hmmm, I thought that was water down there, turns out to be another big drop.

After a couple of short raps, another dramatic long rappel down beautifully fluted rock.

Looking up at the long, fluted rappel.

Takes us to the canyon floor, and a delightful, wooded canyon. Here Dave poses with the rim of the canyon, 600′ above, in the background.

Strolling downcanyon, we encounter some interesting narrows.

My delightful neice Rylin still having a good time at this point.

Then the canyon closes down to a very interesting and extended slot.

Dave Redding, my first climbing mentor.

Long narrows, with many log jams to rappel or climb over. But no water. Quite pretty and interesting, but it got a little tiring.

Rappelling a log jam using the infamous macrame knot. No slings left behind.

A bit of the local wildlife.

Beautiful, soaring sandstone walls get great color as the day wears on.

Lunchtime at the canyon intersection.

Rosie enjoying the narrows in the lower canyon. Even saw an owl!

Below one of the drops in the main canyon.

Much to our amusement, the Shuttle bus driver’s last name was Dead Englishman! Quite a coincidence, but the canyon was probably named after one of his relatives.
A long day in a stunning canyon – a good time had by all.