My New Favorite Zion Canyon

[oldno7]

I've been planning on doing this canyon for a couple of years. I gathered as much information as possible and lastly--consulted Ram during our Dantes trip.

Tyler went and got the permit and the ranger did not know anything about this canyon or have any insite as to when it was done last. So he issued him the permit.:2thumbs:

I lined up my daughter to shuttle us up to the trailhead, we left canyon junction at 5:30am., Started hiking at 6:30, we arrived at the shuttle at 6:30pm. I was tired, Tyler and Andy took off running:crazy::lol8:

Anyway, this canyon seems to have traits from many Zion canyons and I must say--it is the most photogenic.(imho)

So thanks to 2 pretty great partners, I think was Tylers 5th last hurrah:nod:
Thanks to Scarlet for sharing her husband just days before his new journey begins. The USAF is lucky to have this fine young man.

[Scott Card]

:2thumbs: Pretty sure I was there a couple of years ago after the big fires cleaned out the approach. How was the approach? Seemed that when the undergrowth came back it would be nasty. I think when we did it we must have used close to 100' of webbing in that canyon re-doing the anchors. That last rap through the, for the lack of a better term, sandstone straw, was mighty cool. Thanks for posting -- I think. :haha:

[TommyBoy]

Awesome pics, whats the name of this canyon?

[blueeyes]

Gorgeous pictures Kurt!

Best of luck to you Tyler!!!

[Iceaxe]

Anther genie is out of the bottle.... :lol8:

Checkerboard Canyon Route Description
http://climb-utah.com/Zion/checkboard.htm

Enjoy.... I have a couple more Zion Canyon route descritions like this in the hopper for later this year. I'm thinking if Zion NP will not increase the number of permits the next best thing might be to increase the number of canyons. What do you think? I stopped posting routes inside the park when Zion went to the permit system, with the thinking they don't patrol what they don't know about....

[nelsonccc]

:2thumbs: Pretty sure I was there a couple of years ago after the big fires cleaned out the approach. How was the approach? Seemed that when the undergrowth came back it would be nasty. I think when we did it we must have used close to 100' of webbing in that canyon re-doing the anchors. That last rap through the, for the lack of a better term, sandstone straw, was mighty cool. Thanks for posting -- I think. :haha:

Uh...oh.. Cat is out of the bag! That's when we did it. Right after the big fire. The water was like a soupy cement, with some extremely stinky water! Was a very long day for sure. I think we barely made the shuttle bus with one guy running ahead to hold the last bus.

[Bo_Beck]

Anther genie is out of the bottle.... :lol8:

Checkerboard Canyon Route Description
http://climb-utah.com/Zion/checkboard.htm

Enjoy.... I have a couple more Zion Canyon route descritions like this in the hopper for later this year. I'm thinking if Zion NP will not increase the number of permits the next best thing might be to increase the number of canyons. What do you think? I stopped posting routes inside the park when Zion went to the permit system, with the thinking they don't patrol what they don't know about....

The park has known about this canyon for a lot of years. I'm thinking that when K*P
took me thru he had explained that it was it's second descent. I told the park about it and explained that it probably wouldn't be publicized for quite some time. Until now I think a blind eye has been the norm with the exception of requiring a Narrows Permit with Checkerboard being the reason. With publicity, I would suspect that increasing popularity may open some eyes to do with impact and increasing Narrows requests? What ya think? Use limits? Maybe?

[Scott Card]

Anther genie is out of the bottle.... :lol8:

Checkerboard Canyon Route Description
http://climb-utah.com/Zion/checkboard.htm

? I stopped posting routes inside the park when Zion went to the permit system, with the thinking they don't patrol what they don't know about....
I kinda liked your prior policy. The number of canyons is a fixed quantity. You putting them on the radar does nothing but make the process to get to some of these canyons more of a hassle. I like that they don't know some of the routes. I wish you would re-think your posting beta in Zion. It is not going to change anything in the park or the park policy or the "number of canyons". Please note, my opinion has nothing to do with the show don't tell mentality or I am cool and you are not mentality. My opinion to keep canyons off the radar in Zion has to do with the dumb policies of the permit system. Checkerboard will be so rarely visited it isn't worth the permit system. The approach is long..... That will weed out most kiddie canyoneers.

Enough for now.

[Scott Card]

Until now I think a blind eye has been the norm with the exception of requiring a Narrows Permit with Checkerboard being the reason. With publicity, I would suspect that increasing popularity may open some eyes to do with impact and increasing Narrows requests? What ya think? Use limits? Maybe? This ^^^^ Use limits, less Narrows Permits available, competing with Narrows Hiker's for canyoneering permits..... Seriously??? :facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facep alm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1:: facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepa lm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::f acepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepal m1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::fa cepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm 1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1:

[Scott Card]

I think I will walk away from the computer now ...... don't want to raise my blood pressure any more than it is. :angryfire:

[nelsonccc]

I kinda liked your prior policy. The number of canyons is a fixed quantity. You putting them on the radar does nothing but make the process to get to some of these canyons more of a hassle. I like that they don't know some of the routes. I wish you would re-think your posting beta in Zion. It is not going to change anything in the park or the park policy or the "number of canyons". Please note, my opinion has nothing to do with the show don't tell mentality or I am cool and you are not mentality. My opinion to keep canyons off the radar in Zion has to do with the dumb policies of the permit system. Checkerboard will be so rarely visited it isn't worth the permit system. The approach is long..... That will weed out most kiddie canyoneers.

Enough for now.

I'm pretty sure they knew about it. I mean how many people are really doing Coral Canyon? I'm sure every time someone pulled a permit for Coral they knew it was really for checkerboard. The approach is a mother! Luckily we did it right after the fire but even then the patches of alder were nasty. And since you have to park so far away and hike along the head of the other canyons it really elongates the hike and makes it pretty miserable. Though access to a couple of 4 wheelers could cut 90 minutes out of that hike.

[tylerhirshfeld]

I had a great time in the canyon too. Definitely an adventure with some amazing scenery! Special thanks to "The Old Guys" Kurt and Andy. You guys have been great canyoneering partners and have really made this last month's adventures fun!

[Brian in SLC]

I mean how many people are really doing Coral Canyon?

Corral Hollow?

But...really, Checkerboard, top 3? No way. Better than Kolob, Imlay, Heaps? Better than Pine Creek (ha ha)?

Yeah, there's a few off the radar rigs. I think folks gettin' a permit for "Birch Creek" might end up fooling the permit folks by having them think its "Birch Hollow". Where?

[Iceaxe]

I kinda liked your prior policy. The number of canyons is a fixed quantity. You putting them on the radar does nothing but make the process to get to some of these canyons more of a hassle. I like that they don't know some of the routes. I wish you would re-think your posting beta in Zion.

I have several different thoughts on this.... The Zion canyons have always been a quandary for me since the permit system was introduced... I go back and forth on the issue of how to handle them....

I could easily add 50 to 60 permits into the system.... if they take them from hikers or cause canyoneers to compete with hikers for permits that is anther issue.... if they take these permits from the hikers do the tech guys really give a crap? Its 50 to 60 more permits...

And I have always understood most of those on the "inside" prefer to keep the canyons on the down-low.

:cool2:

[oldno7]

Tyler---If'in I told ya once--I told ya a million times, Don't post pics of me carrying the rope bag--I have a reputation to uphold...:haha:

Nice shots!!!

[Iceaxe]

But...really, Checkerboard, top 3? No way. Better than Kolob, Imlay, Heaps?

Checkerboard makes my personal top 3 Zion Canyons.... YMMV...

[Bo_Beck]

This ^^^^ Use limits, less Narrows Permits available, competing with Narrows Hiker's for canyoneering permits..... Seriously??? :facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facep alm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1:: facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepa lm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::f acepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepal m1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::fa cepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm 1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1::facepalm1:

Are you asking me a question? I've been around long enough to see changes.....and most importantly...to hear the reasoning why the changes take place. We may not agree, or we may? One thing is for sure, changes do happen.

[Win]

Kurt, I got tired when you told me about this canyon, must have been a great day. Terrific pictures.

Be safe, Tyler, hope we can get together when you have leave. :2thumbs:

[Iceaxe]

Tyler---If'in I told ya once--I told ya a million times, Don't post pics of me carrying the rope bag--I have a reputation to uphold...:haha:

I hope Tom is paying you guys handsomely.... ya'll looking like a walking Imlay products billboard. :lol8:

[oldno7]

Corral Hollow?

But...really, Checkerboard, top 3? No way. Better than Kolob, Imlay, Heaps? Better than Pine Creek (ha ha)?

Yeah, there's a few off the radar rigs. I think folks gettin' a permit for "Birch Creek" might end up fooling the permit folks by having them think its "Birch Hollow". Where?


Are you kidding me--my favorite canyon is always the last one I've done.

I have a Zion area canyon I will be doing in a month, or so.

It is on Private property, flowing water....

I'm guessing it has not been done much.

We knew checkerboard had been done by many, hence the surprise of the BC rangers comments.

Next one through, might want to tighten the hangers on first rap.

And yes--I donated a quart of blood to the rosebushes and rapidly growing oak brush.

[Scott P]

Deleted.

[oldno7]

Really? How many canyons have you done? I've certainly done some that I wouldn't do again.

Why don't you go do something your capable of like making heart shaped eggs.:fitz::lol8:

Including this one--I'd guess I'm up to 5-6:asshat:

You should probably leave "having fun" up to those of us who know how to do it,Mr. Literal

[tylerhirshfeld]

Tyler---If'in I told ya once--I told ya a million times, Don't post pics of me carrying the rope bag--I have a reputation to uphold...:haha:

Nice shots!!!

Only because you put up pictures of me in my Kelsey shorts:lol8:

[Scott Card]

Are you asking me a question? I've been around long enough to see changes.....and most importantly...to hear the reasoning why the changes take place. We may not agree, or we may? One thing is for sure, changes do happen.No question being asked. I agree that change happens. Problem is with Zion Permit system, the changes aren't always or even often good for canyoneers. Like you, I was doing canyons in the good old days, prior to the permit system. Putting canyons ON the list is not a good thing in my humble opinion.

[Brian in SLC]

I have a Zion area canyon I will be doing in a month, or so.
It is on Private property, flowing water....
I'm guessing it has not been done much.

On, or access from?

I still haven't done "Trespass" or whatever that rig out by Lava Point is called. The one south of the there...buncha squeezin' but not much juice.

[Scott Card]

The approach is a mother!
Yep, look at the nicks and cuts to the legs of those in the photographs. Just like I thought it would be (besides the distance). :haha:

[Scott P]

Why don't you go do something your capable of like making heart shaped eggs.:fitz::lol8:

Including this one--I'd guess I'm up to 5-6:asshat:

You should probably leave "having fun" up to those of us who know how to do it,Mr. Literal

???????

What was that about? :ne_nau: It was a simple comment and wasn't meant to be rude, nor meant to be any kind of attack on you are the trip report. :ne_nau:

[oldno7]

???????

What was that about? :ne_nau: It was a simple comment and wasn't meant to be rude, nor meant to be any kind of attack on you are the trip report. :ne_nau:

Yea--right, thats why you edited your post!!
The original is still in my quote on the next post down.

[ratagonia]

Kurt is very sensitive about many issues. Hair-trigger.

Even about things you did not actually say.

Tom

[Bo_Beck]

Putting canyons ON the list is not a good thing in my humble opinion.

Somewhat "precisely" my point. If attention is wanted, then bring it to the internet irregardless of a good or bad permit system.

[Scott P]

Yea--right, thats why you edited your post!! The original is still in my quote on the next post down.


Yes; and now completely deleted it because apparently it is still taken as offensive (when it was not meant to be). PS, you forgot to quote the nodding smiling face that was in the original post as well.

My point was that I've done quite a few canyons that I wouldn't do again (I have not done Checkerboard so wasn't commenting on Checkerbord in fact it is high on the list), so the last canyon I did was not always my favorite. This is/was for many reasons, i.e.:

Extremely beautiful/spectacular, but full of poison ivy that left me oozing for months): Death Hollow
OK, but not worth all the effort/pain for the return: Poncho Wash
Too much bushwhacking: North Fork Bull Canyon (Dinosaur)
Too crowded/touristy: Antelope
I'm too fat now: Egypt 4

I assume most other people run into a non-favorite one eventually.

That was the only point of the comment. I (honestly) apologize if I offended you. :sad: My comment was not meant to be an attack on you or the trip report (in fact I very much liked the trip report).

I think that every canyon I've done was worth doing (to me) once, but some of them not more than once (not referring to Checkerboard). Since I don't want to hijack the thread and since the thread might get too much off in a tangent, I won't comment further.

[moab mark]

Nothing about your done inviting me because I bailed again?:slobber:

[oldno7]

Nothing about your done inviting me because I bailed again?:slobber:

Never done inviting you...

I can handle rejection.:mrgreen:

Guess it wouldn't do any good to say you missed a great time:bootyshake:

[Pelon1]

Looks like a great time. Hope Tyler enjoys the AF. This thread sure got off on a couple crazy tangents:haha::haha:

[nelsonccc]

Corral Hollow?

But...really, Checkerboard, top 3? No way. Better than Kolob, Imlay, Heaps? Better than Pine Creek (ha ha)?

Yeah, there's a few off the radar rigs. I think folks gettin' a permit for "Birch Creek" might end up fooling the permit folks by having them think its "Birch Hollow". Where?

Yep. I knew it had Corral in it somewhere!:lol8: We pulled a permit for Corral Hollow when we did it. The narrows area is one of the few areas I won't poach stuff. Too many rangers hanging out at the end of the paved trail. Checkerboard is good and fun, especially for those of us who rarely venture out of southern Utah but not in the top tier of Zion canyons. But I think my opinion is heavily tainted by the god awful ash/mud situation we encountered when we did it. The last rap at the time dropped into a big "bowl" of soupy mud. I literally had to crawl and belly squirm up the mud to get to the rim. At least there was some nice clean water nearby!

[ratagonia]

Why don't you go do something your capable of like making heart shaped eggs.:fitz::lol8:

Including this one--I'd guess I'm up to 5-6:asshat:

You should probably leave "having fun" up to those of us who know how to do it,Mr. Literal

Perhaps, at some point in your life, Kurt, you would like to learn how to play well with others. Certainly your abuse of Mr. Patterson was entirely uncalled for. Scott has a tendency to stumble over his own tongue, once in a while, but he had a valid point.

Have you never done a dud?

I've done plenty of duds. Some were good, but not worth doing again. Some were poor, but we still had a good time. And some were just a waste of a day.

Yes, many of us take the "Bonington approach". Often the best canyon I have done is the one last done. Certainly is today.

Tom

[oldno7]

Perhaps, at some point in your life, Kurt, you would like to learn how to play well with others.



Tom

So--You sayin' I'm black, Mr. Pot??:haha:

[Iceaxe]

But I think my opinion is heavily tainted by the god awful ash/mud situation we encountered when we did it.

Yeah... Checkerboard lost a lot of its charm right after the 2007 fire, except for the approach which became easier. It's been a few years since I last did the route, but from looking at Kurt's pictures its appears the canyon has regained its splendor.

I expect it to be a popular route this year...

[Stick]

I expect it to be a popular route this year...

It has been a long time since I have done this canyon (2004 or 2005), but I cannot imagine this canyon becoming very popular. It is a very nice slot, but that approach through the bushes is a killer. I still have no desire to return due to all the bushwhacking. I would rather hike up the MIA exit...

Or maybe we just chose a poor route when we did it.

[Iceaxe]

I cannot imagine this canyon becoming very popular

That is pure speculation on my part... but I do have some experience with the subject.

My speculation was based on the fact that the post 2007 bushwhacking is not as bad as the pre-2007 bushwhacking. And the fact the route is now available to the general public so everyone that has done Heaps, Imlay or Kolob and is looking for the next great canyon will target it. Checkerboard is certianly a big-boy canyon and not a Pine Creek or Keyhole.

The approach is about the same as the Imlay Sneak approach or MIA Exit with regards to effort spent and the payoff is certainly as good....YMMV...

FWIW: Rumor has it there is an approach that supposedly knocks an hour off the time and eliminates some bushwhacking.

Of course a good boyscout disaster, rumors of a blue lake or an arm chopping off story would really bump it up the popularity scale. :lol8:

[nelsonccc]

FWIW: Rumor has it there is an approach that supposedly knocks an hour off the time and eliminates some bushwhacking.:

True. We spent quite a bit of time looking into another route. I'm pretty sure an easier route can be had that would bring you straight into that hunters camp and around the hill rather than that first hour of hiking.

[Stick]

That is pure speculation on my part... but I do have some experience with the subject.

My speculation was based on the fact that the post 2007 bushwhacking is not as bad as the pre-2007 bushwhacking. And the fact the route is now available to the general public so everyone that has done Heaps, Imlay or Kolob and is looking for the next great canyon will target it. Checkerboard is certianly a big-boy canyon and not a Pine Creek or Keyhole.

The approach is about the same as the Imlay Sneak approach or MIA Exit with regards to effort spent and the payoff is certainly as good....YMMV...

FWIW: Rumor has it there is an approach that supposedly knocks an hour off the time and eliminates some bushwhacking.

Of course a good boyscout disaster, rumors of a blue lake or an arm chopping off story would really bump it up the popularity scale. :lol8:

You are correct. It certainly will be the next great canyon in Zion that people will do when they have already done Imlay and Heaps (or instead of if the permits run out for those canyons).

I should have said I don't think the canyon will get much repeat traffic. (Speculation on my part with much less experience that you.) If I had not already been down it the pictures in this thread would certainly induce me to give it a try. I also haven't been back to that area since I went down the canyon, so I haven't seen what it looks like now since the 2007 fire.

Maybe if I wore long pants and a long sleeve shirt I wouldn't have such bad memories.:haha:

I also didn't consider that if more people give it a try social trails may develop to help eliminate some of the bushwhacking.

[remoteman45]

For those that have done the Right Fork of North Creek and stayed up on the benches before dropping down into Right Fork, is the bushwacking any worse or better than that?

[Scott P]

For those that have done the Right Fork of North Creek and stayed up on the
benches before dropping down into Right Fork, is the bushwacking any worse or
better than that?

If you mean the little pothole filled valley (standard route) on the west side of upper Right Fork (that avoids the upper slot), then it's mostly slickrock. Most of the bushwhacking on the standard route is (or was) in Wildcat Canyon, though I hear that there is a social trail through much of it now.

Edit: On second thought maybe I misunderstood your question (which would make my answer pointless). Are you asking how bad the Right Fork bushwhacking since you have done Checkerboard or vice versa (I have not done Checkerboard, but have the RF)?

[Iceaxe]

I would compare the bushwacking to the Wild Wind exit of Birch Hollow.... only 3 times longer... That is the only thing I can even think of that is close (I haven't done the Right Fork route mentioned above).

[DesertDuke]

Thanks Old No 7. And, as always....great pics!

[ghawk]

I would compare the bushwacking to the Wild Wind exit of Birch Hollow.... only 3 times longer... That is the only thing I can even think of that is close (I haven't done the Right Fork route mentioned above).

yuck.. Wild wind exit sucks bad :eek2:

[remoteman45]

Yeah, I'm talking about the bushwhacking in Wildcat down to the Seeps and from the Seeps to the Golden Staircase - comparable?

[Slot Machine]

Whoa... seriously, nice fotos! Kurt is sharing fotos, Shane is sharing beta...

It is nice to see everyone sharing and getting along in the canyoneering community.

:haha: :hippy:

[ratagonia]

Yeah, I'm talking about the bushwhacking in Wildcat down to the Seeps and from the Seeps to the Golden Staircase - comparable?

Not even remotely similar. Wildcat and the regular Right Fork route are a stroll in the Park, with the occasional bush to walk around. Out to Checkerboard, especially in company with the Bushwhacker, is full-on bushwhackery, with an occasional 30 foot clear section. At least it was before the fire, might be better now.

Tom

[tcott]

The fire didn't help, it left sharp burnt stumps hidden inside the new growth of bushwhackery.

[ilipichicuma]

I would compare the bushwacking to the Wild Wind exit of Birch Hollow.... only 3 times longer... That is the only thing I can even think of that is close (I haven't done the Right Fork route mentioned above).

Okay, this makes me rethink wanting to do this one (still pretty certain I want to.) That Wild Wind exit really did suck.

[ewestesen]

Anyone know why it's called Checkerboard canyon? I immediately assumed it was near checkerboard mesa, and... well... it's not....

[ratagonia]

There's some very nice checkerboard action on the walls between which it goes. Also, as a matter of obfuscation.

Tom

[sasteve49]

Checkerboard is definitely a sweet canyon, especially the last rap! The hike in and long Narrows hike out make for one helluva long day (Thanks to Ram for the invite!)! Rather do Icebox a few times more.....now that's one of my top 5 Zion canyons.....just the sheer beauty.

[BW123]

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[chabidiah]

Kurt you have nice legs bro. Looks like you were almost Kelsey shorting it. :lol8:

Would love to do a canyon with you again. Great pics

[oldno7]

Thanks for noticing:mwink:

Would be fun to get out with you and Nick again........

[BW123]

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