So Much Snow! (Feb 2008)

Some crazy snowstorms--two of them a week apart--came through and dumped a lot of snow, even down low here in the valley. We were gone to Cancun during the first one. Kim's parents were helping to watch the kids, and they told us how intense the storm was. After we got back, the second storm dumped so much to make our world look like this:




Patterns form with snow covering parts of the slickrock in Snow Canyon.













Pools and ponds forming.













White on red and white, looking up canyon.













Looking down canyon.













Kim's dad with me on a hike in Kayenta to the waterfalls in 'Hellhole'.














Only 1000' straight down--for the water that is.












Video of the Hellhole waterfalls.

Cancun Mexico (Jan 2008)

Our good friends, the Perry's, were so kind to invite us to go with them to stay in a two bedroom villa on the beach of Cancun for a week. The villas were a part of a resort that had two restaurants and a big outdoor pool. Our balcony was 30 feet above the beach and looked over the ocean. We had a great time doing great things, eating great food with great friends.


This was the sunrise we saw each morning from our balcony.





















A scene of the Mexican revolution in a fun restaurant called Perico's in the old part of Cancun.










Kelly and Brandy















Kim wading out in the coast off of Isle de Mujeres, where we rented golf carts to tour the island.










Kim and I above the beach next to the neat pyramid ruins of Tulum.

Winter Fun via Winter Quarters (Jan 2008)

Winter Quarters is an area north of Snow Canyon where maybe some pioneers or cowboys wintered. Rumor has it that Kit Carson carved his name in a rock, but I haven't been able to find it (yet). There are lots of pine trees and small canyons and washes. If you loop around to the south you can get views down West Canyon overlooking the upper ends of Snow Canyon, such as this one below.















When you turn around and walk across the slickrock after recent rains and ice cold temps, you can find neat ponds to ice skate on!











"Bell Arch" is what I call this shot. The arch is about 5 feet tall and goes straight through the white sandstone.

Spa Guides Tuacahn Split Hike (Jan 2008)

About a dozen of us spa guides went on one of our favorite hikes up above Tuacahn to a maze of slickrock ramps, slots, hoodoos, gullies, and cliffs. It was fun to see everybody relaxed, without the pressure of taking care of guests!



Kim posing on a very steep slickrock ramp as the others scramble up. Tuacahn parking lot straight below.




















Joseph doing an excellent job stemming straight up a 12 foot deep slot.















The group milling around the summit above the maze.

Top o' The Red Mountain (Dec 2007)

The following photos were taken during the last week from two separate hikes up to the top of the Red Mountain. The first hike took place with Mike in between some big rain storms from Mike's house on the Kayenta side near "Hellhole," up the "Notch". Once on top we traversed over slickrock to the area up above Hellhole that feeds all the beautiful waterfalls. The clouds were threatening snow, but for moments in between there was no wind and patches of sun. I decided to take a December dunk, and briefly submerge myself in one of these pools.

The second hike was two days later with Kim from our side of the mountain (Padre Canyon) up what I call "AC/DC"--a super steep, zigzagging, puzzling, traversing slickrock ledge & ramp system all the way to the top. We traversed across and Red Mountain, and came down the Gunsight, safely back home.




Looking down the Notch at Kayenta. Mike's house is out there somewhere.

















The Shangri-La waters on top made swimming here inviting and beautiful, but the 45 degree air and water temps made it unbearable!













Me on top. This photo does zero justice with the true depth and perception. The 'puddles' you see behind me are big pools and ponds.









Sheer walls, cracks, ledges, chimneys, and zigzagging slickrock ramps make up the AC/DC climb of 1500' above the floor of Snow Canyon. And the views of Kim and beyond are out of this world!

West Rim of Snow (Dec 2007)

Zion's West Rim trail is one of my favorites, especially when there is fresh snow up high! This 12 mile round-trip hike climbs from the floor of the canyon 3,000' up to the rim. This hike is hard enough without having to posthole through a foot of snow along semi-narrow ledges...in shorts no less!




On the way up and down, you pass by Angel's Landing.














These steep 'ledges' really aren't that narrow, but if the trail were a sheet of ice, it would be treacherous!










View south from the West Rim. The East Temple in the distance.

Island In The Sky (Nov 2007)

In Snow Canyon State Park, there is a secret pictograph panel that guards the Island-In-The Sky, which is a massive 600 foot tall sky island made of red slickrock. This is a tough hike/scramble in order to negotiate the summit, as well as traversing across the maze of stone, but it has its rewards. Sasha really enjoyed this hike.





The Shaman Wizard with his magic powers--he protects the park.



















View of Snow Canyon to the north...from the summit of the sky island.








Near the summit is a deep chasm. Once you descend a dangerously steep, winding, redrock staircase, you find the chamber leading to the sky island's red heart!

South Guardian Angel (Nov 2007)

Zion's South Guardian Angel (SGA) sitting at 7140' is one of the most difficult peaks to access anywhere. It sits like a castle, surrounded by massive sheer walls on all sides, and it has a mote made of creeks! It sees practically no visitors nor hikers each year. My goal was to just see how far Mike and I could get. We started on the Northgate Peak trail pretty late--11:30AM . We had to hike a couple of miles past the North Guardian Angel peak before having to descend an extremely steep, dangerous, loose chute which gave us access to the middle of the Subway hike. From there we had climb up and out the other side to gain access to a ridge, then another wash, bushwhacking, and cross-country climbing to some more slickrock ramps, and then finally the site of the white ramp leading up to the SGA! All this in 3 hours--now it's time to turn around and beat the sun back to the car. There were some tricky 4th class moves, but it goes fairly straight-forward--just very long and difficult. We'll try it again next year.



There's the summit so far away, with the Subway still below. I made it to the bottom of the white ramp (just left of summit) before running out of sunlight.












From SGA, looking cross canyon to the NGA.












Near where I stopped. If only I had another 30 minutes to scramble up the remaining 600'--oh well--something to look forward to next year!

Gooseberry Mesa Mountain Biking (Nov 2007)

You can't ask for a more perfect November day--with no wind, and temps in the 70s. Dave Toth and I rode the infamous Gooseberry Mesa trail. It's amazing that the mesa sits about 2,000' above the surrounding valleys. The single-track ride sits on a white rolling slickrock set amidst pinions and junipers. Numerous times the trail veers out to the sheer edge of the cliff, allowing you 360 degree panoramas--looking at the cities, mountains or Zion, as can be seen in the following two pictures:




Notice the cliff edge!














There are numerous short (but steep!) sections of up and downhill, where Dave Toth (pictured) and I walked our bikes.

Toroweap to Lava Falls Rapid (Oct 2007)

Two nights at Toroweap Campground on the edge of the Grand Canyon was beautiful. Mike and I hiked from the campground around the cinder cone and down 2500' on the Lava Falls trail 1.5 miles to the river where we hung out for several hours by Lava Falls Rapids--the biggest rapids in North America. We watched two different groups come through--scouting first, then going through one boat at a time. The first group was all women. They had a paddle boat that was hit by a lateral wave and knocked every one of them out of the boat without flipping the boat! One lady was slammed into the cheese grater rock and took nearly 20 seconds to surface farther down river. The second group made it through without any mishaps. We made it to the river in 1:25, and back up in 1:50. The next day we hiked down the Tuckup Trail 4 miles and hung out above Cove Canyon, while we watched little dots of rafters float by 3000' below us.





Sunrise over the campground, where I slept in the back of the truck. Temps were pleasant.











Canyon X women paddlers one second before getting slammed.











The guide was the only one who immediately was able to climb back in.
















Sunset from Toroweap! Lava Falls Rapid looks puny from here.

















Click on the photo to see me on the ledge above the river!

Water Canyon Top--Mini Wave (Oct 2007)

I spent most of a day hiking up Water Canyon with Mike. This is a place that really needs to be annexed into Zion National Park. I have some other photos below of the water section from Dec 2005. It really is beautiful. After we topped out on top of the plateau, we hiked about a mile across sand, washes, and slickrock to an area that resembles the Wave. Mike let me borrow his camera to snap some of these unique photos:





Lone pinion pine growing out of the rock.











More wave action, with the top of the plateau in the distance.

Deer Creek / Tapeats Creek / Thunder River Loop (Oct 2007)

This is a repeat of one of my all time favorite hikes and places, however, I decided to do it in reverse--counter-clockwise--going to Deer Creek first, then Tapeats Creek, and Thunder River. Mike Burkley and I left at 4AM in order to get an early start down through the Esplanade and Surprise Valley, finally reaching (unfiltered) Deer Spring, Deer Creek, the patio, narrows, and finally the falls. We had to hike back up through the narrows in order to grab our packs and hike several more miles to our first night camp spot and 135 Mile Rapids, where we enjoyed roaring rapids and sandy beaches all to ourselves. The next day we had to move camp less than 2 miles over to lower Tapeats Creek, where we enjoyed lounging around and watching river runners go through the rapids. We had another nice night next to roaring rapids. The next day we hiked up Tapeats Creek, dayhiked up through its narrows before turning upward along Thunder River. We ate dinner there and rehydrated (unfiltered again) before heading up through Surprise Valley and the redwall ascent to the Esplanade for our third and final camp night. It was very serene, chilly, and beautiful that starless night. Our approximate hiking distances (including side hikes) each of the four days: 12, 4, 8, and 6; total vertical was 5200' from rim to river. The last morning we hiked back to the truck and said goodbye to the canyon, but we will definitely be back!

The Western Grand Canyon morning sunlight filters down over distant buttes. The hike down was cloudy and cool as we crossed the Esplanade.













I can't resist another photo of 100 foot tall Deer Creek Falls.



















Mike is relieved to be through the Deer Creek Narrows and close to the Colorado River--his first time to touch the river in the Grand Canyon.












Several plunge pools in the middle of Deer Creek Narrows.


















Our first camp at 135 Mile Rapids is on a nice sandy beach. The sun is setting on Powell Plateau after a long day of hiking.









Me at the confluence of Tapeats Creek and the Colorado, just above our second camp site.














Day hiking up Tapeats Creek Narrows was new and exciting, with neat falls and geology.















Thunder River falls--up close and personal--a new favorite photo of mine!













A side view of Thunder River where it comes out of the cliff.








Deer Creek Falls Video
Tapeats Rapids Video

Moab Mountain Biking with Dave Toth (Sep 2007)

My neighbor, Dave Toth, offered to fly me to Moab (only 90 minutes away!) so that we could mountain bike the Porcupine Rim. When we got there, the shuttle driver strongly urged us to try the higher Hazard County trail that eventually connects down to upper Porcupine Rim. We biked continuously for over four hours, starting over 9,000' and dropping a vertical mile in 28 miles. It was grueling and rewarding. The views were outstanding!

Dave Toth and his awesome Cirrus plane. It has autopilot, a parachute for the whole plane, and cruises over 200 mph while getting the same gas mileage as my truck!












The Porcupine Rim (left) extends from the high country down to the Colorado River.















Our starting point--Warner Lake area aspens were peaking, and snow glazed the La Sals above the 10,000' level.













Me taking a break.







Video of Dave Toth landing us back home at dusk without a glitch!