Who named each canyon and why?

[accadacca]

Maybe this has been discussed before? Perhaps in bits and pieces. I know that several bogley members have directly named or help name many canyons. I am curious and would find it very interesting to find out who named each canyon and why it was given the name. Perhaps also what year it was named.

Post what you know. :popcorn:

This was stefan's response to my question in another thread when I asked about the Alcatraz name.



How was this canyon named? Does it have a long swim or something?

it was named by scott patterson after he and mike kelsey needed to escape from it when they weren't sure about making it through.

however, scott vehemently does not condone the method they used to escape the canyon and prefers that his story not be broadcast.

[Scott Card]

Waitin' for Shane, Tom, Stefan, and Ram to pipe up..... :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn: :popcorn:

[Sombeech]

I sense some debate may begin... "I named it this" - "NO, I named it this 5 years before you found it" :lol8:

But seriously, I would like to know how each canyon got the "popular" name too.

[Iceaxe]

Actually there is not a lot of debate about names.... but where the names came from is usually pretty interesting.

Lots of info already in this forum if you pick the right search words.

Leprechaun
http://www.bogley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10261

:popcorn:

[Iceaxe]

Sandthrax: Where Did The Canyon Get It's Name

It helps to read this story first: http://climb-utah.com/Powell/sandthrax1.htm

It's important to know the events of our first attempted descent occurred one month after the 9/11 terrorist hijackings and the big congress mail room anthrax scare. The entire country was putting on a brave face but in reality everyone was hunkered down just waiting for the next attack.

When we were trapped in Sandthrax I had one of those cheap disposable point and shoot cameras in my pack. After the ordeal I took the camera into a local grocery store with a one hour photo service to get the film developed.

After dropping off the camera at the one hour photo service I proceed to do some grocery shopping while the film is being develop. When the female film technician pops open the back of the camera sand spills out everywhere. The film technician freaks out and reports she has just been poisoned with anthrax. The cops who happen to have a sub station next to this particular grocery store and who have been watching way too much TV spring into action.......

Next thing I know I'm face down in the isle of the grocery store with two cops standing on top of me with their guns drawn.

After I told my partner Hank Moon the story and he stopped rolling on the floor laughing he suggested we name the canyon Sandthrax, in honor of my grocery shopping episode.

:popcorn:

[Iceaxe]

Baptist Draw Historical Information:

The Swasey family named a large portion of the canyons and features in the San Rafael Swell. Baptist Draw is believed to have received its name when Joe Swasey and a friend stopped for water at Baptist Tanks. The tanks are depressions or potholes in the sandstone that capture and hold water. The cowboys decided to baptize a dog, which had been following them by tossing him into the tanks.

:ear:

[trackrunner]

Sandthrax: Where Did The Canyon Get It's Name

It helps to read this story first: http://climb-utah.com/Powell/sandthrax1.htm

It's important to know the events of our first attempted descent occurred one month after the 9/11 terrorist hijackings and the big congress mail room anthrax scare. The entire country was putting on a brave face but in reality everyone was hunkered down just waiting for the next attack.

When we were trapped in Sandthrax I had one of those cheap disposable point and shoot cameras in my pack. After the ordeal I took the camera into a local grocery store with a one hour photo service to get the film developed.

After dropping off the camera at the one hour photo service I proceed to do some grocery shopping while the film is being develop. When the female film technician pops open the back of the camera sand spills out everywhere. The film technician freaks out and reports she has just been poisoned with anthrax. The cops who happen to have a sub station next to this particular grocery store and who have been watching way too much TV spring into action.......

Next thing I know I'm face down in the isle of the grocery store with two cops standing on top of me with their guns drawn.

After I told my partner Hank Moon the story and he stopped rolling on the floor laughing he suggested we name the canyon Sandthrax, in honor of my grocery shopping episode.

:popcorn:
:roflol: :roflol: :roflol:
Did you get your film back?

[Iceaxe]

Music Canyon
http://climb-utah.com/SRS/music1.htm

Music Canyon received its name on the first known descent. The story goes that a woman accompanying the group had a beautiful voice and when they reached a dark cavern referred to as "The Music Chamber" she began to sing and the acoustics were remarkable.

http://climb-utah.com/SRS/Files/Music01.jpg

[Iceaxe]

Escape from Alcatraz
By: Scott Patterson

http://climb-utah.com/Roost/alcatraz1.htm

The story above is where Alcatraz in the Roost got it's name.

http://climb-utah.com/Roost/Files/alcatraz11.jpg

[shaggy125]

I think Stefan has taken an interest in canyon names and knows where quite a few of them came from. I've been part of a couple explorations recently. I scoped out a canyon and went down it to find out that Ryan Cornea had finished it with Mike Kelsey earlier. I called it Trachyotomy because it drops into Trachyte creek and took delicate moves to get down like the delicate procedure MD's do. Turns out that Ryan and his crew had named the area the "Land of Oz" and had a whole theme of names for the canyons like "Yellow Brick Road," and this canyon was the "Witches Cauldron," another fine name for the canyon. Ryan can probably give you more background on his names for the canyons in that area.

A few weeks later I planned on doing Maidenwater with Carpey and Brian from Logan when Dave P (Wyoming Dave over on the yahoo group) comes up to me with a huge grin on his face all excited, showing me this new canyon he had found on Google Earth and had scouted that day. He was planning on doing it the next day and asked if I wanted in... Sorry Carpey and Brian, I just couldn't say no, I'd never seen Dave so excited in my life! The canyon was GREAT fun, lots of potholes, lots of problem solving, really good. It drops into Woodruff canyon so Dave thought the name Woody would be good. Hope to get in on some more new stuff this year (actually if Kelsey's new book comes out this year we will all be busy checking out his new routes :rockon: ).

Links to beta:

Witches Cauldron: http://www.outdoorzen.org/site/beta/north-wash/witchscauldron.html

Woody: http://canyoneeringusa.com/utah/north/woody.php

[Iceaxe]

Did you get your film back?

Actually I did, but the photo tech bitched me out because the sand ruined all her solution... whatever that is....

.

[Iceaxe]

History of Bluejohn
http://climb-utah.com/Roost/bluejohn1.htm

Bluejohn Canyon appears to have been named after a minor Robbers Roost outlaw by the name of John Griffith. Griffith had one blue eye and one brown eye and thus was saddled with the nickname "Blue John". It is recognized that he kept stolen horses in the area, perhaps watering them at nearby springs. In the fall of 1899 Griffith is reported to have put in at Hite with a small boat with the intention of reaching Lee's Ferry. He was never heard from again.

:roll:

[Iceaxe]

Mind Bender - What's In A Name:

How did Mind Bender get it's name? The following excerpt is from Steve Allen's excellent guidebook 'Canyoneering 2: Technical Loop Hikes in Southern Utah'.

"By the time we reached the crux section of the canyon, we had been enveloped by a blizzard; the snow that whipped through the canyon stung our eyes and froze our hands. The crux was truly a mind bender; the narrow slot gave way to an abrupt drop over the 155-foot-high mouth of a huge cave. We spent an hour rigging our ropes. With no secure anchor points, we ended up burying a sling under a pile of rocks at the bottom of a large pothole and attaching the rope to it."

"I went first, carefully sliding out of the slot and into a vertical void, the floor of the canyon invisible in the swirl of snow. Would the rope be long enough? The question was answered when I was halfway down: the rope was long enough but my trajectory would have taken me through the limbs of an oak tree and into a large pool. Not good! With some gentle swinging I managed to hit a dry landing zone. Ginger took her time lowering packs over the fifteen-story drop. From below I saw that the brunt of the storm had descended on her. The rock was now plastered with rime ice and, perilously perched on the edge of the abyss, every move on her part had to be carefully executed. A mistake could have meant the ultimate splat. At long last I saw Ginger's legs emerge from the slot; she slowly spun down the rope, afraid a sudden jerk would dislodge it from its precarious anchor. There were no further obstacles below. The Mind Bender Fork was a done deal."

:rockon:

[Iceaxe]

Not Mindbender - Robbers Roost

How does a canyon get such a dumb name as "Not Mindbender"? It's because a group of friends looking for the actual Mind Bender stumbled upon this little beauty first and did a descent. What the group had actually found was Mind Benders big brother.

http://climb-utah.com/Roost/Files/notmind01.jpg

[Iceaxe]

Zero Gravity
http://climb-utah.com/SRS/zero.htm

When we first did the canyon I dropped through the bombay at the exit a little to early and got stuck. I was trapped at my chest but my feet were hanging down into space about 10' above the ground. I was suspended in air and looked like Wily E. Coyote running in space..... after everyone finished laughing they helped me get unstuck.

http://climb-utah.com/SRS/Files/zero1.jpg

[oldgator]

Zero Gravity
http://climb-utah.com/SRS/zero.htm

I was trapped at my chest but my feet were hanging down into space about 10' above the ground. I was suspended in air and looked like Wily E. Coyote running in space..... after everyone finished laughing they helped me get unstuck.



Hey! you stole my story!!! kinda of anyway, mines better in that I had read your beta, and still dropped into too early(nobody said I was smart....), it was a very strange feeling being stuck like that...


OG :cool2:

[Iceaxe]

This story was submitted by Dave Pitney and is published in the book

Canyoneering Tales
http://www.cafepress.com/climbutah.11918147

http://www.climb-utah.com/cafepress/talesbookcover.jpg


Das Boot
Dave Pitney

My friend Ram and I were descending Mystery one October day and we come upon two ropes still set up at Mystery Spring. After dropping them, we proceeded to the drop into the Virgin and find a 3-ply 18mm rope leading to the drop. So now we carry out 600 feet of wet rope and inquire at the ranger station if any one reported stuck ropes. Nope. Later that week we get a call from L, a podiatrist, who says "hey I heard you found my ropes, can you send one back to Vegas?" Certainly, but how did they get there? Well L and the boys decided to do Mystery at night, rapping with hand held flashlights, held in their teeth. OK. Our kind of people. Since I was going there in a few weeks for a trade show, I said I'd leave them at the hotel desk. One thing led to another and L and I made plans to descend the upper middle of Left Fork and then finish with the Subway. Now we are heading in mid November at 6000+ feet and L does not want to rent a wet suit. Very bad idea. Most are convinced that he will die if he does not suit and eventually he is convinced to get a suit and all appears well. Appears, that is.

So we meet and head up after getting the requisite permit and we start hiking in a foot of snow to the start. Now I was happy to just find the start as I had only been there once with Ram and was not paying particular attention. So I'm suiting up, eating all I can find including the taco wrap and L. is waiting for me in his hiking clothes. Let's get ready I say and he tells me he is hot and won't be putting on his wet suit. A little bit of arguing and I point out that shiny stuff in the water is ICE and get your suit on! Finally he relents (partly) and puts the top of his farmer john on and this whole trip is going downhill, fast. So I'm tired of this and get ready to go and realize he has no neo socks on. L states that he has done many canyons before and knows what he is doing. Timing? Well June and July, mostly. You are in for a treat, I say.

So in we plunge and 20 minutes later I hear "duh, duh dddave, I'm cold". No shit, and this is ice swirling around you. How cold? I can't feel my legs. About what one should expect, your body is working fine, let's go. No, he has to put on his bottoms. So this takes 20 minutes and despite my aerobic exercises I go from cool to cold. Now my panties are in a wad. L is slow and stumbling a little (we know what this means) and to keep him moving I keep slipping around corners ahead of him just letting him catch a glance of me. Finally we come to a place with that white winter sun and L comes up and falls face first into the stream and does not get up. I notice that he has one boot on and a sock on the other foot. I pick his head out of the water and ask him where his other boot is. "I duh, duh, don't know" he says slowly. So we still have more of this canyon segment and then 8 miles of the subway including the hike out and L has one boot. Unacceptable I state. If you hike with me, you hike with two boots. Go get it. I don't know where it is he stutters. So how long have you not had a boot? "I dunno. I can't feel my feet" Neo socks rule, I guess. So I go back and poke around in the last pool and find no boot. Probably not tied on well when he changed. Damn. What am I going to do with a hypothermic bimbo and miles to go? Does death become him? Nah.

Hike. And shortly we come to the final rap of the narrows and I try to puzzle out the best way with hypo L. Me first? Him first? Just toss his sorry ass into the pool? So I put him on rappel and then I go down and get ready to fireman him in case of a mistake. But of course he has to rap down the snow covered slope in his sock. So it's pretty obvious that this canyon is over if we can get out. I go through his pack and make a boot out a stuff sack and my two socks and figure that if we can exit the Russell Gulch entrance then maybe this will end, mercifully. So up we go and L begins to warm and come out of his stupor. Sun is shining, snow is melting and all is well. We get back to the car and I give L my card and he begins to weep as the import of the day becomes clear - and the card is titled "Let's Adventure".

So how the name Das Boot? A podiatrist losing his boot in the narrows. Lessons are obvious.


:cool2:

[Iceaxe]

Constrychnine was named in a thread on Bogley. Initally the canyon was going to be called Hemlock.... how the name was born is kind of interesting:

Naming of Constrychnine
http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?21041-Constrychnine
:bootyshake:

[Sombeech]

Next thing I know I'm face down in the isle of the grocery store with two cops standing on top of me with their guns drawn.

No - Friggin - Way. :lol8: :lol8: :lol8:


I would think you were actually flirting with the cashier, who happened to be 17.

[Scott Card]

This is great stuff.

I still think that the gunsight entrance to Heaps needs to be renamed "Not Behunin" in memory of the fellers that mistook it for Behunin and had to get rescued. :haha:

[trackrunner]

This is great stuff.

I still think that the gunsight entrance to Heaps needs to be renamed "Not Behunin" in memory of the fellers that mistook it for Behunin and had to get rescued. :haha:
Didn't two of the guys complete it when more rope was lowered to them, and without wetsuits. :eek2:

http://www.bogley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2650

Even a dog has made it through Heaps, what an easy canyon. Now I wonder why I haven't gone yet. :ne_nau:

http://www.bogley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4446

[accadacca]

:popcorn: Awesome reading. . .I just spent 30 minutes. Keep em coming. I know stefan is outta town, but he'll prolly join in and others too. :five:

[Scott Card]

This is great stuff.

I still think that the gunsight entrance to Heaps needs to be renamed "Not Behunin" in memory of the fellers that mistook it for Behunin and had to get rescued. :haha:
Didn't two of the guys complete it when more rope was lowered to them, and without wetsuits. :eek2:

http://www.bogley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=2650

Even a dog has made it through Heaps, what an easy canyon. Now I wonder why I haven't gone yet. :ne_nau:

http://www.bogley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4446
One would be Behunin hiker was flown out and the other two would have died but for the extra equipment, clothes, food, etc. Sounds to me the two that were not flown out were merely saved but not rescued. :lol8:

[Iceaxe]

:popcorn: Awesome reading. . .I just spent 30 minutes. Keep em coming. I know stefan is outta town, but he'll prolly join in and others too. :five:

Actually I'm really happy to see this thread.... this is stuff that should be recorded for historical reason. I'm sure others have a lot more to add.

And I'm guessing others might have a different thought of where some names came from.

:popcorn:

[Iceaxe]

Arscenic and Slideanide

Arscenic and Slideanide were named by Alicia Scotter, Sharon Talboys and Barb Meierhofer.

I stumbled onto these canyons by looking at satellite photo's of the area. Once I knew the canyons existed I started asking around among canyoneers who I knew frequented the area in the past and was given some rough beta to several Poison Springs area canyons. I asked what names they had used in the past for the canyons and was told #1 (Arscenic), #2 (Slideanide) and #3 (Constrychnine). The original guys had never bothered to name the canyons, which was often their practice.... remember, these canyons were first done by these guys before the term "canyoneering" even existed and only a handful of people were even doing technical slot canyons.

Anyhoo.... while hiking out after doing the routes I asked for name suggestions, which is my usual practice when I don't have a known name for a route. I suggested we name the routes after songs by the 80's metal band `Poison'... we kicked that around for a while and finally the girls started coming up with what I though twere awesome names for the routes that tied in nicely with a Poison theme. Constrychnine was named later by stefan and mentioned in one of the posts above.

.

[Iceaxe]

Black Hole

The Black Hole was named by Kelsey when it first appeared in his "Canyon Hiking Guide to the Colorado Plateau". That MK actually named it the Black Hole is really kind of amazing because he seldom/never names routes with his own colorful names. I do believe that MK was the first to use this name because he has told me since it was a mistake and he wished he had not given the route a "silly" name.

.

[Iceaxe]

I would think you were actually flirting with the cashier, who happened to be 17.



:roflol:

[Iceaxe]

Boss Hogg

This canyon was named by Dave Black, Charley ?? and Jim ??

This canyon also taught me an interesting personal lesson.....

I stumbled onto the Hog canyon system by looking at satellite photo's of the area. I mentioned this great canyon system I had found to Dave Black and said I'd be coming down to North Wash in two weeks to do the route if he was interested in joining in on the fun

[Iceaxe]

Moonshine Wash - Robbers Roost

The canyon was named after the illegal whiskey still that was located in the canyon during prohibition. The cement vats that the whiskey was brewed in are still in the canyon.

:friday:

[ratagonia]

Arscenic and Slideanide

Arscenic and Slideanide were named by Alicia Scotter, Sharon Talboys and Barb Meierhofer.

I stumbled onto these canyons by looking at satellite photo's of the area. Once I knew the canyons existed I started asking around among canyoneers who I knew frequented the area in the past and was given some rough beta to several Poison Springs area canyons. I asked what names they had used in the past for the canyons and was told #1 (Arscenic), #2 (Slideanide) and #3 (Constrychnine). The original guys had never bothered to name the canyons, which was often their practice.... remember, these canyons were first done by these guys before the term "canyoneering" even existed and only a handful of people were even doing technical slot canyons.

Anyhoo.... while hiking out after doing the routes I asked for name suggestions, which is my usual practice when I don't have a known name for a route. I suggested we name the routes after songs by the 80's metal band `Poison'... we kicked that around for a while and finally the girls started coming up with what I though twere awesome names for the routes that tied in nicely with a Poison theme. Constrychnine was named later by stefan and mentioned in one of the posts above.

.

How quickly he forgets (the men, of course). :ne_nau:

It even made The Rave:

http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/rave/0403roost/index.htm

Of course, no one but Shane had an intimate knowledge of Poison's repertoire, so we had to resort to various poisons. I believe I came up with Ar-Scenic, due to the scenic little arch on it's rim.

Tom

[Iceaxe]

How quickly he forgets (the men, of course). :ne_nau:

I'm sorry Tom.... I certainly didn't mean to slight anyone.

Tom Talboys, Tom Jones and Jeff Meierhofer were all on the Posion Springs trip.


And Please feel free to correct any other errors.... I'm sure there are many errors in the info I've posted above. This is all from memory of things that happened over the past 10 years.

I was hoping Mr. Jones would add his knowledge of names to the thread. Tom or his group were responsible for naming Blarney, Shenanigan's, Not Mind Bender... and a bunch of other routes.

:hail2thechief:

A lot of times I know which group named the route... but not who or why.

I'd like to also hear from Deserthiker... particularly in regards to Pandora's Box, which is a fantastic name for the route that wears it.

Edit: also need to add Gilles and Julie Wallace's names to this list.


:cool2:

[Iceaxe]

Swaseys Leap - Lower Black Box - San Rafael Swell

Local Legend: Swaseys Leap, shown on USGS maps as Swazys Leap, is named after Sid Swasey. Local legend has it that Sid bet his brother Joe that he could jump the gap on his saddle horse. According to the legend, Sid made the jump and won a herd of sheep from his brother. Several years later, Sheepherder Paul Hanson built a log bridge across Swaseys Leap for the purpose of getting his sheep across the flooded river. The log bridge fell into the river in 1997.

http://climb-utah.com/SRS/Files/LBB01.jpg

[Iceaxe]

Zero-G

One other slight I noticed after reading back over the thread...

Sam and Devon Gregory were part of the trip that named Zero-G. The naming was a group thing.

:cool2:

[accadacca]

Fantastic read here. I hope we can get more parties going. :five:

[ratagonia]

I was hoping Mr. Jones would add his knowledge of names to the thread. Tom or his group were responsible for naming Blarney, Shenanigan's, Not Mind Bender... and a bunch of other routes.


Not Mindbender = I thought we had found Mind Bender, and held that belief for six months. But then I read the description (and maybe Kelsey's book came out) and realized - NOT!

Blarney - Shane and Hank had discovered and explored Leprechaun and (most of) Sandthrax, and Shane had spun me some yarns about fantastic canyons in the area with ruins and waterfalls and beautiful pools - which I bought hook line and sinker. So Alicia and I named Blarney in appreciation of Shane's gifts of the tongue, and to keep with the Leprechaun Irish theme.

Shenanigans - I don't remember the moment when the name came about, but it is one of my favorite names. To honor the Shenanigans involved in the first (of ours) descent. And keeping with the Irish theme.

Tom

[Iceaxe]

Eye of the Needle

This is my biggest regret in canyon names. I wish I had of just called the slot "South Fork of Oak Creek". Lots of reasons for the stupid name, and I do think it's a stupid name. This was named back in the days when I was still trying to make everyone happy about what was getting betaed. At the time the canyon had about half a dozen silly names among different groups who were all trying to hide the canyon from each other.... so what did I do? I gave it anther silly name. :roll:

Anyhoo... since the naming of this canyon I've learned a few important things....

1. With the internet, the life of a secret canyon is measured in dog years....

2. The only way three people can keep a secret is if two of them are dead...

And probably the most important item....

3. The first person to publicly beta the canyon get's to set the ethics, style and name for the route. Now I don't exactly agree with this last item, but it is a fact. The first time a route shows up in a guidebook or reliable website is like carving the ethics, style and name into stone.

:cool2:

[ratagonia]

A lot of times I know which group named the route... but not who or why.

I'd like to also hear from Deserthiker... particularly in regards to Pandora's Box, which is a fantastic name for the route that wears it.

:cool2:

And there's no reason to think there is only one version of each story...

Tom

[stefan]

... this is stuff that should be recorded for historical reason.

yes it should. i have been working on a database of this stuff and will be sharing it down the road
when it's a little more complete.



Boss Hogg

This canyon was named by Dave Black, Charley ?? and Jim ??

Dave Black and Jim Wright named the canyon and, i believe, the original spelling was Boss Hawg
as you can see from the original post (feb 03) on the Canyons Yahoo Group (LINK (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canyons/message/10614))


Music Canyon was named by Lloyd Bush, Henry Haurand, Kent Johnson, and Laurie Ness.
here's Lloyd Bush's original post (nov 02) on the Canyons Yahoo Group (LINK (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canyons/message/9996))


Two weeks later we came back with two other friends (Kent Johnson and Laurie Ness) to do the whole canyon. I had located what I thought was the canyon on the topo and we started from the top. It turned out to be every bit as good as we had hoped. When we got to the bottom, we turned around and went back up. At one point, there is a dark cavern with remarkable acoustics, and Laurie, who has a beautiful voice began to sing. This led to a discussion as to what to name the canyon. We narrowed it down to "Music" or "Melody", and Music finally won out.

[stefan]

as Tom Jones mentioned, he named Shenanigans, but he also named the other forks of west butler Foolin' Around and Monkey Business.


Reports of these trips:

Shenanigans (Link to Tom's Original story) (http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/utah/north/tomshen.htm) which has been reprinted together with a follow up TR of the return to the canyon (originally posted on the Canyons Yahoo Group) on the following LINK to Canyon Tales (http://www.math.utah.edu/~sfolias/canyontales/ctale.php?i=shenanigans). And of course there is Ram's report of the events which was originally posted on the Canyons Yahoo Group (LINK) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canyons/message/15338) and has been reprinted at the following LINK to Canyon Tales (http://www.math.utah.edu/~sfolias/canyontales/ram.php?i=crossroads)

Foolin' Around first posted in a TR by Tom Jones on the Canyons Yahoo Group (LINK) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canyons/message/14071) and has been reprinted at the following LINK to Canyon Tales (http://www.math.utah.edu/~sfolias/canyontales/ctale.php?i=foolinaround)

Monkey Business first posted in a TR by Ram on the Canyons Yahoo Group (LINK) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canyons/message/14052) and has been reprinted at the following LINK to Canyon Tales (http://www.math.utah.edu/~sfolias/canyontales/ctale.php?i=monkeybusiness)


Shillelagh was named by Barb Pollyea and Shane Burrows.


Icebox Canyon -- here is an old post of Scott Patterson's from the (now defunct) Canyoneer Yahoo Group regarding this canyon. (LINK) (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canyoneer/message/630)


Icebox was known as Waterfalls, and I don't know which name came first. Here's the story: I led the WMC trip through the canyon several years ago. In researching the area, we had the NPS search by phone all the previous "Black Book" entries. One very old one, said that there was a route to the rim from Lee Pass and it said you could look down into the "Eye Slots", or at least that's what I heard. When we did the canyon, it was partially filled with snow and the water was very cold (41 degrees to be exact). After the swim, Janet Curry asked "Scott are you sure that the ranger said Eye Slots; it should be Icebox", or something to that effect. Later, Stu Addler wrote or trip up in the Black Book as Icebox Canyon. Still later, we learned that the name Waterfalls Canyon has already been tagged to the canyon. We tried to find the old enrty that was read over the phone to find out if it was Icebox or Eye Slots, but after that it was lost. None of the rangers could find it after that. Strange, I know. So, the question still remains, is the canyon Eye Slots, Icebox, or waterfalls Canyon?

others to follow

[Iceaxe]

Dave Black and Jim Wright named the canyon and, i believe, the original spelling was Boss Hawg
as you can see from the original post (feb 03) on the Canyons Yahoo Group (LINK (http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canyons/message/10614))


FWIW: The orginal TR's from both Jim Wright and Charlie listed the name and spelling as "Boss Hog" Dave Black apparently spelled it Boss Hawg?

I've seen the canyons listed as:

Boss Hog
Boss Hogg
Boss Hawg

The canyon was first publicly betaed under the name and spelling Boss Hog
http://climb-utah.com/Powell/bosshog.htm

No skin of my nose either way.... just though you would be interested. Now might be a good time for everyone to agree on a spelling.... or not....

:popcorn:

[Iceaxe]

Yankee Doodle

This bad boy belongs to Dick Shear. If you look at a USGS 7.5" Topo the drainage above the road is labeled Yankee Doodle Hollow, which I'm sure is where the name came from.

:popcorn:

[Iceaxe]

Monoxide
http://climb-utah.com/Powell/monoxide.htm

I think it was Mr. Jones who coined the name in keeping with the posion tradition.... but the folllowing people were on the trip so it could have been any/all or a combination who named the route....

Tom and Sharon Talboys, Jeff and Barb Meierhofer, Tom Jones, Gilles Wallace and Shane Burrows

http://climb-utah.com/Powell/Files/monoxide02.jpg

[ratagonia]

Monoxide
http://climb-utah.com/Powell/monoxide.htm

I think it was Mr. Jones who coined the name in keeping with the poison tradition.... but the folllowing people were on the trip so it could have been any/all or a combination who named the route....

Tom and Sharon Talboys, Jeff and Barb Meierhofer, Tom Jones, Gilles Wallace and Shane Burrows


As I remember, we called it Monoxide because it had exactly ONE good feature...

Tom

[Iceaxe]

Lucky Charms

Hank Moon came up with that name in keeping with the area's Irish theme. Hank and I had spent the afternoon scrambling around the sandstone cliff's and I though the route was a fun divergence to add to climb-Utah.

http://climb-utah.com/Powell/Files/lucky01.jpg

[Iceaxe]

Big Horn
http://climb-utah.com/Moab/bighorn.htm

This was a know brainer when it came to naming. A group of us were playing around in Moab and did the route. Big Horn has this really cool little hanging garden in the middle of a huge sandstone wall. A skilled climber or big horn sheep can actual climb to an overhanging ledge just above the hanging garden. The problem is if you jump into the hanging garden from the ledge you are not getting out unless you use ropes. This became obvious to us when we discover the horns of a Big Horn Sheep who had become trapped in the hanging garden/prison and perished.

The orgianal Big Horn group consisted of:
Jason Price, March Schnupp, Justin Eatchell, Alex Korkishko, Shane Burrows

http://climb-utah.com/Moab/Files/bighorn7.jpg

[Iceaxe]

I'd like to hear from some of the California and AZ canyoneers... where are your names coming from?

Also, anyone know where "The Jug" in AZ got it's name?

:cool2:

[skianddive]

Also, anyone know where "The Jug" in AZ got it's name? :cool2:
Hmmm, the Salome "Jug" is at the base of the Dutchwoman Butte. Could the plural form of "Jug" been lost over the years? :haha:

[Randi]

I'd like to hear from some of the California and AZ canyoneers... where are your names coming from?

Also, anyone know where "The Jug" in AZ got it's name?

:cool2:

Before the canyon popularity boom here in Cali - Chris Brennen was naming many of the local canyons. Four that I know for sure he named (cuz I was with him on the first descent) are Suicide, Bull Canyon, Green Mountain, and Deep Canyon.
I'm sure there are many others that were named by him, and I would bet if it

[Iceaxe]

Four that I know for sure he named (cuz I was with him on the first descent) are Suicide, Bull Canyon, Green Mountain, and Deep Canyon.

I'm also curious why the canyons have the names they do.... a lot of the canyons we named have a story that goes with them. So... any good story to go with the naming of 'Suicide"?

[ratagonia]

Four that I know for sure he named (cuz I was with him on the first descent) are Suicide, Bull Canyon, Green Mountain, and Deep Canyon.

I'm also curious why the canyons have the names they do.... a lot of the canyons we named have a story that goes with them. So... any good story to go with the naming of 'Suicide"?

Suicide, by the original approach route, was a horrendous six-hour bushwhack through oak brush and poison ivy to get to the first rappel. By the time we got there, I was ready to just jump off.

That's my story, but not how it got its name...

Tom

[accadacca]

:popcorn:

[Randi]

Four that I know for sure he named (cuz I was with him on the first descent) are Suicide, Bull Canyon, Green Mountain, and Deep Canyon.

I'm also curious why the canyons have the names they do.... a lot of the canyons we named have a story that goes with them. So... any good story to go with the naming of 'Suicide"?

Suicide, by the original approach route, was a horrendous six-hour bushwhack through oak brush and poison ivy to get to the first rappel. By the time we got there, I was ready to just jump off.

That's my story, but not how it got its name...

Tom

Up Mount Luken's road?
Chris and I endured about 10 hours of hell.
You got off lucky I guess.



Four that I know for sure he named (cuz I was with him on the first descent) are Suicide, Bull Canyon, Green Mountain, and Deep Canyon.

I'm also curious why the canyons have the names they do.... a lot of the canyons we named have a story that goes with them. So... any good story to go with the naming of 'Suicide"?

I can

[cp0915]

[quote=Iceaxe]I'd like to hear from some of the California and AZ canyoneers... where are your names coming from?

Also, anyone know where "The Jug" in AZ got it's name?

:cool2:

Before the canyon popularity boom here in Cali - Chris Brennen was naming many of the local canyons. Four that I know for sure he named (cuz I was with him on the first descent) are Suicide, Bull Canyon, Green Mountain, and Deep Canyon.
I'm sure there are many others that were named by him, and I would bet if it

[Randi]

[quote]He and Mark Duttweiler were naming some of the canyons in Death Valley, which they/we pioneered

[cp0915]

Nope. Anvil is next to Shoestring. As of yet, undescended.

As for Abysmal, Rick has since gone and done two or three of the canyons south of there. One of them, I forget the name he gave it (Purgatory, maybe?), he felt was 4th best in the area (after Cerberus, Abysmal and Hades). A 9 AM start and a 12:15 AM return to the bottom vehicle. Wish I'd been along for that one, but I had other top-secret Zion stuff I was mixed up in!

CP

[Randi]

Nope. Anvil is next to Shoestring. As of yet, undescended.

As for Abysmal, Rick has since gone and done two or three of the canyons south of there. One of them, I forget the name he gave it (Purgatory, maybe?), he felt was 4th best in the area (after Cerberus, Abysmal and Hades). A 9 AM start and a 12:15 AM return to the bottom vehicle. Wish I'd been along for that one, but I had other top-secret Zion stuff I was mixed up in!

CP

Well, I'm all mixed up on what's what on all that new stuff that's being explored out there. I must be a glutton for punishment, cuz I like those long days.... wish I would've been there too (except for the time of year). DV gets way too hot after March for my liking.

It is definitely "thee" place to be in winter though.

Keep me posted on your peak hikes in Zion. Hopefully, I can get out there with you guys once, before your "CP & DB's excellent adventure" road trip! :mrgreen:

[cp0915]

And an excellent roadtrip it will be! I can't wait.

As for Zion, I'm gonna hit it hard the next 3 weeks (I think) then back off ('cept for canyons) until the fall. That said, I've really got an interest in something rather long and exploratory this Saturday but no one seems to want to join me. Is it the torn clothing, my ugly, unshaven face, the body odor, or perhaps a combination of the three?

CP

[Randi]

And an excellent roadtrip it will be! I can't wait.

As for Zion, I'm gonna hit it hard the next 3 weeks (I think) then back off ('cept for canyons) until the fall. That said, I've really got an interest in something rather long and exploratory this Saturday but no one seems to want to join me. Is it the torn clothing, my ugly, unshaven face, the body odor, or perhaps a combination of the three?

CP

I'm notorious for hanging out with ugly, torn up, unshaven, stinky men. :mrgreen: ~ Not to say "you" fall into that catagory of course, but those are your words, not mine! ; )

I would join you in a heartbeat if I didn't have plans already.
Sounds like my kind of trip.
I'm open the weekend of May 10th!
Hint, hint ~

I'm taking 8 people (including my eldest daughter) through a couple of local canyons this W/E.

[cp0915]

Weekend of May 10? I'm open. Let's make a plan.

(sorry to hijack this thread, by the way)

[Randi]

Weekend of May 10? I'm open. Let's make a plan.

(sorry to hijack this thread, by the way)

:2thumbs: Great! I'm looking forward to it.
W/E of May 10th - trip with Courtney and friends!
We'll get the track back on topic when we get back from our long arduous journey to who know's where?????? Got anything in mind off hand?

PS: I've got no problem starting in the dark and finishing in the dark. That's what headlamps are for! : )

[cp0915]

May 10-11. In the calendar! Anyone else comin'?!?

[Randi]

May 10-11. In the calendar! Anyone else comin'?!?

Maybe another guy from Vegas? :mrgreen:
Peak or canyon ya think?

[cp0915]

Peak or canyon? That's easy. One of each!

[Randi]

Peak or canyon? That's easy. One of each!

Perfect! :)
OK to bring a friend?
~not from the canyons groups but willing, and able~

[cp0915]

Of course you can bring a friend. I'll be bringing the Pooch.

[Iceaxe]

Cameltoe

This canyon got it's name because Justin Eatchel and I both think we are real funny f**kers....

We stumbled on to this route by wandering around on the slickrock with no real plan in mind. We were not the first to do this route. At one time this route was guided by a local Moab canyoneering company. They used anther name for the route which was told to me after I orginally betaed the route but can not remember what it was. If someone has the orgianal name of the route it would be nice to know.

:rockon:

[moabmatt]

Cameltoe

This canyon got it's name because Justin Eatchel and I both think we are real funny f**kers....

We stumbled on to this route by wandering around on the slickrock with no real plan in mind. We were not the first to do this route. At one time this route was guided by a local Moab canyoneering company. They used anther name for the route which was told to me after I orginally betaed the route but can not remember what it was. If someone has the orgianal name of the route it would be nice to know.

:rockon:

We first went into that canyon in 2000 and guided it infrequently for a couple years. It has no official name with the USGS. Many locals call it Culvert Canyon. It's also called Dragonfly Canyon by many locals. We spun off the Dragonfly theme and called it Odonata Canyon. Of course we didn't call it Dragonfly because we had already used that name for the canyon in Arches many years earlier.

Moab Matt

[rockgremlin]

This canyon got it's name because Justin Eatchel and I both think we are real funny f**kers....




Think...? :lol8:

[stefan]

.
a large compilation of canyon names: who named them and why they named them so

CANYON NAME DATABASE (http://www.math.utah.edu/~sfolias/canyontales/canyonames)

[Iceaxe]

Nice Job on the Canyon Name Database. :2thumbs:

[Iceaxe]

I kinda forgot about this thread, but since I see Stefan has used it as a resource I'll try to add more names that I know the origin of...

French Canyon

Joe Braun was backpacking Parunuweap, when he reached the unique and interesting tributary entering from the south he strode to the canyon entrance, planted his hiking staff, and declared "I claim this canyon in the name of France".

I believe the story first appeared in the Yahoo Zion National Park Hiking Group many years ago.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zion_National_Park_Hiking/

Later when I wrote up the Rock Canyon route description I could find no name for the tributary so I used the name "French Canyon" after Joe's antics.

Joe Braun - "I claim this canyon in the name of France"
http://www.citrusmilo.com/vacation2003/joebraun_barracks15.jpg

[trackrunner]

I kinda forgot about this thread, but since I see Stefan has used it as a resource I'll try to add more names that I know the origin of...

French Canyon

Joe Braun was backpacking Parunuweap, when he reached the unique and interesting tributary entering from the south he strode to the canyon entrance, planted his hiking staff, and declared "I claim this canyon in the name of France".

I believe the story first appeared in the Yahoo Zion National Park Hiking Group many years ago.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Zion_National_Park_Hiking/

Later when I wrote up the Rock Canyon route description I could find no name for the tributary so I used the name "French Canyon" after Joe's antics.

Joe Braun - "I claim this canyon in the name of France"
http://www.citrusmilo.com/vacation2003/joebraun_barracks15.jpg

I thought it was called French Canyon because one could retreat from Parunweap much like France retreats from war.

[Iceaxe]

I thought it was called French Canyon because one could retreat from Parunweap much like France retreats from war.

:lol8: :lol8: :lol8:

No, but that version also works really sweet.... :2thumbs:

At first canyoneers going down Misery and exiting out French were calling it "Joe's French Canyon", but soon the name was shortened to just French Canyon.

:popcorn:

[stefan]

Nice Job on the Canyon Name Database. :2thumbs:

thank you, shane.


I kinda forgot about this thread, but since I see Stefan has used it as a resource I'll try to add more names that I know the origin of...

yes, you did a nice job with a number of names. thanks :2thumbs:


... french canyon ...

yes ... this one's been on my list. thanks.

[Iceaxe]

Cass Canyon

At one time that was the name Desert Highlights was using in their advertisements for guiding the Black Hole.

Cass Canyon in honor of Cass Hite.... Cass Hite first reached the Colorado River by way of White Canyon.

You might want to add this as an AKA since I still see the name occasionally on old TR's and photo journals.

:cool2:

[Iceaxe]

Wild Wind Hollow

This canyon is often used as an escape from Birch Hollow so that a car shuttle is not required. The first group of canyoneers that I know of who did Birch Hollow and used Wild Wind Hollow as an escape gave the canyon it's name. It seems that one of the group had a bad case of gas and kept entertaining the rest of the group with his "rotten egg bum farts" for the entire exit.

:fart:

I noticed kelsey uses the Wild Wind Hollow name in his new book..... I guess he didn't think this one was silly..... :lol8:

:popcorn:

[Iceaxe]

Little Blue John

To the best of my knowledge.... the route was named by Tom Talboys sometime before 2003. Like many of you, I had seen the slot before when doing Blue John, but TT was the first person I knew who had actually done the slot. I believe the route first appeared to the public on Climb-Utah in March 2003.

At the same time the "Squeeze Variation" to East Fork of BJ also appeared in print and was my name for the alternate entrance.