jman
09-22-2013, 10:52 AM
Two or three years ago, my buddy Jeff Guest won the grand prize trip when Z.A.C. held a photo and video contest that allowed people to show "how they let nature be their guide". Jeff did a great compilation of the his canyon descents all throughout Utah (and his many backflips haha). The grand prize was for a 3 day basic course given through ZAC for two people.
After talking to ZAC about switching up the grand-prize; they allowed Jeff a trip for 2 people down their "Extreme" course and other Imlay Canyon Gear produced goods.
I don't remember why we chose July, but probably due to work schedules I'd imagine.
So Jeff and I headed down after work and we were ready to go! We were pretty excited for this canyon as many did not do it before the landowners closed access to it and only allowed ZAC permission. Plus, I there are just a few public TRs on the web about it which adds to the mystique.
We were greeted by our awesome guide BJ with ZAC. He looked us over and said that I won't have to worry about you guys, and we'll just treat this as a friend descent rather than me (BJ) doing all of the work. Sounds good to me. Jeff and I like like the problem-solving of canyons.
Eye of the Needle is all-bolted and there is no swimming involved. The deepest it gets is waist-deep at one of the waterfall pools. Otherwise, it's all just a stream that you are in for most of the rappels.
It features 10 rappels, although 2 of them could be downclimbed (but wouldn't suggest it due to the slippery nature of those logs that you would DC next too).
The Eye of the Needle Rappel is definitely the highlight of the canyon - the largest rappel of the canyon, and features a arch/hole that you rappel through. Very cool!
At the end of the canyon, you can either go down towards the MIA exit (which takes another 1hr to 2 hours to reach) or you can do the ZAC preferred method which is ASCEND a canyon fork of over 400ft. This is where BJ and ZAC makes it a treat for their clients.
Even before the first rappel of the canyon, our guide went down a canyon fork and left 3 ropes for our multi-pitch ascent. BJ descended over 400 feet and ascended all of that - in under 30 minutes. He was definitely superhuman for doing that. Then of course, after he descends the canyon with us, he has to ascend it again. Talk about a exercise!
BJ was great because let us do all of the rigging and problem solving, while he watched. He was the first one to ascend and let both Jeff and I ascend at the same time. I do LOVE my handled-ascenders! When we reached the top he said we were the fastest guided group to the canyon. Yay for us. But really, it is a straight-forward canyon with 10 rappels.
My recommendation - if you have the time and money (better if you have a large group) do the canyon. It was fun, although short (it seemed) and the ascent is good practice. Classic Zion stuff. Awesome scenery - and the canyons up there are incredible!
Thanks ZAC for hooking us up and providing a awesome guide!
http://youtu.be/z0bedmTT1hY
After talking to ZAC about switching up the grand-prize; they allowed Jeff a trip for 2 people down their "Extreme" course and other Imlay Canyon Gear produced goods.
I don't remember why we chose July, but probably due to work schedules I'd imagine.
So Jeff and I headed down after work and we were ready to go! We were pretty excited for this canyon as many did not do it before the landowners closed access to it and only allowed ZAC permission. Plus, I there are just a few public TRs on the web about it which adds to the mystique.
We were greeted by our awesome guide BJ with ZAC. He looked us over and said that I won't have to worry about you guys, and we'll just treat this as a friend descent rather than me (BJ) doing all of the work. Sounds good to me. Jeff and I like like the problem-solving of canyons.
Eye of the Needle is all-bolted and there is no swimming involved. The deepest it gets is waist-deep at one of the waterfall pools. Otherwise, it's all just a stream that you are in for most of the rappels.
It features 10 rappels, although 2 of them could be downclimbed (but wouldn't suggest it due to the slippery nature of those logs that you would DC next too).
The Eye of the Needle Rappel is definitely the highlight of the canyon - the largest rappel of the canyon, and features a arch/hole that you rappel through. Very cool!
At the end of the canyon, you can either go down towards the MIA exit (which takes another 1hr to 2 hours to reach) or you can do the ZAC preferred method which is ASCEND a canyon fork of over 400ft. This is where BJ and ZAC makes it a treat for their clients.
Even before the first rappel of the canyon, our guide went down a canyon fork and left 3 ropes for our multi-pitch ascent. BJ descended over 400 feet and ascended all of that - in under 30 minutes. He was definitely superhuman for doing that. Then of course, after he descends the canyon with us, he has to ascend it again. Talk about a exercise!
BJ was great because let us do all of the rigging and problem solving, while he watched. He was the first one to ascend and let both Jeff and I ascend at the same time. I do LOVE my handled-ascenders! When we reached the top he said we were the fastest guided group to the canyon. Yay for us. But really, it is a straight-forward canyon with 10 rappels.
My recommendation - if you have the time and money (better if you have a large group) do the canyon. It was fun, although short (it seemed) and the ascent is good practice. Classic Zion stuff. Awesome scenery - and the canyons up there are incredible!
Thanks ZAC for hooking us up and providing a awesome guide!
http://youtu.be/z0bedmTT1hY