Checkerboard Canyon in the Summer, Zion National Park, UT

In this kind of heat, even in Zion it is hard to find reasonable objectives. We chose Checkerboard with an early start. Skipping along Dakota Ridge in the early morning light was the plan... and we got some of that.

Canyoneering, Trip Report, Zion, Zion Adventure CompanyTom JonesJuly 3, 2014zion, zion canyoneering, canyoneering, checkerboard, checkerboard canyon, summer, zion national park

Zion Canyoneering: Grotto Canyon with Long Rappels!

What is NOT-Hidden? Why, conspicuous of course. My friend Rick Thompson had attempted Hidden Canyon from the Top last fall, and due to navigational difficulties found him and his companions in a nearby canyon, thus the name... well actually, it already had a name, Grotto Canyon, and was listed in my book with the line "I did it, so you don't have to".

Canyoneering, Tom Jones, Trip Report, ZionTom JonesJune 21, 2014zion, zion canyoneering, canyoneering, grotto canyon, grotto

Pipe Spring Canyon and MIA Canyon, Zion National Park, UT

Most (sane) people try to avoid the MIA Exit as much as possible. But, there is a pretty nice canyon that parallels it, and I wanted to check that out, so I recruited Diana from ZAC for a casual run through. Since she had not exited up the MIA, this would be a good chance for her to get her first go at it without carrying all that much weight.

Anchors, Canyoneering, Trip Report, Zion, Zion Adventure CompanyTom JonesMay 16, 2014MIA, Pipe Springs Canyon, pipe springs, mia exit, mia route

Dead Eye Dick Canyon, Zion National Park, UT

Went off to do Dead Eye Dick with Amanda from Zion Adventures on Thursday. Since I had not done the one-car approach, and needed to for the website, WE (as in I) decided to do it that way, by starting down The Narrows, then climbing up a side-canyon to get to the top of the canyon. No problem.

Canyoneering, Exploration, Tom Jones, Trip Report, Zion, Zion Adventure CompanyTom JonesApril 17, 2014Deadeye Dick, zion, canyoneering, zion canyoneering, mighty mouse

Canyoneering Glen Canyon with Zion Adventure Company Team

Went out canyoneering in Glen Canyon for a Zion Adventure Company staff training event. Ramoo and Jenny were running the trip, so I was just a ride-along, which is great fun. The purpose of the trip was for staff to practice non-Zion-type canyoneering techniques, show off their team-work skills and maybe, just maybe, have fun! We consider Glen Canyon an adventure-reserve, so no beta on where we were, just pictures. Enjoy.

Anchors, Canyoneering, Exploration, Flowerwalk, Glen Canyon, Lake Powell, Steve Ramras, Trip Report, Zion Adventure CompanyTom JonesApril 9, 2014glen canyon, canyoneering, zion adventure company

Not-Imlay Canyon for the First Time! Zion National Park, UT

A couple year ago, maybe more than a couple, when walking out the Narrows after Imlay one July, we found some people rapping into the Narrows in an odd place. "What was it like?" I asked.

"A couple long rappels, kinda brushy, not so good" was the answer.

Canyoneering, Tom's First Visit, Trip Report, Zion, Zion Adventure CompanyTom JonesApril 3, 2014not imlay, not imlay canyon, zion, zion canyoneering, canyoneering, zion adventure company

Pine Creek Canyon in Winter, Zion National Park, UT

After a great day in Keyhole (which sounds faintly ridiculous)... Luke came up from Las Vegas, and the question was, what canyons COULD we do. Given the blanket of snow across Zion, Deeps and I kinda thought the only canyon that would be non-epic would be Pine Creek.

Canyoneering, Pine Creek, Tom Jones, Trip Report, Winter, Zion, Zion Adventure CompanyTom JonesFebruary 1, 2014pine creek, pine creek canyon, zion, zion canyoneering, canyoneering, winter

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.

Canyoneering, Tom Jones, Trip Report, Winter, ZionTom JonesJanuary 31, 2014keyhole, keyhole canyon, zion, zion canyoneering, canyoneering, winter canyoneering, winter descent, winter in zion, winter

Freeze Fest XII: The Black Hole Canyon in Cedar Mesa for New Years

The big day was upon us. Yes, the night was cold and we rang in the new year at the appropriate hour --- for New York. Off to Hite it was, fairly early.

Canyoneering, Cedar Mesa, Freeze Fest, Tom Jones, Trip Report, WinterTom JonesJanuary 1, 2014Freeze Fest, freezefest, black hole, Black Hole of White Canyon, cedar mesa, white 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.

Canyoneering, North Wash, Trip Report, Freeze FestTom JonesDecember 31, 2013Trail Canyon, winter, winter canyoneering, Freeze Fest, freezefest

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

Anchors, Canyoneering, Ticaboo Mesa, Trip Report, Freeze Fest, WinterTom JonesDecember 30, 2013Freeze Fest, paradiso, dantes, freezefest, ticaboo, ticaboo mesa

Mystery Canyon in Winter, Zion National Park, UT

This is a silly sport. The whole thing. Sliding down ropes in remote places, risking death and destruction on a regular basis, for what?

Canyoneering, Mistakes, Mystery, Trip Report, Zion, Winter, The Narrows, Steve Ramras, Jenny WestTom JonesDecember 27, 2013mystery canyon, zion, mystery, winter in zion, winter, winter canyoneering, Zion, zion canyoneering

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.

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.

Canyoneering, Trip Report, ZionTom JonesOctober 16, 2013backcountry, Deadeye Dick, zion, zion canyoneering, canyoneering, zion national park, the narrows, narrows, rappelling

(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.

Canyoneering, North Wash, Trip Report, Zion Adventure CompanyTom JonesOctober 10, 2013North Wash, Hogwarts, canyoneering, rescue, north wash canyoneering, hog springs

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.