No go for Heaps, so Plan "B" instead!

[Bo_Beck]

Shaun and I had tentatively planned a saturday Heaps trip, but the weather forecast (and weather pattern) suggested that it might not be in our best interest for this weekend. Shaun had "Bridge Mountain Arch" on his hit list, so we sealed our plans. We were to meet at 7AM at the Tunnel East (Pine Creek) parking area. I got there early and immediately was swarmed with a Boy Scout troup from Nevada gearing up for a Pine Creek descent. Various shuttles passing by in the early morning. 7:15 and no Shaun. Another group of 3 (actually with wetsuits too unlike the BSA Group) gearing up for Pine Creek. 7:30......no Shaun. Once again another group of 2 to descend Pine Creek. Pine Creek would be busy I think? 7:50 and still no Shaun? What had happened? Maybe I had my wires crossed and we were supposed to meet on Sunday? I decided to drive back into the main canyon and check for messages on my cell phone. Sure enough Shaun had been way-layed in Toquerville by local law enforcement! I'll let him elaborate if he wishes! Had I passed Shaun in the darkness of the tunnel as I had headed down? I rushed back and didn't pass Shaun. Fortunately I was stopped behind an escort before the tunnel entrance. There would not be the chance of passing him again on the trip through. I got to the parking area and there was Shaun! We geared up and started our hike at 8:30AM. It was a sunny and warm hike to the Arch, but the thunderheads and light rain on the return trip was absolute bliss! 7.5 hours round trip put us back at the cars at 4PM and some chips and salsa and cold drinks at Oscars topped off a wonderful day of hiking! I hung out to meet up with Randi and crew until 7:40PM but I never saw them? Hope they had a great day of hiking. Anyway here are some pictures of the arch and beautiful day we had.

[erial]

The last time I headed up to the bowl from Gifford Wash I had neither cairns nor you or Courtney to follow and thus had a difficult time finding my way both going and coming.

How do you efficiently negotiate that part of the hike? Whether or not cairns/ducks are in place, do you have certain landmarks that you sight/head for?

Excellent photos of the arch. Had to be worth the time and effort to get there. Maybe even the cop time out.

[Bo_Beck]

The last time I headed up to the bowl from Gifford Wash I had neither cairns nor you or Courtney to follow and thus had a difficult time finding my way both going and coming.

It really is just a "free-for all" Jeff. I think it's a matter of picking the easiest straight uphill direction.


How do you efficiently negotiate that part of the hike? Whether or not cairns/ducks are in place, do you have certain landmarks that you sight/head for?

Again..it's more or less a free for all. I think I passed 2 cairns on the way up? Just make sure that you head up the slickrock just opposite the waterfall stained slickrock on the east side of Gifford. You will want to make your way up to a group of ponderosas near a cliffband. Shoot for the right side of these trees. There is a ramp that diagonals up to the left once you arrive at the trees and the base of the cliffband. There is a trail that makes it's way up this "ridge" as it bears left. It levels out on top of the ridge and then heads downhill (to the south) for a short time until you once again find another rocky ridge that heads up and to the right. Soon you'll arrive at the top of the Plateau. From there you head north on the plateau for a very short distance until you drop into the bowl on the western side and then some routefinding will put you into the east west running slot that pours into Hepworth. A mile down Hepworth (north) then a drainage entering from the left appears. Go up a short distance then bear right across the prickly pear infested plateau toward the north-east corner of Bridge mountain. Follow the ramp that splits Bridge (on the left and a smaller rocky peak on the right. Head back down (north) the drainage after the saddle, bear left near the bottom, around the corner to the left, scramble up a short cliff to the chimney. 30' up the 5.7 chimney, scramble 100 meters up the wash, bear right and traverse the slickrock as it heads north and then west into the hanging valley below. Bear south through the valley and scramble (diagonal) south to the arch!


Excellent photos of the arch. Had to be worth the time and effort to get there. Maybe even the cop time out.

Thanks Jeff! I hope Shaun took some nice ones to add to this TR as well? It's always worth the time and effort to get to this awesome arch!

[erial]

Thanks, Bo. Seems like there were sufficient cairns to follow thru the cliff bands the first two times I headed up from Gifford. Last time no cairns and I didn't have specific landmarks engraved in my memory to fall back on. Once I get to the bowl no problem navigating further to the Hepworth. Still have yet to tackle the chimney near the end of the hike, but's that an obstacle of a different sort.

[Sombeech]

wow, that's a thin arch. cool looking.

[oldno7]

I love the photo from underneath the arch looking out.

So do We need to take a collection to bail Shaun out or do we just let him sit? :haha:

criminal :popcorn:

[Bo_Beck]

I love the photo from underneath the arch looking out.

So do We need to take a collection to bail Shaun out or do we just let him sit? :haha:

criminal :popcorn:

Beginning to wonder!? :ne_nau: No word from Trackrunner! Maybe he decided to contest the decision on his way back through on saturday eve.? :lol8:

It is a pretty cool arch from up close. I've always liked taking a picture from underneath looking up! Tell you what though...I almost got shut down at the chimney this time........the recent rains had left the pockets and slopers on the bottom 8' of face climbing that is necessary to negotiate just to enable access to the chimney, really, really scary with the layers of sand!

[trackrunner]

I'm alive was waterboarded by the police. It was a trap and he got me good. There goes my clean record.

I'll try to post my pics in few days.

[tanya]

Sitting on the ARCH!!!

Bo would have freaked out if I did that. Cool shot! :lol8:

[Bo_Beck]

Sitting on the ARCH!!!

Bo would have freaked out if I did that. Cool shot! :lol8:

You have no idea! :ne_nau: Oh well....it's just 5 miles out to it; you could head back there and I'm sure you could get a shot sitting on top as well! :2thumbs:

[trackrunner]

Sitting on the ARCH!!!

Bo would have freaked out if I did that. Cool shot! :lol8:

You have no idea! :ne_nau: Oh well....it's just 5 miles out to it; you could head back there and I'm sure you could get a shot sitting on top as well! :2thumbs:

Actually I thought we found two short cuts climbing straight up the cliff.

[mtthwlw]

What had happened? Maybe I had my wires crossed and we were supposed to meet on Sunday? I decided to drive back into the main canyon and check for messages on my cell phone. Sure enough Shaun had been way-layed in Toquerville by local law enforcement! I'll let him elaborate if he wishes!

As one who lives in Toquerville, I can attest to the diligence of our local law enforcement in regard to the 40 mph limit. he waits for you on top of the hill right there where the speed limit drops (from 60 to 40-- and a half mile from town!) and gets you. I warn friends whenever they come to town to watch out. I've been ticketed there myself. :frustrated:

[trackrunner]

What had happened? Maybe I had my wires crossed and we were supposed to meet on Sunday? I decided to drive back into the main canyon and check for messages on my cell phone. Sure enough Shaun had been way-layed in Toquerville by local law enforcement! I'll let him elaborate if he wishes!

As one who lives in Toquerville, I can attest to the diligence of our local law enforcement in regard to the 40 mph limit. he waits for you on top of the hill right there where the speed limit drops (from 60 to 40-- and a half mile from town!) and gets you. I warn friends whenever they come to town to watch out. I've been ticketed there myself. :frustrated:

exactly where it happened. When I creast the hill I take my foot off the gas and just glide when I get to Toquerville proper I take it down to 40. Why do they have two 40 spead limits signs on the north but on the south side it goes from 40 to 50 and I think 60 :ne_nau:

[trackrunner]

Bump. Finally getting around to posting some of my pics.

[Bo_Beck]

5AM at C.J. this saturday. Whaddya say? Gotta run up to Springdale thursday to pick up some spools and cut us a long one. Been at least 5 years for me. So far Shaun it's me and 3 others. Hop on board would you!

[Bo_Beck]

5AM at C.J. this saturday. Whaddya say? Gotta run up to Springdale thursday to pick up some spools and cut us a long one. Been at least 5 years for me. So far Shaun it's me and 3 others. Hop on board would you!

Well...since you won't post Shaun...I'll post for you!: YEE-HAW, WAH-HOO! 5AM it is!

Now I'll post for me: YEE-HAW, WAH-HOO! Glad you're in Shaun!

[trackrunner]

5AM at C.J. this saturday. Whaddya say? Gotta run up to Springdale thursday to pick up some spools and cut us a long one. Been at least 5 years for me. So far Shaun it's me and 3 others. Hop on board would you!

Well...since you won't post Shaun...I'll post for you!: YEE-HAW, WAH-HOO! 5AM it is!

Now I'll post for me: YEE-HAW, WAH-HOO! Glad you're in Shaun!

I'll make sure it's epic how does an unplanned bivy sound. :haha:

:rockon: