Imlay Canyon (Left Sneak Route), Zion National Park, UT

Much time was spent this summer, enjoying the wonderful texture of the inside of the short tunnel. But less time was spent enjoying the canyons of Zion, so with the season coming to a close, Evergreen Dean called suggesting, maybe, perhaps, an Imlay Canyon trip? This canyon, I am usually up for a visit…

Our team for the day: Frank Phillips, Dean Brooks, Chris Landers, Elisa Hitt, Tim Mahoney. 5:45 am, The Grotto.

Great White Throne by moonlight.

Canyon Team, or Rock Band? Scout Lookout.

A few flowers out… but of course. Rock Spirea.

A red Penstemmon… oops, looks like 4 petals and 8 red stamens… how about
Hummingbird Trumpet or Firechalice – Zauschneria garrettii or maybe Zauschneria californica – Evening Primrose Family – Onagraceae

Moonset over the West Rim.

Flowers in prominence: Broom Senecio aka Broom Groundsel – Senecio spartioides – Aster Family – Asteraceae and a couple kinds of yellow aster things.

For this trip, I chose to take us up the Left Sneak Route to Imlay Canyon, because I had not been that way in many years. I was delighted to find the valley up to the pass cleared by the last couple of year's fires, making passage up to the pass, except for the final 400 feet very reasonable.

Here we can see two different species of yellow aster things.

The final bit to the pass was a bit more of a grunt. Here’s Frank scrambling up to the pass.

Down the other side of the pass was perhaps even more of a PITA than I remembered. Northfacing, it was lush with vegetation, including this plant I have yet to identify (“Imlay white bells”).

Scrambling down the lush valley, approaching the cliffband of horror.

Some kind of interesting compound flower. (“Imlay white compound”)

We finally arrive at the floor of Imlay Canyon, and suit up for the water ahead. Blue Team vs. Red Team vs. Green Team??
Red Team seems to be winning!

Water… and thick gooey mud, of course.

In the corridors section, a brief break shows leaves changing to their fall colors.

Looking up!

Evergreen Dean Brooks, in the depths of Imlay Canyon.

Chris Landers, in Imlay.

Frank guide-rapping over to the stump.

The canyon was full of water, and also full of sand, so relatively easy. We had one short section of wonderful light, but the late-September timeframe tends to be a bit gloomy. Tim did a fine job of log-climbing out of the final pothole problem, and set up a guided rappel for the rest of us.

And so on, to the final rappel.
Elisa all smiles, rappin’ into The Narrows.

The Dean-ster, headed downward.

Chris on Rappel

Frank into The Narrows…

…and finally Tim. Hail hail the gang’s all here. We walked out, then there might of been some beer and food involved.
Thanks Dean, for getting me out of my man-cave, and all involved for go – Go – GOING all day long.

Postscript: Dean left me with a little research to do, suggesting that while the 1554 is a fine brew, there might be other contenders for “Tom’s favorite Malt Beverage.” Investigation is on-going…