Another patrol day, another canyon. The difference being on this trip was that it got to be a new canyon for me. Actually it was a new canyon for everyone on this trip. Telephone Canyon burned last year in the fires, so Brad, Matt, and I were sent through to check conditions. The condition of the West Rim trail was hot. It is over a five m
ile hike and about 2500 ft of elevation gain to just get to the beginning of Telephone Canyon. It was past noon by the time that we got there. When we arrived, we got to see that the anchors were crappy. There was a charred stump with some webbing around it, but that thing looked like crap. Then there was another tree to the right with some webbi
ng around it. We debated about another tree to the left, but since we were unsure of the fall line as it would lead us over the whole abyss, we decided against using it. It was quite a bit of time for a short rappel as this first one only had to be about twenty feet. So we did some different things by sending Matt down first backed up by belay on the stump. Then we set up a guided rappel for Brad and I. I was not impressed as I ended up cutting open my knee by being pulled into the rock. We made it to the second rappel which was something like
120ft. It was an awkward start and even went free for some time. We made it down and made sure to look around the corner. The rest of the canyon was spent just walking a few feet and finding the next anchor where we would drop down again. The canyon loses 900 ft. in under 1/4 of a mile. The anchors were in sort of good shape. We replaced a lot of webbing and used every single quick link we had with us. I had a great time in this canyon as it was still worth seeing. I couldn't believe how narrow it was i
n places and I am sure this would be the last place I would want to be in a flash flood. I enjoyed looking back up to where I just came from and wondering how I could have done that. Time flew in there as each rappel took some route description reading, some edge peering, and for the first person to look around the corner to see where the next anchor could be. But sooner or later we were at the last rappel. This one was interesting as there must have been a block of sandstone of some sort that was taken away by a flash flood as the anchor was fifteen feet above our head. Matt belayed Brad as Brad hung
perilously over the edge to get another piece of webbing through the anchor. I tied up the webbing which extended the anchor to where we could work with it. After that, it ended up being the easiest rappel of the day. We popped out of the canyon after this, but still had a long walk down to the trailhead. The total time at work on this day was 13 hours which included packing up and cleaning the ropes. Still, that canyon took some time as it was not just one of those canyons that you toss your rope and go. There was far too much to analyze and make the right decisions. I had that rush that you get when you walk out alive after it is all done and another canyon completed in Zion.
ile hike and about 2500 ft of elevation gain to just get to the beginning of Telephone Canyon. It was past noon by the time that we got there. When we arrived, we got to see that the anchors were crappy. There was a charred stump with some webbing around it, but that thing looked like crap. Then there was another tree to the right with some webbi
ng around it. We debated about another tree to the left, but since we were unsure of the fall line as it would lead us over the whole abyss, we decided against using it. It was quite a bit of time for a short rappel as this first one only had to be about twenty feet. So we did some different things by sending Matt down first backed up by belay on the stump. Then we set up a guided rappel for Brad and I. I was not impressed as I ended up cutting open my knee by being pulled into the rock. We made it to the second rappel which was something like
120ft. It was an awkward start and even went free for some time. We made it down and made sure to look around the corner. The rest of the canyon was spent just walking a few feet and finding the next anchor where we would drop down again. The canyon loses 900 ft. in under 1/4 of a mile. The anchors were in sort of good shape. We replaced a lot of webbing and used every single quick link we had with us. I had a great time in this canyon as it was still worth seeing. I couldn't believe how narrow it was i
n places and I am sure this would be the last place I would want to be in a flash flood. I enjoyed looking back up to where I just came from and wondering how I could have done that. Time flew in there as each rappel took some route description reading, some edge peering, and for the first person to look around the corner to see where the next anchor could be. But sooner or later we were at the last rappel. This one was interesting as there must have been a block of sandstone of some sort that was taken away by a flash flood as the anchor was fifteen feet above our head. Matt belayed Brad as Brad hung
perilously over the edge to get another piece of webbing through the anchor. I tied up the webbing which extended the anchor to where we could work with it. After that, it ended up being the easiest rappel of the day. We popped out of the canyon after this, but still had a long walk down to the trailhead. The total time at work on this day was 13 hours which included packing up and cleaning the ropes. Still, that canyon took some time as it was not just one of those canyons that you toss your rope and go. There was far too much to analyze and make the right decisions. I had that rush that you get when you walk out alive after it is all done and another canyon completed in Zion.
2 comments:
What a job. Wish I could do that someday.
Brian
are you getting married or something? you haven't updated your blog in awhile :)
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