Rappeling near St. George

[shagster]

I need some help in locating a couple of spots near St. George where I can take a couple of people and teach them how to rappel. I am thinking about heading over to Yankee Doodle after a few lessons. Does any one know of a couple of good rock walls right close to St. George where I can make this happen? Preferably nothing over 150 ft. Thanks for the help. :2thumbs:

[rcwild]

Red Cliffs

[jman]

perfect location for ya - and less than 5 miles north of Bluff St.

There is a place called Cougar Cliffs. There is no sign or trailhead really - just a small gravel parking lot. To find it - just go north on Bluff St. Locate the Chuckawalla (rock climbing not rapelling) sign to your left. Pass that and drive for a while (less than 5min) and look to your left for a small gravel lot (you will have to cross the St. George paved trail way system to reach the parking lot). Park there, walk to the gate, and walk another 50 feet to the area and rappel of the different areas ranging from 50+ to nearly 200 feet. I don't got GPS coords, sorry. Also this place is bolted (many, many, many sites). But as always make sure their secure.

I'll upload some pics later today for ya.

[jman]

So here the promised pics....also I found the site with Google Earth and included that file if it helps ya.

[accadacca]

Yowza! Canyon hotties. :naughty:

[rockgremlin]

pretty girls and rappelling...can this thread get any better?

[oldno7]

jman
nice pictures,thanks for the new area.

[Deathcricket]

perfect location for ya - and less than 5 miles north of Bluff St.

There is a place called Cougar Cliffs. There is no sign or trailhead really - just a small gravel parking lot. To find it - just go north on Bluff St. Locate the Chuckawalla (rock climbing not rapelling) sign to your left. Pass that and drive for a while (less than 5min) and look to your left for a small gravel lot (you will have to cross the St. George paved trail way system to reach the parking lot). Park there, walk to the gate, and walk another 50 feet to the area and rappel of the different areas ranging from 50+ to nearly 200 feet. I don't got GPS coords, sorry. Also this place is bolted (many, many, many sites). But as always make sure their secure.

I'll upload some pics later today for ya.

yeah bro! That's the spot I learned to rapell also. It's really nice since there is a lower drop you can latch on the first few times so you dont have to go right over the cliff end on your first shot. I highly recommend this place, it's awesome for beginners.

Oh yeah, I posted some pics here. http://www.bogley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2114 It shows the drops and lower latch on areas. I think that is the worst scolding I've ever received on this board though. If you do this, don't post it :P

[rcwild]

My cat would never go rappelling without his helmet.

[shagster]

Nice :2thumbs: Thanks for the info Jman, I will check it out when I am down there next weekend for a bike race. We ended up finding a place just as you go up the canyon in silver reef. It worked out pretty good as they were all newbies. Only about a 50ft rappell, but a great on for starters. Thanks again.

[stefan]

:lol8: :lol8:

that shot is hilarious, rich :2thumbs:

[Sombeech]

I think that is the worst scolding I've ever received on this board though.

I still have to chuckle when I remember that heated issue. I know I shouldn't speed, you know you shouldn't speed, but if you do, you're a big boy and can do what you want.

I'm still glad you posted those photos, with or without the helmets.

"You should wear a helmet" - yeah, no shit. I shouldn't eat at McDonalds either, but if the Big Mac looked that cool in a photo, I'd still post it.

[shagster]

I think that is the worst scolding I've ever received on this board though.

I still have to chuckle when I remember that heated issue. I know I shouldn't speed, you know you shouldn't speed, but if you do, you're a big boy and can do what you want.

I'm still glad you posted those photos, with or without the helmets.

"You should wear a helmet" - yeah, no shit. I shouldn't eat at McDonalds either, but if the Big Mac looked that cool in a photo, I'd still post it.

I figure, if you want your brains all over the rocks go for it. There is no way in hell I would let anyone screw around like that on my ropes... But it does look like fun.. :2thumbs:

[jman]

haha...that's a old thread and pic deathcricket. I think it's a cool move if you know what you are doing (as the cliche goes). Good memories. I would never try that though. I remember going ozzy (head first) rappeling and wow, that was pretty exciting the first time but that's about the extent of my stuntdevlish abilities, which isn't too impressive. :ghost:

[trackrunner]

Those are some nice rope groves. Is it hard to walk around to the top and pull your rope? Or are people just lazy or don't care about their ropes :sleeping:

[tanya]

There are some places in Zion that are bad too. Those yellow gloves on the young girl are interesting. I like that helmet Rich!


http://www.zionnational-park.com/images/albums/images/zion-spry-zb_jpg.jpg

[trackrunner]

There are some places in Zion that are bad too. Those yellow gloves on the young girl are interesting. I like that helmet Rich!


http://www.zionnational-park.com/images/albums/images/zion-spry-zb_jpg.jpg
Yes, Spry rope groves. I have never done that canyon. It is my goal to go this year, hopefully in the spring. With the winter Zion has been having probably later then sooner. Understand Water Canyon has them too.

[tanya]

That's a shame that Water Canyon has them. I have hiked in there many times but never did the canyon. I would think that since that canyon is used most for instruction that would not be the case?

[trackrunner]

That's a shame that Water Canyon has them. I have hiked in there many times but never did the canyon. I would think that since that canyon is used most for instruction that would not be the case?
Never seen it but read on a site about them and how to set your ropes carefully so rope doesn't get stuck.

[Deathcricket]

Those are some nice rope groves. Is it hard to walk around to the top and pull your rope? Or are people just lazy or don't care about their ropes :sleeping:

Most of the time I would agree people are just lazy. But in this spot you either have to pull the rope through a groove or drop it down 180ft and walk down to pick it up, which is what we did since my buddy said getting dirt impregnated into the rope is really really bad. If you look closely at pic #6 that jman put up, that's really the only safe place to hang out (besides the lower section which has TONS of room), and there is only room for maybe 3 people (there is top down view on me standing on it in my pics). The edge section in Jman's pic #7 isn't really safe to stand on unless your holding on to a rope IMO. Plus its sandstone which is super soft and hundreds of people go there every month.

On a lighter note, the grooves do hold your rope nice and steady to prevent shearing action.
:five:

[trackrunner]

Why can't you walk to the top and pull your rope up?

[Jaxx]

My pics of the rope burn in Spry:
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h34/jaxpb03/Spry/7875ChadEmStephbottomof5thrap.jpg
http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h34/jaxpb03/Spry/77ChadEmStephbottomof5thrap-1.jpg

I have thought about taking something to protect the edge and some 4mm rope to tie it to the anchor next time I do Spry. What are peoples thoughts on this, garbage left in the canyon to protect the rock?

[trackrunner]

I have thought about taking something to protect the edge and some 4mm rope to tie it to the anchor next time I do Spry. What are peoples thoughts on this, garbage left in the canyon to protect the rock?

Haven't done the canyon, will this spring. I think it

[jman]

Why can't you walk to the top and pull your rope up?

that's why I do. It's not that hard. Just rappel down, hike up on the rock/crack on to your north, walk 300 feet, and pull your ropes up. Easy.

Easy setup, easy take down. Less than a min. walk to the cliffs from the busy road. I think it's a GREAT location for intros. Although, I have seen A LOT of people going to the "little narrows" (where the Dixie Rock is/or otherwise known as Pioneer Park) and rappelling of those rocks of 20feet or less feet (which I think is useless because it's so short and too crowded - but that's why I think they do it - the attention.)

And yes...my friend's yellow gloves rock! Those girls didn't even need gloves since they were so light and my elite rope abilities. haha..they had to push themselves down. Although, it's a priceless moment to watch a noob or virgin rappeler go over the first 5 feet. Their faces are priceless - am I right?

[tanya]

And yes...my friend's yellow gloves rock! Those girls didn't even need gloves since they were so light and my elite rope abilities. haha..they had to push themselves down. Although, it's a priceless moment to watch a noob or virgin rappeler go over the first 5 feet. Their faces are priceless - am I right?

Yes, they are adorable! The gloves and the girls! Closeups on their faces the first 5 feet would have been great! When we took some preteens it was a look of total fear! :2thumbs: It's sort of like wearing a big hat to keep out the sun so you don't get wrinkles when you get older. Females have to protect themselves. :five:

[tanya]

But in this spot you either have to pull the rope through a groove or drop it down 180ft and walk down to pick it up, which is what we did since my buddy said getting dirt impregnated into the rope is really really bad. If you look closely at pic #6 that jman put up, that's really the only safe place to hang out (besides the lower section which has TONS of room), and there is only room for maybe 3 people (there is top down view on me standing on it in my pics). The edge section in Jman's pic #7 isn't really safe to stand on unless your holding on to a rope IMO. Plus its sandstone which is super soft and hundreds of people go there every month.

On a lighter note, the grooves do hold your rope nice and steady to prevent shearing action.
:five:


This is a great question. My vote would be to protect the rock - in places like Zion in particular.

What does everyone else say. How can this be done? Can it be done?

[tanya]

And yes...my friend's yellow gloves rock! Those girls didn't even need gloves since they were so light and my elite rope abilities. haha..they had to push themselves down. Although, it's a priceless moment to watch a noob or virgin rappeler go over the first 5 feet. Their faces are priceless - am I right?

Yes, they are adorable! The gloves and the girls! Closeups on their faces the first 5 feet would have been great! When we took some preteens it was a look of total fear! :2thumbs: The gloves are sort of like wearing a big hat to keep out the sun so you don't get wrinkles when you get older. Females have to protect themselves. :five:

[trackrunner]

that's why I do. It's not that hard. Just rappel down, hike up on the rock/crack on to your north, walk 300 feet, and pull your ropes up. Easy.

QFE
There is a place up Cedar Canyon that people rappel from. You hiked up there over and over to rappel but now are too lazy to retrieve your rope or anchor. If there is no webbing some people pull the rope wrapped around the tree or through the sharp bolts. :eek2: Stupid way to treat your rope, glad the rope is not mine.


Although, it's a priceless moment to watch a noob or virgin rappeler go over the first 5 feet. Their faces are priceless - am I right?

I love it when they think the drop is not that large looking up but when they have finally gone over the edge and now don't want to do it and freak out. They always say pull me up. I tell them "too dangerous, you've already committed." They make it down eventually.

[trackrunner]

This is a great question. My vote would be to protect the rock - in places like Zion in particular.

What does everyone else say. How can this be done? Can it be done?


[quote=Jaxx]
I have thought about taking something to protect the edge and some 4mm rope to tie it to the anchor next time I do Spry. What are peoples thoughts on this, garbage left in the canyon to protect the rock?

Haven't done the canyon, will this spring. I think it

[Jaxx]

I do wonder though what some of the leaders in the canyoneering community think.

I am going to make a separate thread with a poll in it. Should be a good debate!

Edit: new thread http://bogley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?p=98328#98328

[tanya]

Tanya here was my suggestions posted earlier. An example I would have for Jaxx's idea for "garbage left in the canyon to protect the rock" would be a small piece of carpet attached to the anchor with thin rope/weabing something else. But like I wrote earlier it's a lose, lose situation. Some people would be pissed you left "garbage" and others would be pissed you contributed to the groves. I do wonder though what some of the leaders in the canyoneering community think.


:2thumbs: