Posts in Zion
Keyhole Canyon in Winter, Zion National Park, UT
Keyhole Canyon in Winter, Zion National Park, UT

Mr. Deanpaul Russell aka Deeps came down to enjoy our incredible non-winter weather in Zion...  except, the day before and the night he drove down, it snowed about 6" in Zion. Winter again! As the weather report predicted clearing in the afternoon, we delayed our start, meeting Jenny down at Deep Creek at 10 am. We geared up and picked up a permit, then headed up to do Pine Creek Canyon. The storm had cleared and the sun was out, melting snow on the slickrock. The flow in Pine Creek was a little more than we were up for, so we drove up the highway a bit, and ventured into Keyhole Canyon.

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Canyoneering, Tom Jones, Trip Report, Winter, ZionTom Joneskeyhole, keyhole canyon, zion, zion canyoneering, canyoneering, winter canyoneering, winter descent, winter in zion, winter
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.

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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.

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Canyoneering, Trip Report, ZionTom Jonesbackcountry, Deadeye Dick, zion, zion canyoneering, canyoneering, zion national park, the narrows, narrows, rappelling
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.

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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
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. 

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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.

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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
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.

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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