News $75 to Rappel Bridal Veil falls [Archive]

Iceaxe

08-28-2013, 09:28 AM

pikan

08-28-2013, 10:29 AM

So far as accident rates go I'm guessing Bridal Veil already exceeds both Birch and Corona Arch combined. SAR is hauling an injured hiker off the falls at least once a week.

Bridal Veil gets WAY more traffic TO the falls, and I imagine that those SAR calls are mostly for those that decided to hike too far up the face and quickly got over their heads. What % of those rescues were people going up there with ropes to do technical recreation? I know this might be a little nit-picky, but we all know the amplification of risk that happens when you add that technical factor. I guess my question is more like a death toll #.(which I think will correlate to increase in people going there for a "high-adventure" rappel AND due to the increased risk factor and higher price of mistakes)

Are we going to hear of more people going up there with their "harbor freight" ropes and paying the ultimate price? :ne_nau:

deagol

08-28-2013, 10:48 AM

Is this falls on Forest Service property ? If so, do they need a commercial permit to sell this experience?

Canyonbug

08-28-2013, 11:12 AM

FWIW: Utah High Adventure are also the same guys that operate the zipline and tube rental in Provo Canyon.

They were also doing the Corona Arch Swing until that got shut down.

Iceaxe

08-28-2013, 12:10 PM

FWIW: Utah High Adventure are also the same guys that operate the zipline and tube rental in Provo Canyon.

My mistake... "High Country Adventure" operates the zipline and tube rental in Provo Canyon.

Absolute Gravity

08-28-2013, 12:24 PM

Is it both the upper and lower falls?
Either way a pretty beefy waterfall for someone with little rappelling experience. Easy to get to and tons of fun for the rest of us though.

hank moon

08-28-2013, 12:56 PM

Are we going to hear of more people going up there with their "harbor freight" ropes and paying the ultimate price? :ne_nau:

hee hee...i think i have an old picture around here of a well-known Bogger using a "harbor freight" rope <search, search>...

Bootboy

08-29-2013, 01:13 AM

I think that rappelling for the sake of rappelling is ridiculous. "Oooo, lets go rappel that waterfall, the most inconvenient place to rappel!"

Iceaxe

08-29-2013, 05:07 AM

^^^ THIS ^^^

Tap'n on my Galaxy G3

Scott P

08-29-2013, 06:01 AM

jman

08-29-2013, 07:06 AM

I think that rappelling for the sake of rappelling is ridiculous. "Oooo, lets go rappel that waterfall, the most inconvenient place to rappel!"

I was thinking of that too. Rappelling Bridal Veil Falls has nothing to do with canyoneering.

It is a fun rappel - and yes, just for the sake of rappelling it. True - not "true canyoneering" but still a lot of fun. If you haven't done - I (and others here) would recommend it.

But you guys do know why they chose this spot to rappel, right?? - the exposure! The gaggles of people on the ground looking up (just like the last rap in Mystery) will pique their interest and increase exposure to their business. Makes sense.

Scott P

08-29-2013, 07:37 AM

True - not "true canyoneering"

Actually it isn't any kind of canyoneering at all, true or fake, any more than rappelling off a building is.

I'm not against rappelling it, or claiming that it might not be fun; I'm just saying that it doesn't have anything to do with canyoneering.

Iceaxe

08-29-2013, 07:58 AM

We call these type of rappels "Stunt Rappels".

YMMV

Tap'n on my Galaxy G3

Absolute Gravity

08-29-2013, 08:37 AM

:roll::roll::roll:

I don't care what it's called. Close to home, short enough to do after work, scenic, and shit tons of fun on a hot summer night. Add an ice cold beer afterwards...

I love me some ridiculous.

Kuya

08-29-2013, 08:44 AM

Actually it isn't any kind of canyoneering at all, true or fake.... I'm just saying that it doesn't have anything to do with canyoneering.

I disagree. There are plenty of canyons in this world that require rappelling down waterfalls. Practicing those skills on rappels like B.V. falls very much applies to enhancing my canyoneering skills! To me it has everything to do with canyoneering! :nod:

Slot Machine

08-29-2013, 09:22 AM

Actually it isn't any kind of canyoneering at all, true or fake, any more than rappelling off a building is.

No need to be cruel Scott! Us northern Utah folk gotta do something to get by between rounds of the real stuff. :naughty:

68953

Bootboy

08-29-2013, 11:10 AM

I was thinking of that too. Rappelling Bridal Veil Falls has nothing to do with canyoneering.

Agreed

I completely dissociate the two activities. While they are not mutually exclusive, simply rappelling down a waterfall as a stunt to show off for a crowd does not constitute "canyoneering"

If you want to run around rappelling down waterfalls for the hell of it, fine, but I'll maintain that I thinks it's ridiculous.

Scott P

08-29-2013, 11:23 AM

There are plenty of canyons in this world that require rappelling down waterfalls.

Of course there are. Probably most of them outside the CP, but rappelling Bridal Veil Falls is not canyoneering. The canyon is above the falls (it makes a nice route to the summit from the bottom up; especially when the tram was still running) so I guess if you start at the top of Cascade Mountain and come all the way down it may very marginally qualify.

As Shane said, Bridal Veil Falls is a stunt rappel.

Practicing those skills on rappels like B.V. falls very much applies to enhancing my canyoneering skills!

That doesn't mean it is canyoneering. I learned to rappel off the Fireman's Tower in Ogden Utah. It was not canyoneering. Did I learn some of the skills needed for canyoneering? Certainly.

Does that mean that rappelling off the Fireman's Tower is canyoneering? Nope.

Of perhaps I should just say:

I completely dissociate the two activities. While they are not mutually exclusive, simply rappelling down a waterfall as a stunt to show off for a crowd does not constitute "canyoneering"

^^^^^^^
What he said.

As said earlier, I have no problem with anyone rappelling off Bridal Veil Falls, guided or unguided. It just shouldn't be associated with a canyoneering route. It's simply a stunt rappel; nothing more and nothing less.

That's my own opinion, like it or loath it, agree or disagree.

jman

08-29-2013, 12:13 PM

Agreed

I completely dissociate the two activities. While they are not mutually exclusive, simply rappelling down a waterfall as a stunt to show off for a crowd does not constitute "canyoneering"

If you want to run around rappelling down waterfalls for the hell of it, fine, but I'll maintain that I thinks it's ridiculous.

Ever try it before? Or Malans Waterfall up in Ogden? (Don't u live in Ogden?) Can't diss BV or Malans without having done it. You are welcome to tag along when we do it (Malans) next month.

Redpb

08-29-2013, 12:39 PM

So far as accident rates go I'm guessing Bridal Veil already exceeds both Birch and Corona Arch combined. SAR is hauling an injured hiker off the falls at least once a week.

FWIW: Utah High Adventure are also the same guys that operate the zipline and tube rental in Provo Canyon.

As a member of SAR Bridal Veil keeps us pretty busy. Anywhere from people being up too high without any lights after dark, people getting ledged out, to ice climbers that fall. We had a family hiking up and their son decided to run up the trail. He fell, tripped or slipped I don't know but, on that narrow trail he tumbled 30-40 feet down. We got him down and he took a helicopter flight to the hospy. Accidents of all kinds. I heard a story from another member that someone, years ago, was using a garden hose up there to descend.
I've always thought about rappelling down BVF. I suppose I better get on it to become familiar with what's up there.

Kuya

08-29-2013, 01:02 PM

It just shouldn't be associated with a canyoneering route. It's simply a stunt rappel; nothing more and nothing less.

That's my own opinion, like it or loath it, agree or disagree.

OK ok.... I give in. I will just call it a CANYONING Route ;) :fitz: Just kidding :lol8:

I agree that it isn't technically a "Canyoneering route." BUT maybe, IF it was done as the final descent of Cascade Mountain, would it then be considered Canyoneering? Semantics I guess. actually if find it really funny that we are even having this debate. Anything to distract me from doing actual work i guess LOL!

Anyway, I have heard of this kind of adventure (rappelling down waterfalls) described as "Cascading" yes? no?

BACK To the point of this thread. As much as I love rappelling waterfalls, I really hope that this guide service selling this adventure doesn't make things more complicated for the rest of us.

Kuya

08-29-2013, 01:09 PM

I heard a story from another member that someone, years ago, was using a garden hose up there to descend.

EEK! WOW! I can't believe people do things like that? :crazycobasa: maybe having a guide available for this activity will be a good thing. Maybe people who conjure up ideas of rappelling with garden hoses would be better off hiring a guide instead!

Bootboy

08-29-2013, 01:24 PM

Ever try it before? Or Malans Waterfall up in Ogden? (Don't u live in Ogden?) Can't diss BV or Malans without having done it. You are welcome to tag along when we do it (Malans) next month.

It's not like I'm being closed minded about the situation. It simply has no appeal to me. You and Jeff Guest can do it all you want and post all the nauseating triple speed gopro stick-cam videos you like. I just think I'll spend my time doing activities that have more appeal to me as an outdoor enthusiast.

hank moon

08-29-2013, 01:24 PM

...I really hope that this guide service selling this adventure doesn't make things more complicated for the rest of us.

In my experience, it is usually the other way around. Guide services typically/ideally conduct safe and orderly trips, clean trash, "sweep" routes, etc. Recreational users, OTOH are more often known for creating SAR situations, leaving trash and (sometimes) ironically forcing out guiding operations that have served as a buffer between the un(res)trained masses and land managers and/or SAR.

That said, I know nothing specific about the guide service running trips at BVF. I hope they are a responsible outfit.

Bootboy

08-29-2013, 01:30 PM

EEK! WOW! I can't believe people do things like that? :crazycobasa: maybe having a guide available for this activity will be a good thing. Maybe people who conjure up ideas of rappelling with garden hoses would be better off hiring a guide instead!

Warm fuzzy thought but...
I'm afraid that the reality is that the type of people who swing off cliffs from garden hoses are the least likely demographic to hire a guide. They are too cheap and ignorant to even attempt it correctly in the first place, let alone pay a premium for a guide for something they could do as a DIY activity.

xxnitsuaxx

08-29-2013, 01:43 PM

You and Jeff Guest can do it all you want and post all the nauseating triple speed gopro stick-cam videos you like. I just think I'll spend my time doing activities that have more appeal to me as an outdoor enthusiast.

You hear that jman? Quit with your Red Bull-inspired douchebag antic videos. Everyone knows that REAL "outdoor enthusiasts" don't make videos or take pictures to show their friends. Evidently real outdoor enthusiasts spend their non-outdoors time being dicks on the internet.

jman

08-29-2013, 01:55 PM

You hear that jman? Quit with your Red Bull-inspired douchebag antic videos. Everyone knows that REAL "outdoor enthusiasts" don't make videos or take pictures to show their friends. Evidently real outdoor enthusiasts spend their non-outdoors time being dicks on the internet.

Hey, get it right Austin - it's mtn dew!! Here's the thing - you can't please everyone, even to people who belittle and condescend to others.

It's okay I take no offense though.

Iceaxe

08-29-2013, 02:45 PM

post all the nauseating triple speed gopro stick-cam videos you like.

While I really enjoy canyoneering video's I will agree with one thing.... those triple speed gopro stick-cam videos are nauseating. They give me motion sickness and I have yet to watch more than 30 seconds of one....

Iceaxe

08-29-2013, 02:48 PM

In my experience, it is usually the other way around. Guide services typically/ideally conduct safe and orderly trips, clean trash, "sweep" routes, etc. Recreational users, OTOH are more often known for creating SAR situations, leaving trash and (sometimes) ironically forcing out guiding operations that have served as a buffer between the un(res)trained masses and land managers and/or SAR.

^^^ THIS ^^^

I'm all for responsible guide services, unless they are competing directly with the public for a limited number of permits.

:cool2:

Bootboy

08-29-2013, 02:57 PM

You hear that jman? Quit with your Red Bull-inspired douchebag antic videos. Everyone knows that REAL "outdoor enthusiasts" don't make videos or take pictures to show their friends. Evidently real outdoor enthusiasts spend their non-outdoors time being dicks on the internet.

No offense intended. That's just what it is. I take plenty of pictures and videos (see my Heaps TR) but watching them at triple speed makes me dizzy. Ive said nothing about Mountain Dew or douche bags.