ADAM HAYDOCK

After Tatahoysa canyon we decided to head back up north for some Utah canyoneering which was a change of pace and temperature as it was quite hot in the grand canyon. 

We headed over to red cave canyon which is known to be this interesting red slot canyon in the south Utah region.

The road leading to a pull off was open and we just drove up to the trail head. It was just good enough for a high clearance. There is deep sand at the bottom drainage so park your car just before you get to that drainage. 

The sand is really deep so make sure you park your car before the sand unless you have a 4x4. Once we got to the canyon we could feel a slight cool breeze coming through the corridors.

Walking through these narrow slots what almost like being in a cave with the tight narrow squeezes, and short climbs that we had to assist each other with in order to reach the other two sections of narrows. 

Adam Haydock in red Sand canyon, PHOTO BY: Scott Swaney

You need a partner assist and some handlines to get through this canyon so I highly recommend bringing a small group and some webbing as the red slot canyon is a beautiful place to visit and highly recommended. 

The Grand canyon is home to some of the most amazing geological anomalies, features, and rugged landscapes that have ever existed on the planet. The Colorado river carves its way through the rock and continues to bring some of the most adventurous people seeking solitude in a very rugged environment.

Canyoneering has been becoming quite the popular sport in the grand canyon and there are a number of routes that people can visit but they come with quite the ticket of admission. 

There are a number of routes that take days to accomplish while descending over 3000ft. with heavy packs, camping on the route, pack rafting down the Colorado river, and making a hearty exit back to the rim.

Our group decided to go after one of the only " Day trips" in the grand canyon called Tatahoysa Canyon.  It is rated as a 3BIV for its time commitment but the approach will be down a steep chute in 100 degree temps.

We made it to the Trailhead at around 2am after over 20 miles of high clearance dirt roads, that was more like a maze into the darkness, than a road to the trailhead.  Once we made it there, we set up camp and got an early start the following morning.

After about 3 hours of sleep, we were heading down the chute that was filled with loose scrambling and some boulder hopping around a few draws and spurs until we got to the top of Tatahoysa canyon.

The first drop was around 40-50ft into the drainage of the redwall limestone. 

There were a couple small caves in the walls that did not appear to go anywhere and were also in some crumbly layers, so I did not pursue them in detail. 

The following drops were around 30ft 20ft, and 30ft., before the drainage from the original chute came into the canyon.

This would be a good escape and also a good sneak route if anyone wanted to get to the heart of the canyon itself.

As we continued down the canyon the redwall limestone became a bit more interesting with the layers of sediment in between the rock and the drops became a bit more dramatic. 

We encountered a 150 that had some great views over looking the rest of the canyon. 

Then we had another 150 ft. drop that brought us closer to the Colorado river.  This made for some amazing views of the river below. 

Next we had a 90 footer than the final 150 footer to the bottom. 

By the time we got to the last rap, the temperature reading on my watch was 109 degrees!!! It was really hot and the 40 degree temps of the Colorado river sounded so refreshing !!!

It was really freaking hot out and we were fully exposed to the sun when we rapped off the last anchor onto a free hanging 150ft drop to the bottom . 

The last drop was so hot, that I could hear the squrl sizzle on the rope a bit as I descended to the bottom. 

Once we got to the bottom James and Scott carefully placed the rope so that it would not get stuck in the shitty looking crack, with success.  Shortly after, we all worked our way over to the river and had a much needed bath in the freezing cold water. 

Now that water was so cold, that the ambient temp must have dropped a good 10-15 degrees!

We pumped a bunch of water and rested as the sun baked away into the day while we contemplated our escape back tot he rim. 

Our concern was hiking up a 45-55 degree slope in 110 degree heat.  Yes we had water but we would run out of that quickly and could find ourselves in a difficult situation. 

Instead, we timed the shade right and followed the shade up the mountain to take advantage of as much light as possible and to eliminate as much heat as possible. 

We all got freezing cold in the Colorado river before the initial hike up which helped a bit and had coldwater to drink which was even better. 

We continued to hike up and found a great trail on the way out which worked out fantastically. 

Eventually we made it back to the head of the canyon just as night was upon us and headed up and out of the chute to the rim in darkness. 

This was quite the interesting hike as we found ourselves hiking up dry washes where rocks had a high potential to tumble down upon us. 

The end was in site and soon enough, we were at the top! What an incredible day!

Since it was hot out, we spent more time at the Colorado river and went car to car in 10 hours which is not bad at all, knowing the conditions we were in for the day. 

Heather descending String of Pearls Canyon, Nevada

 String of Pearls canyon is a Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area canyon that is located just outside of Las Vegas.

Heather going into String of Pearls Canyon, Nevada.

The canyon is named for the series of potholes that come in a rapid fire sequence of plunge pools before the large drops come into view.

String of pearls, nevada

 The canyon is located just to the North of Mud Spring canyon and south of Old Bill canyon. From what I was understanding, the canyon is somewhat challenging but the route is straightforward, so a rating of 3BIV was given.

Heather descending String of Pearls Canyon, Nevada

  I was reading a bit more about the canyon and some others rated the canyon as a 4BIV for the natural anchor challenges and the extended drops.

The potholes in String of pearl canyon, Nevada

I found this canyon to be a bit more long and challenging than a beginner friendly and straightforward canyon.

Heather descending String of Pearls Canyon, Nevada

We had no problems with this canyon and we were excited to see that the canyon was a bit more committing than expected.

Heather descending String of Pearls Canyon, Nevada

It was not so fun to be a bit hung over and in the heat of 100 degree temps while working through this canyon but we made it, car to car in 10 hours.

Heather descending String of Pearls Canyon, Nevada

The upper series had drops of less than 100ft but once you get past the pothole plunge pools, the canyon face opens up in a gorge with tiered raps of up to 200ft. 

Heather descending String of Pearls Canyon, Nevada

The first big drop was around 150 to a platform where the canyon sloped a bit down to another 200ft rap and down a ledge.

looking down into another two thousand feet of descent in Sting of Pearl canyon, Nevada

There was a series of drops and boulder hopping until we got to the final tier that had a 100, a 170, a 70 and another 50ft drop.

Heather descending String of Pearls Canyon, Nevada

This was a fantastic canyon and a bit more committing than I expected it to be. This canyon reminded me of Spry canyon in Zion but with a bit more pothole plunges and amazing views!!!!

Heather descending String of Pearls Canyon, Nevada