Pine Creek Frozen 03-03-2007

[hike2kolob]

This weekend Greg C. and I slipped on down to Zion thinking we might catch pine creek flowing due to the warm-up after recent snowstorms. What is the opposite of flowing...oh yea...frozen! We were lucky enough to have the Emperor join us for our trip last Saturday.

After dawning our winter wetsuits, we dropped into the canyon and were greeted by a dead deer just before the first drop.

At the first drop we discovered that we would not be able to bypass it because of the 4-5 inches of ice and snow. Greg dropped in with a belay and we watched him break the ice and splash around. Seeing this, Tom opted for a more civilized entry and hiked back-out, crossed the road and found a tree to sling an anchor from and drop in just down-canyon. Tom and I dropped in from the new point of entry and we continued the canyon through the ice and snow without much difference from a regular summer trip. The canyon is mostly dry, but the cathedral is still a swimmer.

After finishing and heading back to the car, Tom decides that the deer needs to be removed. You can send him your thanks later. Below are a few pictures of the canyon and of the deer extraction.

[Scott Card]

Sweet! You guys are animals. I get cold just looking at those photos. Did you remove it to the left shelf LDC? If you did, I think I know why. That will deter the newbies from rapping off that tree! Good plan (if that was your plan). I love to see the winter stuff in Zion. Dang, another Pine Creek adventure must now be planned for next winter. :2thumbs:

BTW, what thickness wetsuits were you in? Nice job....

[tanya]

Damn Greg!!! I see no closeups of you. What's up :ne_nau:

On 2nd thought .. those are you. Interesting trip. :nod:

[tanya]

Damn Greg!!! I see no close-ups of you. What's up :ne_nau: Good job on the deer thing.

[hike2kolob]

Thanks. We pulled the deer up on the right shelf LDC not quite under the bridge. The idea was to get it off of the trail and just maybe the NPS might do something about it. I'm sure it will get nice n' ripe when things warm up.

I had my 4-3 with a two mil shorty over the top, plus two layers of neoprene socks. Was plenty warm. After the first by-pass the canyon was not much different than summer. It ended up being quite enjoyable to see the canyon under different conditions.



Sweet! You guys are animals. I get cold just looking at those photos. Did you remove it to the left shelf LDC? If you did, I think I know why. That will deter the newbies from rapping off that tree! Good plan (if that was your plan). I love to see the winter stuff in Zion. Dang, another Pine Creek adventure must now be planned for next winter. :2thumbs:

BTW, what thickness wetsuits were you in? Nice job....

[Mtnman1830]

I take it the deer tried the canyon without ropes?

[RugerShooter]

Looks like fun, I am sure there will be some people very thankfull you removed that deer

[Cirrus2000]

I take it the deer tried the canyon without ropes?
:roflol: :roflol:

Shows what happens when you start getting cocky.

Great pics - thanks!

[rockgremlin]

I take it the deer tried the canyon without ropes?


Nope....he tried it without a helmet! :lol8:

Big props to The Emperor for dragging that thing outta there! It would've made things really nasty down the road.

[Iceaxe]

Nice job guys..... enjoy a nice cyber pat on the back...