Easter Sunday 2007. Bo Beck invited me to go up to the West Temple. We start in a neighborhood of Springdale (elev 4000') before sunrise with headlamps, and climb up the route to Kinesava, then veer north up and up and up towards the highest peak in the main canyon part of Zion National Park. The West Temple is protected by sheer sandstone cliffs and ridgelines. The crux is a 5.7 climb 40' up to the shoulder's top. From there we hike across the flat shoulder and up a gully through Carmel capstone gully to where the radio towers are at the summit of 7800', for a total elevation gain of 4000' vertical. We almost stepped on a large rattlesnake at the V Notch. Even though the hike is only 8 miles roundtrip, it feels almost like I did a R2R in the Grand Canyon. It took 4:40 to get up and 3:20 to get down for 8.5 hours round-trip with a half hour break. This is a steep, very exposed, mentally exhausting, but extremely rewarding and spectacular hike/climb / adventure. The views on top are in all directions for many many miles. This is definitely one of the most challenging dayhikes I have ever done. Thank you Bo, for the great idea and opportunity!
A view from the top of the shoulder south, looking at Kinesava's summit.
A view from the radio towers northeast towards the main canyon.
Bo at the bottom after the hike. We are both happy to have completed it. We hiked up the very highest peak in the right hand side of the photo.
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