Any Canyon Suggestions for the Swell or Moab area?

[slotseeker]

I've been canyoneering for a 3 years now (I've gone through canyons up to 3BIII and 3ARIV) and led 2 separate groups through 3 different canyons 3AII and 3AIII. I'm intersted in leading a small group through something fun in the Swell area or Moab area up to 3BIII and would like some suggestions on good canyons with good conditions this time of year. I'd hate to have a long approach and be completely exposed. I've been wondering about Knotted Rope or maybe something in the Moab area. any suggestions?

[ratagonia]

Hey Slot Seeker, welcome to the Bog(ley).

There was just a report on Knotted Rope, and that it had gotten filled up. That also likely means Quandary is filled too (but not necessarily full full type full); but experience says that The Squeeze (across the way) is a lot less likely full, as in no, probably not.

Your succinct resume does not narrow down your experience and ambition level much. Perhaps you might reveal what canyons you have done. This is a hard time of year for canyoneering outside Zion - but it looks like Knotted Rope is good right now...

Tom :moses:

[Scott P]

In addition to the above, Professor Creek is pretty good this time of year if you can cross the desert section in the morning:

http://www.summitpost.org/professor-creek/182257

Pleiades Canyon should be good too:

http://climb-utah.com/Moab/pleiades.htm

Bull Canyon (near Moab) is a good one in summer since you have to swim the Colorado River at the end.

Most of the Moab Canyons are OK, but they aren't comparable to say Zion or Escalante (I haven't done Pleiades yet, but should very shortly).

In the Swell also consider Upper Black Box via the roped entrance. It's a good one.

Also, monsoon season has begun, so have a good weather forecast before heading into any slot canyon.

[slotseeker]

Thanks for the info. Professor Creek sounds like a fun one. What have you found to be the best resource for weather conditions? I have usually just checked weather.com. Is there a better spot to check for flash flood risks. It seems like Zion is going to get a lot of rain this weekend and there is a fairly good chance of the swell getting rain. Hence, why I am leaning more to Moab.

[Scott P]

What have you found to be the best resource for weather conditions? I have usually just checked weather.com. Is there a better spot to check for flash flood risks. It seems like Zion is going to get a lot of rain this weekend and there is a fairly good chance of the swell getting rain. Hence, why I am leaning more to Moab.

NOAA (aka weather.gov) is better for rural areas than weather.com (it the metro areas they are more equal). They also have point forecast so you can click on a map when you are far from a city (i.e. the center of the San Rafael Swell or in the mountains), a huge advantage. They also have a link on the forecast for the weather warnings (of which there are several scattered throughout the Colorado Plateau).

Moab:

http://forecast.weather.gov/MapClick.php?CityName=Moab&state=UT&site=GJT&textField1=38.5733&textField2=-109.549&e=0



It seems like Zion is going to get a lot of rain this weekend and there is a fairly good chance of the swell getting rain. Hence, why I am leaning more to Moab

None of the canyons, except possibly Bull would be good to try with the current weather forecast. 30% is of heavy thunderstoms (in the Moab area which currently has the best forecast of the bunch) is still a bad forecast to plan slot canyons. Bull might be OK even if it rained, but I wouldn't drive all the way down just to do that one.

Most of Southern Utah, including the San Rafael is under Flash Flood Watch:

http://forecast.weather.gov/showsigwx.php?warnzone=UTZ013&warncounty=UTC015&firewxzone=UTZ489&local_place1=27+Miles+WSW+Green+River+UT&product1=Flash+Flood+Watch

I didn't know that you were referring to this weekend (weather.com posted the same warnings). If I would have known, I wouldn't have made any suggestions of canyons. During a flash food watch, asking which slot canyon to do is kind of like asking which color of DEA hat is best to wear while hiking through the Colombian countryside.:wink:


Personally, I'd recommend either doing an entirely different activity this weekend or postponing your trip for a better forecast.