Yankee Doodle

[taatmk]

After having my original plan of doing a canyon in the Poison Springs area aborted over the weekend, I followed through on a contingency plan of hiking Yankee Doodle Hollow near St. George on Thursday, March 13, 2008. I met my son, a student at Utah State Unversity and several of his cronies who were enjoying Spring break in St George for an afternoon hike in a small, but very nice canyon.

Yankee Doodle allows you to practice a variety of canyoneering skills, including rappelling, dowclimbing, stemming, and using deadman belays (for the less experienced).

Located 7.5 miles off of the Leeds exit on 1-15, Yankee Doodle is easily accessed.

We found the canyon, at this early time of year, full of water. There were a couple of places that required swimming as the water was over our heads. The final pothole was also a swimmer, but only the last person had to do such. There is a place on the left hand side, (LDC) at the last pothole, where with assistance, you can skirt around an exposed angled slab (5.2?) and miss the final pothole. After assisting others around this spot, the last person in our group downclimbed that spot and swam the pothole.

Weather was 75 in St George that day. The canyon was just about as warm, save trying to warm up after the swims. We exited by turning up a canyon joining Yankee Doodle coming in on the left. That canyon was actually larger than YD. We walked unobstructed up the cobbled bottom of that canyon until we estimated where the access road was, and then found a way up to reach the road. The road was then walked back to the putting in point.

The first rappel was about 20 feet, but could be downclimbed and avoided by a 20 foot chimney near the head of the second rappel of 70 feet. I had read about no bolts in Yankee Doodle. There was one at the head of the 70 foot rappel, but no others in the rest of the canyon. The two raps can be combined with one rope.

Fun narrows, lots of downclimbing and stemming opportunities. It took us 2.5 hours to complete, but 1 full hour was spent at the two rappels due to the fact that we had to pass back up some harnesses to some of the college boys who did not have any.

Plans made to head over to the aborted Poison Springs in May.

[taatmk]

Yankee Doodle on March 13, 2008

[tanya]

This looks fun! Some day I am going to get in that canyon too!

Bet that was cold in Jeans once they got wet!

[shagster]

This is a great little canyon. How was the access road? I tried to get there in the middle of Feb, but the road was washed out to the point we could not get passed. Also how was the water temps?

Nice trip report :2thumbs:

[taatmk]

The road was in very good shape. While I had a Jeep Grand Cherokee, it could be easily done with a high clearance 2 wheel drive.

The water temps were ice cold. No exaggeration...some of the coldest I have been in. But we also did not have wetsuits. We expected it to be dry from a word of mouth report.

[trackrunner]

We expected it to be dry from a word of mouth report. When did your word of mouth go? Dry in summertime yes, I did this canyon last November and it held water then, though it was waist/thigh deep. Iceax posted a summertime account with swimming a while back.

[Sombeech]

you must be shooting with a canon powershot? My camera does that same thing when the lens doesn't open all the way. drives me nuts.

[Iceaxe]

We expected it to be dry from a word of mouth report.

When Yankee Doodle was originally uncovered it always had at least one required swim, even in the summer. All the TR's from the first few years recommended wet suits. Then the swimming sections filled up with sand after a big storm and the canyon spent the next two years in a dry condition. From a last few TR's I'm starting to think that perhaps the sand has washed back out of the swimming sections have returned?

It's been over a year since I was last in Yankee Doodle so maybe one of the regulars to that slot can fill us in on it's conditions compared to years past.

:popcorn:

[tanya]

The water temps were ice cold. No exaggeration...some of the coldest I have been in. But we also did not have wetsuits. We expected it to be dry from a word of mouth report.


:eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2:

Oh .. no fun!!!!

Lucky there were not girls along, you guys would be in hot water. :lol8:

[accadacca]

Rockin' good time I bet. :guitar:

[trackrunner]

Unfortunately there were not hot girls along, you guys would need to post those pics too. :lol8:
:2thumbs: Fixed :lol8: :lol8: :lol8:

[Iceaxe]

:2thumbs: Fixed :lol8: :lol8: :lol8:

:roflol: :roflol: :roflol:

[tanya]

Unfortunately there were not hot girls along, you guys would need to post those pics too. :lol8:
:2thumbs: Fixed :lol8: :lol8: :lol8:


Men :roll:

:haha:

[tanya]

Bo and I did this canyon on Sunday --- and all I can say is that you boys are totally INSANE!!!! My toes were frozen and I had on neoprene socks and a 5mm wetsuit!!! :eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2:

That had to be painful!


Here are the photos from Bo and my Sunday trip through.

http://www.zionnational-park.com/images/album2/index62.htm

[nelsonccc]

Bo and I did this canyon on Sunday --- and all I can say is that you boys are totally INSANE!!!! My toes were frozen and I had on neoprene socks and a 5mm wetsuit!!! :eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2:

That had to be painful!


Here are the photos from Bo and my Sunday trip through.

http://www.zionnational-park.com/images/album2/index62.htm

When did Bo start growing a beard? That's a lot of grey. Looks like me when i let my hair grow out.

[Bo_Beck]

Bo and I did this canyon on Sunday --- and all I can say is that you boys are totally INSANE!!!! My toes were frozen and I had on neoprene socks and a 5mm wetsuit!!! :eek2: :eek2: :eek2: :eek2:

That had to be painful!


Here are the photos from Bo and my Sunday trip through.

http://www.zionnational-park.com/images/album2/index62.htm

When did Bo start growing a beard? That's a lot of grey. Looks like me when i let my hair grow out.

Yeah...you noticed! Thanks..I think I started my beard maybe 3 years ago to try to take attention away from my bald head :lol8: But now that you mention it the grey in my 'stash' and beard is sort of taking headlines. Might be time to just shave it all off!!! :blahblah: :five:

[accadacca]

Hey Bo, don't want to hijack, but you have to see this video if you have not.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0UxVdwadTDY

[accadacca]

If my above post is inappropriate or "fluff," please delete.

[Bo_Beck]

Hey Bo, don't want to hijack, but you have to see this video if you have not.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=0UxVdwadTDY

:roflol: :roflol: :roflol: :afro:

[tanya]

The group owner needs to go to the trash can! He derailed my thread. :lol8: :twisted:



I have Bo's Yankee Doodle Trip Report map, etc... online. :nod:

http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-yankee-doodle.htm

[trackrunner]

The group owner needs to go to the trash can! He derailed my thread. :lol8: :twisted:



I have Bo's Yankee Doodle Trip Report map, etc... online. :nod:

http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-yankee-doodle.htm
Nice :2thumbs:
For the life of me I can never find the right exit, get cliffed out, and end up hiking up big hollow. Next time I'll look harder.

One thing to change on the technical section. I assume you ment "one"

Technical: On rappel but numerous down climbs.

[oldno7]

The group owner needs to go to the trash can! He derailed my thread. :lol8: :twisted:



I have Bo's Yankee Doodle Trip Report map, etc... online. :nod:

http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-yankee-doodle.htm
Nice :2thumbs:
For the life of me I can never find the right exit, get cliffed out, and end up hiking up big hollow. Next time I'll look harder.

One thing to change on the technical section. I assume you ment "one"

Technical: On rappel but numerous down climbs.

Your probably just missing the exit by a couple hundred feet, the start up is across slick rock for the first little bit then into a defined streambed to the top.

[Iceaxe]

For the life of me I can never find the right exit, get cliffed out, and end up hiking up big hollow. Next time I'll look harder.

This is one of those deals when you finially hit the right exit you'll slap your forehead. :doh:

.

[tanya]

The group owner needs to go to the trash can! He derailed my thread. :lol8: :twisted:



I have Bo's Yankee Doodle Trip Report map, etc... online. :nod:

http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-yankee-doodle.htm
Nice :2thumbs:
For the life of me I can never find the right exit, get cliffed out, and end up hiking up big hollow. Next time I'll look harder.

One thing to change on the technical section. I assume you ment "one"

Technical: On rappel but numerous down climbs.

I shall fix that. I know what you mean about the exit... it just like --- you mean we exit now? I asked Bo last night to make the exit more clear in the description. He he working on it. :five:

[trackrunner]

For the life of me I can never find the right exit, get cliffed out, and end up hiking up big hollow. Next time I'll look harder.

This is one of those deals when you finially hit the right exit you'll slap your forehead. :doh:

.
Thanks everyone. I bet I will feel like an idiot when I do. It is not like Big Hollow is that far of a hike. First time we wanted to hike up Big Hollow, check it out spend a little more time hiking. Other time through we saw the cairns in the area where the beta said the exit is but got cliffed out, continued up Big Hollow. Next time plan on looking before and trying a little harder and longer, though I'd like to see what is down Big Hollow, Heath Wash, Cotton Wood Creek .

[Iceaxe]

Speaking of Yankee Doodle.... someone mentioned to me that the optional South Prong has developed a keeper pothole. Anyone know about this or have additional details?

:ne_nau:

I was told you can reverse out at the keeper if that's not your cup of tea.

:popcorn:

[trackrunner]

Speaking of Yankee Doodle.... someone mentioned to me that the optional South Prong has developed a keeper pothole. Anyone know about this or have additional details?

:ne_nau:

I was told you can reverse out at the keeper if that's not your cup of tea.

:popcorn:
Last time I was there I looked across the canyon and saw what I believed to be the pothole. I thought that would be a good place to learn ways to escape potholes, I need to learn so I can do those big boy canyons. To me it looked like the drainage went into the pothole and then dropped into Yankee Doodle proper just a little up canyon from the only rappel. But don't trust my word because I haven't checked it out for sure.

[trackrunner]

Earlier I found this map of the drainage exit at the ACA. If so that is where we were looking. I bet it was right under our noses and we missed it and were too blind to see it. :cool2:

http://www.gmap-pedometer.com/?r=1268975

[Iceaxe]

Last time I was there I looked across the canyon and saw what I believed to be the pothole. I thought that would be a good place to learn ways to escape potholes, I need to learn so I can do those big boy canyons. To me it looked like the drainage went into the pothole and then dropped into Yankee Doodle proper just a little up canyon from the only rappel. But don't trust my word because I haven't checked it out for sure.

That matches with exactly what I was told. I remember this pothole from when we did the canyon. It was waist deep with a sand bottom. I'm betting the sand bottom has washed out.

:nod:

[trackrunner]

Last time I was there I looked across the canyon and saw what I believed to be the pothole. I thought that would be a good place to learn ways to escape potholes, I need to learn so I can do those big boy canyons. To me it looked like the drainage went into the pothole and then dropped into Yankee Doodle proper just a little up canyon from the only rappel. But don't trust my word because I haven't checked it out for sure.

That matches with exactly what I was told. I remember this pothole from when we did the canyon. It was waist deep with a sand bottom. I'm betting the sand bottom has washed out.

:nod:
I think you know what I meant. But I should clarify my wording wasn't that descriptive. If you look on a map there is drainage from the south (Iceaxe called it earlier the south prong of Yankee Doodle). From the bench on the normal rappel (only one right off the road and as mentioned earlier and in the pics posted) I was looking towards and down on the south drainage and noticed this potential pothole.

[Bo_Beck]

The group owner needs to go to the trash can! He derailed my thread. :lol8: :twisted:



I have Bo's Yankee Doodle Trip Report map, etc... online. :nod:

http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-yankee-doodle.htm
Nice :2thumbs:
For the life of me I can never find the right exit, get cliffed out, and end up hiking up big hollow. Next time I'll look harder.

One thing to change on the technical section. I assume you ment "one"

Technical: On rappel but numerous down climbs.

I shall fix that. I know what you mean about the exit... it just like --- you mean we exit now? I asked Bo last night to make the exit more clear in the description. He he working on it. :five:

I got "derailed" by work all day!? I am on my way home, but first stopping to do my 8 miles in the desert, then when I get home I have to unload the tiles to redo my home with, and then when I'm done with that I'll try to re-write the exit more explicitly! :ne_nau: :haha:

[Iceaxe]

:crackit:

[tanya]

:crackit:


Take that whip to the basement :haha:


You will offend the innocents out here. :lol8:

[tanya]

The group owner needs to go to the trash can! He derailed my thread. :lol8: :twisted:



I have Bo's Yankee Doodle Trip Report map, etc... online. :nod:

http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-yankee-doodle.htm
Nice :2thumbs:
For the life of me I can never find the right exit, get cliffed out, and end up hiking up big hollow. Next time I'll look harder.

One thing to change on the technical section. I assume you ment "one"

Technical: On rappel but numerous down climbs.

I shall fix that. I know what you mean about the exit... it just like --- you mean we exit now? I asked Bo last night to make the exit more clear in the description. He he working on it. :five:

I got "derailed" by work all day!? I am on my way home, but first stopping to do my 8 miles in the desert, then when I get home I have to unload the tiles to redo my home with, and then when I'm done with that I'll try to re-write the exit more explicitly! :ne_nau: :haha:

No hurry ... make your body and that wife of yours happy first -- no happy wife.. no hiking! :haha: Trackrunner will just have to fend for himself until you have time. :cool2:

[oldno7]

If you circle around the first (tree) rap and get on the West side of that canyon, you can rim walk south to a point overlooking the pothole from the top.

As I recall the pothole is probably 20' across, the lip on the downstream side is around 4' tall, we anchored our rappel before the pothole, went through the pothole and continued with about a 20' into the main canyon as trackrunner describes just below the 80' coming from the north. I can't see it becoming a keeper unless it's way deeper than last fall. :ne_nau:

[tanya]

The group owner needs to go to the trash can! He derailed my thread. :lol8: :twisted:



I have Bo's Yankee Doodle Trip Report map, etc... online. :nod:

http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-yankee-doodle.htm
Nice :2thumbs:
For the life of me I can never find the right exit, get cliffed out, and end up hiking up big hollow. Next time I'll look harder.

One thing to change on the technical section. I assume you ment "one"

Technical: On rappel but numerous down climbs.

I shall fix that. I know what you mean about the exit... it just like --- you mean we exit now? I asked Bo last night to make the exit more clear in the description. He he working on it. :five:

I got "derailed" by work all day!? I am on my way home, but first stopping to do my 8 miles in the desert, then when I get home I have to unload the tiles to redo my home with, and then when I'm done with that I'll try to re-write the exit more explicitly! :ne_nau: :haha:

No hurry ... make your body and that wife of yours happy first -- no happy wife.. no hiking! :haha: Trackrunner will just have to fend for himself until you have time. :cool2:

He wrote a book on the exit. No one should get lost now. :haha:

[trackrunner]

The group owner needs to go to the trash can! He derailed my thread. :lol8: :twisted:



I have Bo's Yankee Doodle Trip Report map, etc... online. :nod:

http://www.zionnational-park.com/zion-yankee-doodle.htm
Nice :2thumbs:
For the life of me I can never find the right exit, get cliffed out, and end up hiking up big hollow. Next time I'll look harder.

One thing to change on the technical section. I assume you ment "one"

Technical: On rappel but numerous down climbs.

Ok, thanks on the exit. I was saying finding the exit was my problem. Now there is no way I can get lost, hopefully. :hail2thechief:

Earlier I had mentioned that one thing that might need to change would be this:

Technical: On rappel but numerous down climbs.
I assume it means "one" rapple but numerous down climbs. :blahblah:

[tanya]

Oh yeah! I meant to fix that! Got it now! Thanks! :2thumbs: