ROCK OF AGES CANYON
February 23, 2016
Rock of Ages Canyon, Moab Utah |
After driving around and taking the wrong road to locate the trailhead for Granary Canyon, I made it over to the rock of Ages Canyon
which is also called Pool Arch Canyon as there is a beautiful arch to rap through to get into the canyon floor.
Rock of Ages Canyon, Moab Utah |
I parked and paid the 2 dollar entrance fee to visit the sandstone backcountry that would take me to the canyon. There is a 4x4 road that you can follow that travels pass the slot section where you have to negotiate some minor boulders and chimney up a wall to get to the next sand flat.
Rock of Ages Canyon, Moab Utah |
The great thing about this canyon this ear is that the temperature was next to perfect with a nice cool breeze that came through as I continued to hike through these semi circular sandstone disc walls that seemed to have been thrown into the ground from above. these wall extended for hundreds of feet in the Sand Flats which made this place a unique environment in itself.
Rock of Ages Canyon, Moab Utah |
The red sandstone reflected colors of red orange and yellow giving a warm hue over the face of the ground and a strong fiery presence to the sandstone features as I continued to scramble up and over the final chimney and the trail leading to the Pool Arch.
Rock of Ages Canyon, Moab Utah |
The view from the top was outstanding, you can see the petrified sand dunes that I was walking on and tucked away in the corner was a 170ft arch called pool arch where you rappel to the bottom of and walk through to continue on down the canyon.
Rock of Ages Canyon, Moab Utah |
This was pretty awesome! I kitted up and rigged the drop and set up a camera so I could get a photo from below so I ended up dropping this rap twice since it was a interesting view from below.
Rock of Ages Canyon, Moab Utah |
After this was all done, I continued to the t section and followed the slot canyon through some tight spots down climbs and minor potholes until I got to the next 80ft rap that dropped me into another narrow corridor of fiery sandstone walls.
Rock of Ages Canyon, Moab Utah |
That was a great rap and it was nice to get into the final section of narrow walls until it opened up into the overlook where the last drop was located. It must have been around a 100ft drop but the rig point was it bit sketchy.
Rock of Ages Canyon, Moab Utah |
Thankfully there was another bolt to rig a traverse line to so I was able to walk out and set up the drop while having the rope threaded through the piranha.
Rock of Ages Canyon, Moab Utah |
once I got that rigged, I inched my way over to the edge and could start to feel the adrenaline flowing which was weird because I have done almost a 1000 drops and this one was getting my heart pumping a lot. well good!! I still have a pulse! This rap was a bit sketchy if not properly rigged in so all and all, it was a great last drop into the wash floor.
Rock of Ages Canyon, Moab Utah |
This was my favorite canyon thus far in the moab area due to its interesting geology, nice raps, and it doesn't take too long to cover in a day. I would rate this a 3AIII but I can see people making it a 3BIII due to the big drop.
Rock of Ages Canyon, Moab Utah |
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