Posts in Canyoneering
Freeze Fest XII: Trail Canyon
Freeze Fest XII: Trail Canyon

Sitting in the comfort of my Mount Carmel palace, it is easy to come up with a list of "canyons I want to do at FreezeFest". Unfortunately for me, there are people at the Fest who have read my list and gotten psyched to do canyons that involve snow, ice, swimming in icewater plus lots of climbing up and over and through. Trail was at the top of my list because I don't get to do it often, it being somewhat harder than most things in the area; an area I often visit with less-experienced canyoneers.  

Read More
Canyoneering, North Wash, Trip Report, Freeze FestTom JonesTrail Canyon, winter, winter canyoneering, Freeze Fest, freezefest
FreezeFest XII: Paradiso Canyon in the Dantes, Ticaboo Mesa Canyoneering
FreezeFest XII: Paradiso Canyon in the Dantes, Ticaboo Mesa Canyoneering

It is hard to get psyched for FreezeFest, living in a heated house with a plush, warm bed each night. But --- certain traditions MUST be followed, and FreezeFest is one of them. After a visit from the Ramoo for a snowy canyon in Zion, all that was left was to avoid packing

Read More
Anchors, Canyoneering, Ticaboo Mesa, Trip Report, Freeze Fest, WinterTom JonesFreeze Fest, paradiso, dantes, freezefest, ticaboo, ticaboo mesa
The Barracks Hike, Parunuweap Canyon, Zion National Park, UT
The Barracks Hike, Parunuweap Canyon, Zion National Park, UT

An excellent adventure.  A second Zion Narrows? Hardly. Three stars on a scale of 5 - four stars if there were no cows. But the continuity and scale of the narrows of The Barracks do not compete with the North Fork Narrows. Just doesn't.

Read More
Canyoneering, Ruins & Art, Tom's First Visit, Trip Report, ZionTom Jonespetroglyphs, rock canyon, zion, zion canyoneering, hikes, zion hikes, zion hiking, backpacking, backcountry, Alicia Scotter, parunaweap, slot canyon, barracks, the barracks, zion backcountry
Dead Eye Dick: Zion Backcountry, Canyoneering, and Wonderful Flute Rappels
Dead Eye Dick: Zion Backcountry, Canyoneering, and Wonderful Flute Rappels

My niece Rylin was in town. After a brief stint as a PT Intern in South Africa, and before heading to Portland to finish up her edumacation as a Physical Therapist, she scheduled a week in the Utah desert with her MAN (Eric), and a friend from Portland, now doing Residency in Grand Junction, Anne.

Read More
Canyoneering, Trip Report, ZionTom Jonesbackcountry, Deadeye Dick, zion, zion canyoneering, canyoneering, zion national park, the narrows, narrows, rappelling
(Non)-Rescue in Hogwarts Canyon, North Wash, UT
(Non)-Rescue in Hogwarts Canyon, North Wash, UT

"You Tom?" called out a voice.

"Who wants to know?"... I will spare you a fabricated conversation. The guy in the white SUV said, there's two guys stuck on a cliff down near Hog Springs, and he was driving up to Hanksville to get a SAR going. Hmmm, we said, we'll see what we can do in the meantime.

Read More
Canyoneering, North Wash, Trip Report, Zion Adventure CompanyTom JonesNorth Wash, Hogwarts, canyoneering, rescue, north wash canyoneering, hog springs
First Descent of Not So Hot with Echo Canyon in Zion National Park, UT
First Descent of Not So Hot with Echo Canyon in Zion National Park, UT

It WAS hot out, but a north-running canyon, early start and projected cloud cover combined to make this reasonable. THIS being exploring a branch of Echo Canyon that comes off Cable Mountain. The team for this adventure was Kody Prisbrey from St G, Jonathan Zambella from Springdale, Felicia Bicknell from Phoenix and me.

Read More
Canyoneering, Echo Canyon, Exploration, Trip Report, Zion, Tom Jones, Tom's First Visit, Jonathan ZambellaTom Joneszion, zion canyoneering, canyoneering, first descents canyoneering, first descent, canyoneering first descents, echo, echo canyon, middle echo canyon
Midget Rattler, Escalante Canyoneering
Midget Rattler, Escalante Canyoneering

Another Memorial Day Weekend, another visit to the Saddle in Boulder Utah for a social weekend. But, we were SUPPOSED to actually go out and do canyons too, AND get back in time for Pim’s hour, which might strike as early as 4 pm…

Read More
Anchors, Arch Rappel, Canyoneering, Capitol Reef, Exploration, Trip Report, Tom's First VisitTom JonesBurr Trail, escalante, Escalante canyoneering, canyoneering, canyons, canyon, capital reef, capital reef canyoneering
Jolley Gulch Canyon, Zion National Park: Not So Bad
Jolley Gulch Canyon, Zion National Park: Not So Bad

Worthy of faint praise. After a couple years of not quite getting around to the mighty Jolley Gulch, finally did the canyon today with Felicia and it was not nearly as nondescript as I expected.

We rallied at 9 am at the East Rim Trail parking lot, which was packed. Felicia immediately gained massive points by handing me a scone from Deep Creek Coffee Haus, we loaded up ropes and stuff and hiked up the trail. I suggested a shortcut which while definitely short required some 4th class climbing and probably only cost us 15 minutes, and soon-ish or maybe soon enough we were at the head of Jolley Gulch. 

Read More
Canyoneering, Tom's First Visit, Trip Report, ZionTom Jonescanyoneering, zion canyoneering, zion, zion national park, jolly gulch
Zion Summit Route and Backcountry Canyon: Lady Mountain and Jacob Canyon
Zion Summit Route and Backcountry Canyon: Lady Mountain and Jacob Canyon

Brian had done it. Kip had done it. Jonathan had done it. Ram had done it, but I hadn't done it. Looking forward to a second edition of the guidebook, I really ought to do it, even though they had made it sound not-so-appealing.

Read More
Canyoneering, Trip Report, Zion, Anchors, Tom Jones, Tom's First Visit, Zion Adventure CompanyTom JonesBailey Schofield, Jacob Canyon, jacob, zion, zion canyoneering, canyoneering, zion national park, zac, bailey
Big Canyon, Little Colorado, Grand Canyon Canyoneering
Big Canyon, Little Colorado, Grand Canyon Canyoneering

I hurt. For me, hurting and the Grand Canyon go together like ham and cheese. In this case I hurt in many places: bruised feet, stiff quads, funky shoulder, left ankle a bit odd, and the lower back - of course. Unfortunately, this was BEFORE we headed into the Big Ditch, having spent three days with the Unbreakable Ram and Jenny the previous week.

Read More
Canyoneering, Grand Canyon, Trip ReportTom Jonesbig canyon, little colorado, grand canyon, canyoneering in the grand canyon, Grand Canyon, grand canyon national park, Alicia Scotter
Winter Pine Creek Descent, Zion National Park
Winter Pine Creek Descent, Zion National Park

Finally, a storm brought moisture upon us, first time since New Years. Not the best timing, however, as Ram was just blowing into town.

Read More
Canyoneering, Jenny West, Pine Creek, Tom Jones, Trip Report, Winter, Zion, Steve RamrasTom JonesDeep Creek Coffeehouse, Jenny West, Steve Ramras, winter descent, winter in zion, pine creek, pine creek canyon, zion, zion canyoneering, canyoneering, winter, winter canyoneering, zion in winter
FreezeFest XI - The Black Hole for New Years!
FreezeFest XI - The Black Hole for New Years!

Freezefest is an annual gathering of hearty (ie, foolish) canyoneers for canyoneering at the turn of the year. Camping out in single-digit temperatures may not seem like it would be fun, but with proper preparation, plus lots of firewood, fine spirits and good friends, it works out to be one of the funnest events of the year.

Read More
Canyoneering, Freeze Fest, North Wash, Tom Jones, Trip ReportTom Jonesfreezefest, freeze fest, canyoneering, new years, Black Hole canyoneering, Black Hole of White Canyon, Black Hole