taatmk
08-21-2008, 10:55 AM
On Tuesday, August 19, myself and four others completed the Birch Hollow and Orderville Canyon combination. We were apparently the only group to do Birch Hollow and Orderville that day, as no other Orderville permits were issued (according to the ranger at Kolob Canyons).
We got a latter than expected start at the trailhead off of the North Fork Road, getting into the bushwacking at at 8:00am. The bushwackign part was a little less painful than I had expected, in reading various other trip reports. We were puzzled at the amount of effort put into constructing that ATV wooden bridge, which trail seemingly went no where.
We bypassed the first cliff band and set up at the second. Our anchor was off of a fallen large trunk pine in the center of the watercourse, about 20 feet from the edge. The free hanging nature of this first rap was a nice variation from the other "wall walk" raps.
After several short rappels, the longest one of the day, a 100 foot one, was anchored off a a pine on the left side LDC. This one was a particularly beautiful fluted wall straight down. It was awesome, and is now on my favorite raps list. Very beautiful.
Most all of Birch Hollows raps are on fluted chamber and are very scenic, and one of the reasons I like this sport so much: The ability to see some beautiful scenery not commonly scene and missed by the typical park visitor.
The second to the last rap of ten brings you down another nicely fluted wall, to a small bowl, where you continue down the last rap. This second to last rap has a boulder wedged into the slot above your head as you descend.
Shortly after the conclusion of the last rap, Orderville Canyon is encountered, where we made a left hand turn downcanyon. This first part of Ordervilel was bone dry. After much walking, we began to find dry mud holes, and later on moist ones and finally to some springs after which the water content picked up quickly. Soon we were into a water park, with slides and swimming pools. At one large boulder, we rigged a zip line to avoid a swimming hole, but found many more swimming holes later on.
Just before enountering the Zion Narrows, we ran inot two hikers from below who were stopped at this particular downclimb. Soon after we found the junciton with the Narrows and immediately found numerous hikers going up and down.
We calculated that it took us slightly under 3 hours to do the raps in Birch Hollow. With a 1/2 hour lunch break, we figured it took us approximately 7 1/2 hours to complete the Orderville and Zion Narrows poertions, for a total of an 11 hour hike.
We got a latter than expected start at the trailhead off of the North Fork Road, getting into the bushwacking at at 8:00am. The bushwackign part was a little less painful than I had expected, in reading various other trip reports. We were puzzled at the amount of effort put into constructing that ATV wooden bridge, which trail seemingly went no where.
We bypassed the first cliff band and set up at the second. Our anchor was off of a fallen large trunk pine in the center of the watercourse, about 20 feet from the edge. The free hanging nature of this first rap was a nice variation from the other "wall walk" raps.
After several short rappels, the longest one of the day, a 100 foot one, was anchored off a a pine on the left side LDC. This one was a particularly beautiful fluted wall straight down. It was awesome, and is now on my favorite raps list. Very beautiful.
Most all of Birch Hollows raps are on fluted chamber and are very scenic, and one of the reasons I like this sport so much: The ability to see some beautiful scenery not commonly scene and missed by the typical park visitor.
The second to the last rap of ten brings you down another nicely fluted wall, to a small bowl, where you continue down the last rap. This second to last rap has a boulder wedged into the slot above your head as you descend.
Shortly after the conclusion of the last rap, Orderville Canyon is encountered, where we made a left hand turn downcanyon. This first part of Ordervilel was bone dry. After much walking, we began to find dry mud holes, and later on moist ones and finally to some springs after which the water content picked up quickly. Soon we were into a water park, with slides and swimming pools. At one large boulder, we rigged a zip line to avoid a swimming hole, but found many more swimming holes later on.
Just before enountering the Zion Narrows, we ran inot two hikers from below who were stopped at this particular downclimb. Soon after we found the junciton with the Narrows and immediately found numerous hikers going up and down.
We calculated that it took us slightly under 3 hours to do the raps in Birch Hollow. With a 1/2 hour lunch break, we figured it took us approximately 7 1/2 hours to complete the Orderville and Zion Narrows poertions, for a total of an 11 hour hike.