swirling walls in Checkerboard Canyon. |
Heather and Paige look on as James descends down into Checkerboard Canyon. |
James preparing for the approach to checkerboard canyon. |
James, Andy, and Clint on the Dakota Ridge approach to Checkerboard Canyon. |
Paige, Heather, Andy, and James on Dakota Ridge and on the way to Checkerboard canyon |
looking out to where we are going to end up by the end of the day. |
getting closer to the first drop. |
Blooming cactus flowers on the approach. |
First drop in Checkerboard canyon |
Heather about to drop over the first rap in Checkerboard Canyon. |
Once you get into the drainage you follow it down to the first rap and the amazing views of the canyon below.
The first drop is around 180 feet and follows a near sheer wall to the bottom.
The following 11 drops are short and consist of a lot of awkward starts and a bit of team work.
Once we got down a few more raps the view of a huge varnished sandstone cliff dominates the canyon and brings a different look to the canyon.
Soon after, we drop into the first narrow corridor and the views change into some swirling sandstone walls with beautiful fire like coloring reflecting off of the ceiling.
The walls and the wave like sandstone depict a frozen waterfall of time like rings in a tree to the drainage that this canyon provides the region.
This is not a place you want to be in even if there is a 20 percent chance of rain.
We encountered a few down climbs and a few more raps until we came out into a open area within the penitentiary of Checkerboard canyon.
We worked out a few more raps and came to a section where there were some sketchy starts. These awkward starts made the pull easier but could cause concern for people getting on rope.
Meat anchors and backups became a common practice, we also had an anchor changed as we found it to be a bit tossed from the torrents of water that come through here.
Once we got through this section the corridors narrowed up once again and brought another perspective to this ever changing canyon.
This is really fantastic as you can get a little bit from what we typically find in Zion canyons, all in one canyon.
We worked through a few more down climbs and started to run into a bit of water
It was shallow but as we progressed on down and into the final section of narrow passage, the canyon walls got really close, and the water got a bit cold.
some of us put on wet suits while other just left it in our bags and just used it for the Nordic benefit of carrying extra weight.
Andy coming done the first drop in Checkerboard canyon. |
Heather in Checkerboard canyon. |
Checkerboard Canyon |
The beautiful walls of Checkerboard canyon |
dropping into one of the narrow sections of checkerboard canyon. |
Andy in the narrow section of Checkerboard canyon |
Heather coming out of a narrow section in checkerboard canyon. |
Checkerboard canyon |
James in Checkerboard Canyon |
Clint in Checkerboard canyon. |
Paige getting ready for another narrow section in checkerboard canyon. |
one of the sketchy small drops in checkerboard canyon. |
Heather in Checkerboard canyon. |
Beautiful narrows in checkerboard canyon |
coming out of a narrow section in checkerboard canyon. |
a bit of sunlight in checkerboard canyon |
towering gorge walls in checkerboard canyon. |
narrow corridors in checkerboard canyon. |
James checking out a drop in checkerboard canyon. |
Heather dipping into some cold water in Checkerboard canyon. |
The last rap was a 205 feet drop into a very interesting flute that was almost like a small and "c" shaped pipe.
andy coming down into a cold pool of water in checkerboard canyon. |
inside a cavern like passage in checkerboard canyon. |
Andy rappelling the second to the last rap in Checkerboard canyon. |
Paige and Andy in between the second to the last and the last rap in checkerboard canyon. |
James going over the last drop in Checkerboard Canyon. |
The team hiking out of the Zion Narrows |
Continuing on, the narrows was absent of the crowds of people that come through as the sun started to set but never lost its charm and majesty as we were encased in solid sand stone walls that towered over 1000 ft. above us.
Taking a break in the narrows |
We passed by Wall Street, the Imlay canyon, exit, and the Not Imlay canyon exit as we got closer to the temple. Mystery canyon came into view along with people heading out of the canyon before nightfall came upon them.
Zion Narrows. |
After 14 hours of hiking, canyoneering, and more hiking down the narrows, we made it to the temple and headed out of the park. I wouldn't say I would do this canyon again but I do recommend this for the people seeking an epic adventure and looking for a lot of variety, more like a buffet of all the flavors of canyon that Zion offers.
Heather walking through "Wall Street" with the hue turning the rock into a fire like pink color in the Zion Narrows. |