I've been revisiting the 'classics' of late, as I have neglected them in the last two years the way life has run, so when a strong canyoning guide from Italy was visiting in late October and Heaps was suggested, a cautious *yes* was offered up. Would I be fit enough? Warm enough? Would it be fun? For this event, I rounded up the few, the strong, the gullible! (L to R) Bill Westerhoff (the Desert Nomad) from Mt Carmel/Ponderosa; Bill Aho from Salt Lake City; and Nick Wilkes from Springdale, head of guiding at Zion Adventure Company so in a way my boss at ZAC. Pascal from Italy did not make it (family support required back home) so it was wee 4 vs. the mighty Heaps. Would it be full and easy? Or empty and difficult? Nick's wife Maya ferried us up to Lava Point (aka The West Rim Trailhead) for a 5:15 am start. Thank's Maya! Then we hiked quickly in the chill of the early morning. While the hike from the West Rim Trailhead and from the Grotto take about the same amount of time, the hike from *Lava* is mostly flat and thus uses up a lot less energy. I brought the big digital SLR to take pictures in the low light, so many more pictures than a usual for a Heaps descent.

Pretty good time, at least to Potato Hollow. Next: climb steeply 500 feet.

Heading down the ridge from the West Rim, out, then down into Phantom Valley.

Nick on the first rap down the ridge.

Bill Aho on the (dull) knife edge section of the ridge.

The rarely seen Tom and Bill A, with the approach ridge in the background. An absolutely beautiful fall day.

Following the slickrock ridge down into the canyon bottom.

Following the slickrock ridge down into the canyon bottom (2).

Nick, Bill and Bill, tearing it up!

After a quick changeout into the dry suits and bagging up, in the last sunny spot, we soon reached water, a little downclimb into a pool, then the first rappel and potential pothole exit problem. Water levels seem high - first exit no problemo...