Icebox Canyon, North Pass variation
July 14, 15, 2001 - part 2

 

A very interesting canyon - steep but very climbable slickrock leading down toward the percipitous canyon below. Much different than the big wall raps in the canyon to the south.

Alicia enjoys the impressive slickrock view, and the relaxed nature of this particular descent.

We spent a little time adding a bolt to this single-bolt station, since it looked like we would launch into the abyss from here. (Instead, we rapped right to a sturdy pine, and from there into the abyss).

Rap Anchor: notice 1/4" rapid links on the bolt hangers to keep the slings from cutting. Two separate slings lead to a large rapid link.

Rappelling finally somewhat steeply. One rappel from a pine tree drops steeply to a pretty good ledge. Three bolts (including 2 Fixe bolts of dubious quality) allow a 150 foot rappel to the canyon floor. A 15 minute fern-wack down the canyon leads to the first decent water and a few possible camping spots. We arrived just at dark and set up camp.

The canyon is amazingly lush, reminding us of the Pacific Northwest or British Columbia. We set up camp among the ferns and cooked dinner. Around midnight, the skys opened and an enormous deluge crashed down around us. Somewhat by luck, our tent site was not under a waterfall, though the stream on the left side of the prototype tent ran about 6" deep.

 

Not many pictures through the canyon itself, as we were rather behind schedule. A couple rappels and a lot of boulder hopping lead down this fabulous canyon to the triple waterfall near Kolob Arch.

Here we are simul-climbing the waterfall...

 

Alicia still smiling. This is just before I let her know we have 7 miles of slogging to get back to the car.

 

 

We are extremely thankful that this weekend was not un-goshly hot as one would expect in Zion in July. Still, the trail out from Kolob Arch is hot and long. A quick swim at LaVerkin Falls preps us for the final two hour climb to Lee Pass, back to our car, just at dark.