Zion Conditions - more info and opinion from Tom

[ratagonia]

Heavy snow and slow melt-out conditions have resulted in unusual, dangerous conditions in several Zion National Park canyons.

As of June 9th, known problems include:

- Echo Canyon (Middle Echo) is in very dangerous condition. Large chunks of snow block the canyon below the rappels. Unsafe, hollow snow bridges and extreme conditions have so far prevented passage even by experienced parties. It is suggested that the canyon will be impassable to July 1st, at least, and even then, wise canyoneers would explore from the bottom up all the way to the last rappel, before entering from above.

- Kolob Canyon: the section from the bottom of the raps to Oak Creek is very full of snow, including thin snow bridges and swimming under snow sculptures. Allow an EXTRA 3-4 hours to pass this section. It is likely to become extremely dangerous in the next week, and will likely remain so until July 15th at the least.

- Engelstead - filled with snow below the rappels. With melting, E'stead will enter a VERY DANGEROUS phase and remain dangerous for several weeks.

Kolob and Engelstead are especially dangerous because there is no way to assess the snow hazard before committing to the descent.

Tom

[stefan]

thanks for the warnings and helpful information, tom.

[oldno7]

We were going to do Englestead tomorow, plan "B" it is

[Scott Card]

Thanks Tom. Good info for sure.

[Iceaxe]

- Echo Canyon (Middle Echo) is in very dangerous condition. Large chunks of snow block the canyon below the rappels. Unsafe, hollow snow bridges and extreme conditions have so far prevented passage even by experienced parties.

Echo has been completed this year by at least one group of canyoneers that I know of... and probably more....

[Iceaxe]

Hmmm... interesting.... I now know of three groups who have done Echo this year.... I'm told at least two groups did it in April before the big melt out when conditions were considered more stable....

[ratagonia]

- Echo Canyon (Middle Echo) is in very dangerous condition. Large chunks of snow block the canyon below the rappels. Unsafe, hollow snow bridges and extreme conditions have so far prevented passage even by experienced parties.

Echo has been completed this year by at least one group of canyoneers that I know of... and probably more....

Certainly, before it started melting out Echo was interesting but not dangerous. It is now 'half' melted out, and thus very dangerous.

Engelstead is just starting to melt out. Might be OK for a week or two, then... ???

Kolob - Caleb and Suri did OK, but it is getting on to being very dangerous.

Essentially, doing it BEFORE it gets dangerous is ... just another descent.

Tom