boryaa
04-19-2014, 10:29 PM
Last day of our trip to the Roost and my dad and I decided to go through Blue John Canyon. We started by being dropped off near the west fork camp around 7:30 a.m. and quickly headed out. We down climbed the two minor drops in the west fork and continued down canyon without too much sightseeing around the slot. After a bit of walking through the sandy wash we finally came to the S log around 9:00 a.m., geared up, dropped in, and began the down climbs. We went by Ralston's boulder and continued into the dark slot with our head lamps. It was wet and cold but boy was it fun! Plus no pool was more than thigh deep. We emerged into the light around 9:30 a.m. and by 10:00 we were down with the rap and hiking toward Horseshoe Canyon. It was a long and hot walk greeted by some burros at the confluence where Blue John met with Horseshoe. At the Great Gallery we met up with my sister and mom and hiked the remainder of the trail back to the camp and arrived around 3:00 p.m. And that was it! Great canyon with a tiresome but incredible hike out through some amazing art work.
Some pics of Lower Blue John Canyon. It was daaarrrkkkk.
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At the last 60 or so foot rappel you have 3 options. There is a single bolt to rappel off of on the right wall (although it didn't look very strong), you can rappel off of 3 bolts with webbing attached to them directly in the middle of the huge ledge, or you can rappel off of some bolts with new webbing on the left wall (These are the ones we rappelled off of). The rappel is mostly free hanging and really fun. At the bottom enjoy the views and get ready for a long hike.
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The hike out is actually very nice, as long as its not crazy hot that is. The canyon has a very tranquil feel to it as well.
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Awesome canyon!
Some pics of Lower Blue John Canyon. It was daaarrrkkkk.
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At the last 60 or so foot rappel you have 3 options. There is a single bolt to rappel off of on the right wall (although it didn't look very strong), you can rappel off of 3 bolts with webbing attached to them directly in the middle of the huge ledge, or you can rappel off of some bolts with new webbing on the left wall (These are the ones we rappelled off of). The rappel is mostly free hanging and really fun. At the bottom enjoy the views and get ready for a long hike.
73092
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The hike out is actually very nice, as long as its not crazy hot that is. The canyon has a very tranquil feel to it as well.
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Awesome canyon!