Kolob Canyon July 2004

[James_B_Wads2000]

This was posted on the "Canyons" Yahoo forum last year. Sorry no pics.


Date: Fri Jul 16, 2004 11:10 am
Subject: TR: Kolob Canyon FIA to MIA

A little late but here it goes.

Five of my friends and I did Kolob for the first time last weekend.
You all remember me; I was the one asking all of the annoying
questions a few weeks ago. It paid off I survived.

Blasted out of SLC Friday night, camped at Mosquito Cove. First
thing Saturday we went to the Zion Canyon visitor center to get the
permit. I was expecting to get harassed for requesting a permit for
Kolob, but instead had a nice experience. (Take that you ZCC
freaks) I didn't catch the ranger's name, but she was most pleasant
(and cute). I told her that the WCWC was releasing 3cfs gave her $15
she gave me the permit and we were on our way.

We then went to the Zion Adventure Company where a friend and I
rented dry suits. Those guys at ZAC are great. They gave us go good
info and tips on the canyon and the gear (it was my first time using
a dry suit).

We drove to where the creek goes under the road just below the
reservoir. The flow there was a little higher than I had imagined
but still looked do able. We then set up the 2+ hour shuttle. We
intended to spend Sunday night below the technical section (near MIA)
and hike out the narrows on Monday. We set it up so that my car
would be completely empty of gear at the visitor center so that all
six of us could drive up and retrieve the car at the West Rim
Trailhead. Spent the rest of the afternoon hiking to the top of the
first drop were we camped. We named the camp "Camp Ponderosa" after
the large trees there.

A little background information first:
We had decided earlier in the week we would rap with our packs on off
double line climbing ropes. We had a new 300ft static rope, but
didn't have the time to brush up on single line techniques. I
usually never rap with a pack on as I have poor upper body strength
and tend to get pulled backwards.

Which is exactly what happen here. I got to where the first rappel
goes free and started to get pulled backwards. I had placed two
biners on my ATC. This was way too much friction and made it too
hard to push the ropes through. So there I was upside down and stuck
with no way the people below could get me down. I called for them to
hold me tight on fireman's belay wile I managed to release the straps
holding on my pack, which plummeted to the ground with a loud thump.
After which I was able to get to the ground. I should have dangled
my pack but I guess that's why they say hindsight is 20/20. Needless
to say that experience shook me up a bit. And from then on I tossed
my pack down all but the highest drops. This lead to one of my dry
bags and the new keg Tom gave me to fail. After a couple more raps I
relaxed a bit and started having more fun. Besides the first rappel
and having to be helped out a couple of potholes the rest went smooth
(and one more time upside down this time a few feet above deep water,
turned out to not be so bad). We finished the technical section in
seven and a half hours. A new record in slowness.

About 20 min walking below the last swim we got to where the water
was flowing down the dry streambed. We had observed that the amount
of water seemed to have increased since the first drop (later
confirmed by pictures we took). Is this normal? Has anyone had the
same experience? The amount of increase wasn't no 29cfs and didn't
make me feel any more at danger. Not too long after we got to the
400ft waterfall and the streambed was full again. I was shocked to
see all the shit left behind from the Boy Scouts eleven years
earlier. Tents, tarps, clothing and inner tubes. I had hoped to
find the rock shelter they made but at the time I was too scared to
look. Does anyone know exactly were it was? I am guessing it is
above the first pothole rappel (#3 for us).

Running out of daylight we camped just above the down climbing
section and swims before the Oak Creek junction. We decided that we
(mainly me) were moving too slowly to make it out the narrows the
next day. So we planned to use the MIA exit. Even better was the
fact that all of the maps were in my failed dry bag and had gotten
soaked. One of my friends had the description from Climb-Utah.
After reading this we decided to name our camp FIA for "F***ed In the
A**". Which pretty much summed up our situation if we failed to find
and complete the MIA exit. A friend and I managed to salvage just
enough map from the wad of wet papers to show the MIA exit.

We headed out early the next morning walking in water all the way
until the last fifteen minutes before the MIA exit. The MIA exit was
not hard to find as someone scratched two-foot letters "M_I_A" in the
sandstone walls. Though I was happy we found the exit I wish someone
would have not scratched up the walls. We climbed out nice and
slow. My friends took turns carrying my backpack most of the way up
in an effort to speed things up. We were getting low on water be had
enough to get back. I took just over four hours to reach the road
were we walked back. Some student researchers gave a friend and me a
ride back the last mile or so.

We crammed all of the gear and all six of us in the Honda CRV and
went back to my car. We made some phone calls to let everyone know
we are safe, ate dinner and drove back. Making it home by 4:30 am
Tuesday morning.

The moral of the story is that although we researched the canyon
heavily, it still managed to be more that we (especially me)
expected. In beauty and in difficulty. But we had given ourselves
many options and made it out OK.

Just wanted to thank Neil, Charley, Tom, RAM, Steve, Jim and Shane
for their advice and good route descriptions that helped us out. And
thanks to my team: Brian, Miller, Morgan, Brandon, and Mike for
hauling my sorry ass out that canyon.

JBW

[tanya]

Hi James,

Kolob Canyon is a favorite of mine, but also one of the most difficult - add more water and its rough!

Upside down in Kolob! How Scary! At least the water was not roaring down on your head. 3cfs makes for a nice trip through there. Its amazing how much gear was left by the scouts -- far too much for one to carry out.

http://www.zionnational-park.com/