Big Rattlesnake Canyon and Fiddlesticking, Escalante Canyoneering

Victory in Midget Rattler the day before encouraged us. After the requisite post-party casual breakfast, a gang was rounded up to try the next one.

Anchors, Big rappel, Canyoneering, Capitol Reef, Exploration, Trip ReportTom JonesMay 26, 2013big rattlesnake, big rattlesnake canyon, burr trail, rattlesnake, rattlesnake bench, canyoneering, capital reef canyoneering, fiddlestick

Midget Rattler, Escalante Canyoneering

Another Memorial Day Weekend, another visit to the Saddle in Boulder Utah for a social weekend. But, we were SUPPOSED to actually go out and do canyons too, AND get back in time for Pim’s hour, which might strike as early as 4 pm…

Anchors, Arch Rappel, Canyoneering, Capitol Reef, Exploration, Trip Report, Tom's First VisitTom JonesMay 25, 2013Burr Trail, escalante, Escalante canyoneering, canyoneering, canyons, canyon, capital reef, capital reef canyoneering

Zion Summit Route and Backcountry Canyon: Lady Mountain and Jacob Canyon

Brian had done it. Kip had done it. Jonathan had done it. Ram had done it, but I hadn't done it. Looking forward to a second edition of the guidebook, I really ought to do it, even though they had made it sound not-so-appealing.

Canyoneering, Trip Report, Zion, Anchors, Tom Jones, Tom's First Visit, Zion Adventure CompanyTom JonesMay 1, 2013Bailey Schofield, Jacob Canyon, jacob, zion, zion canyoneering, canyoneering, zion national park, zac, bailey

The Stinger Canyon! Second Descent in the Heart of Zion National Park

Mike casually mentioned he had his eye on a certain canyon, a painfully obvious one, in the heart of Zion. "No way", I said. "I've been looking at that for 5 years!"

Anchors, Big rappel, Canyoneering, Exploration, Tom Jones, Trip Report, Zion, Tom's First VisitTom JonesNovember 4, 2012zion, canyoneering, zion canyoneering, the stinger, the stinger canyon, second descent, zion national park

Anchor Work in The Subway, Zion National Park

Zion's Subway is a wonderful, beautiful canyon, enjoyed by many people in several different ways. I made a run through on a recent weekend to re-locate the first anchor, bolted this spring but not in the best place (from my point of view).

Anchors, Canyoneering, The Subway, Tom Jones, Trip Report, ZionTom JonesSeptember 29, 2012Subway Canyon, subway, the subway, the subway zion

An Anchor Survey in The Squeeze Canyon, San Rafael Swell, Utah

The Squeeze is an excellent canyoneering adventure down in Utah's San Rafael Swell. I was down at Hidden Splendor for the SUWA Roundup. The frequent storms the last few weeks suggested the canyons on the south end of the Reef would be in Splasher mode

Anchors, Canyoneering, San Rafael Swell, Tom Jones, Trip ReportTom JonesSeptember 24, 2012anchors, the swell, san rafael swell, canyoneering, achors, the squeeze canyon, the squeeze

Tommy Takes a Tumble - Preface: the WaterTrap Anchor

The SandTrap was invented by Steve Woodford for Lake Powell canyons where sand is available but other anchor options are sparse. We had previously used stacked Pot Shots in these situations,

Anchors, Canyoneering, Gear, Lake Powell, Tom JonesTom JonesNovember 14, 2011Accident, failure, SandTrap, SAR, WaterTrap

Hogwarts Canyon, North Wash Canyoneering

North Wash is such a fine place to canyoneer in the fall. November 2011 was no exception; the canyon gods were kind to us, providing fine weather and fine friends.

Anchors, Canyoneering, North Wash, Tom Jones, Trip ReportTom JonesNovember 13, 2011Dave Pimental, Hogwarts, Mini-Slot, North Wash

THE Classic Zion Canyon, Pine Creek, June 2011

Chris Avery and son Tanner came up from Tucson for a casual canyoneering weekend in Zion. Why not do a classic! Zion's Pine Creek beckoned. Lin Alder, formerly of Springdale, joined us for a jaunt in the most classic of Zion canyons for a total photo op trip.

Anchors, Canyoneering, Tom Jones, Trip Report, ZionTom JonesJune 13, 2011Cathedral Rappel, Chris Avery, Lin Alder, Pine Creek, Tanner Avery

Marinus Arch Adventure, North Wash, March 2011

Scott Patterson discovered a large and frightening arch in Marinus canyon, scouting it in April 2010 and, due to lack of time and suitable companions, judiciously traversed downcanyon and rapped in lower down, leaving the difficulties of the arch itself to... us!

Anchors, Arch Rappel, Big rappel, Canyoneering, North Wash, Tom Jones, Trip ReportTom JonesMarch 12, 2011Arch rappel, Jenny West, Marinus Arch, Marinus Canyon, North Wash, Rick Fetters, Steve Ramras, Tom Wetherell

Canyoneering Anchor and Rigging Techniques in Englestead Canyon, Zion National Park

Recently I have heard about people having trouble pulling their rappel on the first rap in Englestead Canyon. I found this curious, that this problem would suddenly arrive for several parties this summer. What gives???

Anchors, Canyoneering, Englestead Canyon, Tom Jones, ZionTom JonesSeptember 10, 2009anchor rigging, Canyon Anchors, anchors, anchor maintenance, canyoneering anchors, natural anchors, bolted anchors, zion, zion canyoneering, canyoneering, englestead, englestead canyon

Morocco Canyon, North Wash, UT

Looking through Wyoming Dave's recent finds, we chose Morocco as the best venture. A quick trip to Hog Springs (for the usual) and we parked at the 'trench' of Casablanca Canyon and followed Dave's directions up the cliff - and around to the head of the canyon.

Anchors, Canyoneering, North Wash, Tom Jones, Tom's First Visit, Trip ReportTom JonesNovember 17, 2008Dave Buckingham, Morocco Canyon, canyoneering, north wash, north wash canyoneering, anchors, anchor rigging, anchor maintenance, natural anchors

Mind Bender Canyon, Anchor Maintenance, Robbers Roost, UT

My first visit to Mind Bender, in March 2004, was rather disappointing. A nice social canyon, but it really had none of the meat SA described - kinda a dud, actually.

Anchors, Canyoneering, Robbers Roost, Tom Jones, Trip ReportTom JonesNovember 17, 2008bolt removal, Dave Buckingham, Mind Bender Canyon, north wash, canyoneering, bolts, bolting, bolted anchors, ghosting, deadman anchors, robbers roost, Mindbender Fork

Constrychnine & Slideanide Canyons, North Wash, UT

Sunshine, canyons, fun people. Jane, Roger and Deb were down for a weekend of slot-thrashing, and had invited their friends Jane and Steve for their first Sandthrax weekend.

Anchors, Canyoneering, North Wash, Tom Jones, Trip ReportTom JonesNovember 15, 2008Constrychnine Canyon, Dave Buckingham, Jane Arhart, Roger Arhart, rope grooves, Slideanide Canyon, North wash, north wash canyoneering, north wash

Clear Creek Canyon, Glen Canyon

Found ourselves out in Glen Canyon, doing a couple slots just for fun. Last day, we decided to do Clear Creek into the Cathedral in the Desert. Access is provided by landing at and climbing up the Hole In The Rock, then following the road, then cross country to Clear Creek.

Anchors, Canyoneering, Glen Canyon, Tom Jones, Trip ReportTom JonesSeptember 20, 2008Butch Lodder, Clear Creek, David Lewis, Hole in the Rock Road, pothole escape, potholes, Star Dryvin, Steve Ramras

Styx Canyon, Death Valley National Park

Styx Canyon is yet another BIG Death Valley Classic... does it ever end? I sure hope not. Ram's Death Valley Diary of the day available HERE (on the Canyons Group).

Anchors, Canyoneering, Death Valley, Tom Jones, Tom's First Visit, Trip ReportTom JonesFebruary 22, 2008Ryan Hull, Steve Ramras, Styx Canyon, styx, canyoneering, ram

Englestead Canyon and Natural Anchors, Zion National Park, UT

On this occasion, we were descending Englestead with several southern Utah locals. Mark "Little Bear" Mallory had invited us down since he had a rope fixed for the first drop.