Every year in the fall, we have to do some access route monitoring to keep track of the deterioration that goes on due to overuse. One area that we monitor is the route between Checkerboard Mesa and Crazy Quilt that is used to access the Barracks and Fat Man's Misery. Derrick and I were assigned to this task, so we figured to go ahead and do Fat Man's Misery while we were at it. It is not in the park, but close enough that we should have a good knowledge of the route. We measured the access route on the way up which looked like it was in bad shape. Then we cut east to drop into Misery Canyon. Not quite sure where it got its name from because none of the canyon is too super narrow. And I can't even tell you how many rappels they are because most of them are unnecessary. The canyon would be rather open, then narrow down, then open up again throughout the entire length of it.
Sometimes there was a downclimb or a rappel, but often there was an easy way around it up high on some slickrock. I personally am of the mindset that if I can find a non-destructive way to get around a rappel, I am not going to waste my time sport rappelling. It really wasn't until the end of the canyon where Derrick and I were forced to rappel. We got some cold water also, but by the time we were getting cold, the water was over and soon we were walking out into the amazing oasis that is the Barracks of Parunaweap Canyon.
The Barracks is just a fantastic place. We wandered down to the Labyrinth Falls area then hiked back up to the plaque. From there, we exited the canyon. We were disappointed to run into an extremely large campfire ring that we had to take care of. It is sad to see such a pristine area on the east side with such a damaged spot. We continued on up the "trail", which the exit route from the Barracks had become. It led us easily back to the route near Checkerboard Mesa where we were able to take further measurements and sure enough it turned out to be out of standard. We were out in plenty of time to have a full workday finished, but it was an enjoyable day in rarely visited canyon for a work trip.
Every year in the fall, we have to do some access route monitoring to keep track of the deterioration that goes on due to overuse. One area that we monitor is the route between Checkerboard Mesa and Crazy Quilt that is used to access the Barracks and Fat Man's Misery. Derrick and I were assigned to this task, so we figured to go ahead and do Fat Man's Misery while we were at it. It is not in the park, but close enough that we should have a good knowledge of the route. We measured the access route on the way up which looked like it was in bad shape. Then we cut east to drop into Misery Canyon. Not quite sure where it got its name from because none of the canyon is too super narrow. And I can't even tell you how many rappels they are because most of them are unnecessary. The canyon would be rather open, then narrow down, then open up again throughout the entire length of it.
