taatmk
06-18-2007, 09:22 PM
On Monday, June 11, myself and a group of 5 others descended the West
Fork of Cheesebox Canyon. The weather forecast had called for 95 degree
temps and a partly cloudy sky. With how hot it was feeling the day
before, only one of us chose to bring their wet suit. The rest went
without. For the youngest in the group, this was his second canyon
ever.
While most of the Cheesebox road seemed driveable in 2 wheel drive, the
climb up out of White Canyon on the far side sure is looking rough.
We had two 4x4's so it was not a problem for us, but I would wonder
about the passablity for 2 wheel.
We parked the exit vehicle at a large slickroack flat, and continued to
the drop in spot with the other vehicle. From this entry location, we
spied another vehicle parked up along the road, who must have been
doing Gravel Canyon that same day. Following the prominent side canyon
that enters the West Fork, we stayed along the rim and worked our way
along it until its conflience with the West Fork. We descended by going
back into this side canyon a little ways, finding an esay way down. The
canyon slotted up right at the confluence and we found water there as
well.
Not having been in this canyon before, there was lots of water all along
the West Fork at various points. Most water holes required swimming.
It was not until after passing the East Fork did we find any open dry
locations for warming up.
We encoutered 4 rappels. After most of use were down the first one, we
discovered that it could have been downclimbed without much trouble, but
having found some webbing at a rappel point there and not having been in
the canyon before, we rapped it.
We also did the Black Hole later in the week, but I would have to say
that the water encountered in Cheesebox was some of the coldest I can
recall in any canyon I have done in my small 20 or so canyon repertoire.
It was very cold. And you can conclude that I was not the one that had
the wetsuit. We found multiple swims. Most of the potholes seemed
very full to the brim.
At some point before the last rap in the West Fork, we found a down
climb with some knotted webbing. It dropped into a swimmer, and the
exit of this pothole required a beached whale exit and/or assistance
from the partner ahead. I had not read about this in any of the guides
I looked at beforehand, so I wondered if this was new? or not that big
of deal to others? After crossing this lip, more swimming was
immediatly encountered in the next pothole.
Counting the first unnecessary rap, we had four in all. The last two
were pretty fun dropping into a deep dark section, the last one being
about 50 feet. (Our rope was 115 feet and just reached). The last
rap had about twenty feet of webbing anchored off to a large boulder on
the left hand edge, about 50 feet down along a ledge from the beginning
of the slot.
After our passing by the East Fork junction, some dry narrows were
discovered. Also, the predicted partly cloudy day turned to overcast and
sprinkling rain. But it soon passed and we did not have any more rain
until later that night. The overcast skies, however, created some very
nice "shade" to climb up out of the canyon with.
In the main fork, we found two narrows. The first required swimming;
the second being the beginning of the exit point. A ramp on the right
hand side takes you up gradually. We followed a nice cairned route the
went upward, AND down canyon. We did not go back upcanyon at this point
as is described in Mr. Kelsey's guide, so we don't know if that is a
better way or not. The down canyon route out was no problem, with only
a few spots that buddy assistance proved helpful.
I found Cheesebox to have a lot of dark, cool narrows, and plenty of
swimming. As a means of comparison, it reminded me of the "flooded
hallway" in Zion's Keyhole Canyon, but much much longer and oft repeated
in several places. I did find the water to be very very cold. And
while it was tolerable without a wet suit on a warm June day, it would
have been better with one. Although we encountered overcast skies when
the canyon opened up some, on a clear day there would be plenty of
sunshine to warm you up if need be.
I had done Misery Canyon in Zion's a couple of weeks ago, so the climb
out of Cheesebox was quite a bit short in comparison and not bad at all.
Kerry
Fork of Cheesebox Canyon. The weather forecast had called for 95 degree
temps and a partly cloudy sky. With how hot it was feeling the day
before, only one of us chose to bring their wet suit. The rest went
without. For the youngest in the group, this was his second canyon
ever.
While most of the Cheesebox road seemed driveable in 2 wheel drive, the
climb up out of White Canyon on the far side sure is looking rough.
We had two 4x4's so it was not a problem for us, but I would wonder
about the passablity for 2 wheel.
We parked the exit vehicle at a large slickroack flat, and continued to
the drop in spot with the other vehicle. From this entry location, we
spied another vehicle parked up along the road, who must have been
doing Gravel Canyon that same day. Following the prominent side canyon
that enters the West Fork, we stayed along the rim and worked our way
along it until its conflience with the West Fork. We descended by going
back into this side canyon a little ways, finding an esay way down. The
canyon slotted up right at the confluence and we found water there as
well.
Not having been in this canyon before, there was lots of water all along
the West Fork at various points. Most water holes required swimming.
It was not until after passing the East Fork did we find any open dry
locations for warming up.
We encoutered 4 rappels. After most of use were down the first one, we
discovered that it could have been downclimbed without much trouble, but
having found some webbing at a rappel point there and not having been in
the canyon before, we rapped it.
We also did the Black Hole later in the week, but I would have to say
that the water encountered in Cheesebox was some of the coldest I can
recall in any canyon I have done in my small 20 or so canyon repertoire.
It was very cold. And you can conclude that I was not the one that had
the wetsuit. We found multiple swims. Most of the potholes seemed
very full to the brim.
At some point before the last rap in the West Fork, we found a down
climb with some knotted webbing. It dropped into a swimmer, and the
exit of this pothole required a beached whale exit and/or assistance
from the partner ahead. I had not read about this in any of the guides
I looked at beforehand, so I wondered if this was new? or not that big
of deal to others? After crossing this lip, more swimming was
immediatly encountered in the next pothole.
Counting the first unnecessary rap, we had four in all. The last two
were pretty fun dropping into a deep dark section, the last one being
about 50 feet. (Our rope was 115 feet and just reached). The last
rap had about twenty feet of webbing anchored off to a large boulder on
the left hand edge, about 50 feet down along a ledge from the beginning
of the slot.
After our passing by the East Fork junction, some dry narrows were
discovered. Also, the predicted partly cloudy day turned to overcast and
sprinkling rain. But it soon passed and we did not have any more rain
until later that night. The overcast skies, however, created some very
nice "shade" to climb up out of the canyon with.
In the main fork, we found two narrows. The first required swimming;
the second being the beginning of the exit point. A ramp on the right
hand side takes you up gradually. We followed a nice cairned route the
went upward, AND down canyon. We did not go back upcanyon at this point
as is described in Mr. Kelsey's guide, so we don't know if that is a
better way or not. The down canyon route out was no problem, with only
a few spots that buddy assistance proved helpful.
I found Cheesebox to have a lot of dark, cool narrows, and plenty of
swimming. As a means of comparison, it reminded me of the "flooded
hallway" in Zion's Keyhole Canyon, but much much longer and oft repeated
in several places. I did find the water to be very very cold. And
while it was tolerable without a wet suit on a warm June day, it would
have been better with one. Although we encountered overcast skies when
the canyon opened up some, on a clear day there would be plenty of
sunshine to warm you up if need be.
I had done Misery Canyon in Zion's a couple of weeks ago, so the climb
out of Cheesebox was quite a bit short in comparison and not bad at all.
Kerry