Bluejohn SAR

[Iceaxe]

Here's the basic story of the Bluejohn SAR

And here is a disclaimer for Teedle-dee and Tweedle-dum: This post neither represents nor reflects the opinions of Climb-Utah.com management. These statements may or may not be true. Iceaxe has been known to be full of shit.

On Saturday March 12 there were two missing person reports in the Robbers Roost area. The first was the already documented No Mans SAR.

The second was for a missing hiker in Bluejohn. To speed things up an agreement was reached where Wayne County would conduct the No Mans Canyon SAR and the National Park Service would handle Bluejohn.

The Bluejohn canyoneer was a large frame Colorado Canyoneer. Using Kelsey's beta he intended to enter the East Fork of Bluejohn Canyon. The Colorado man made a navigational error and ended up descending the Squeeze Route of East Fork and not the correct East Fork. This was not a 127 Hours, Blue Pool situation.

The gentleman spent 4 day in the Squeeze section, on the 5th day he was able to complete the Squeeze section and continue down East Fork. He was not pinned in the canyon, he was just too big to fit through the slot.

Meanwhile, the NPS received word of the missing man and sent out 3 search teams (presumably one down each fork of Bluejohn).

One of the SAR teams made contact with the canyoneer, who had self-rescued, in the Main Fork of Bluejohn. The man was in good condition for being missing for 5 days and was escorted out of the canyon.

Anyhoo.... there are more details that I'm trying to confirm, but that is the general jest of the epic....

[Wasatch]

Why do people just wander into these canyons without the proper beta, equipment, skills............

[canyondevil]

He was not pinned in the canyon, he was just too big to fit through the slot.

Hmmmmm... I wonder if I were to go four days without food if I too could fit through The Squeeze?

[Brian in SLC]

Why do people just wander into these canyons without the proper beta, equipment, skills............

Maybe this is why:

“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotion, spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never tasted victory or defeat.”

[price1869]

Maybe this is why:

Yeah, it's the democrats' fault.

[Iceaxe]

Why do people just wander into these canyons without the proper beta, equipment, skills............

My intial info is the guy wasn't a total gumbie.... he had the skills and equipment that your typical weekend canyoneer has... perhaps not the skills and the equipment of The Great Ones™..... but good enough for an EF Bluejohn. He just made a mistake in navigation....

There are two types of canyoneers in the world.... those who have experianced an epic and those that are going to experiance an epic.

[denaliguide]

Why do people just wander into these canyons without the proper beta, equipment, skills............

why shouldn't they?

[mr. incognito]

Hi various slot rats and gumbies as the case may be, I have been lurking for a little while on your charming little forum to glean beta about a couple different routes, but I had some questions. Has anyone attempted the huge slog from horseshoe trailhead on foot instead of some means of shuttle (bike/car) to past the Burr pass area for Kelsey guide drop ins on the main of bluejohn? Are there standing water pockets anywhere in the main BJC in May? How over-traveled is it due to the film and DVD release? I figure most of the "let's go see where that happened" crowd has been through there years ago by now.

It looks doable around 10 mi to Burr from Horseshoe Trail head if one cuts a two mile saving short cut straight west to the info board instead of up to the mailbox junction along the road. My plan is to hike down to the main BJ slot from Horseshoe and camp above the Ralston slot where we did during filming (I didn't get to look around because of film safety regs) and out the lower slot and Horseshoe around 8 miles the next day. I worked on 127 hours and got heli'd in daily so did not get to hike in or really see any of the slots due to restrictions so I am planning my return (with my friends) for May. Thanks for any help I certainly don't want to be on your next SAR post.

[Iceaxe]

The "Ralston Route" is a very long day. Doing the return hike in a single day would be brutal... "short cuts" in the Roost have a habit of not being actual short cuts. They are usually sand slogging over dunes, around brush, and up/down washes... the road is normally faster.

With the movie 127 Hours, interest is higher than ever.

Anyhoo.... the best way to see Bluejohn is to hook up with anther interested party and each provide 1/2 the shuttle. Also there is normally safety in numbers (within reason).

[James_B_Wads2000]

There are two types of canyoneers in the world.... those who have experianced an epic and those that are going to experiance an epic.

My favorite quote of the day!


James

[Scott Card]

Anyhoo.... the best way to see Bluejohn is to hook up with anther interested party and each provide 1/2 the shuttle. Also there is normally safety in numbers (within reason).

He'd have to change his name then from "Mr. Incongnito" to something else if he hooked up with someone. He'd be discovered.

[oval]

Here's the basic story of the Bluejohn SAR


The Bluejohn canyoneer was a large frame Colorado Canyoneer...
...
The gentleman spent 4 days in the Squeeze section...
...
on the 5th day he was able to complete the Squeeze section

I think I could fit through a 9" slot if I went 4 days without food.... :D

This could be a great new dieting strategy for Americans. Could be a good way for those canyoneering guides to get some more clients :D

[P.J.]

Hi various slot rats and gumbies as the case may be, I have been lurking for a little while on your charming little forum to glean beta about a couple different routes, but I had some questions. Has anyone attempted the huge slog from horseshoe trailhead on foot instead of some means of shuttle (bike/car) to past the Burr pass area for Kelsey guide drop ins on the main of bluejohn? Are there standing water pockets anywhere in the main BJC in May? How over-traveled is it due to the film and DVD release? I figure most of the "let's go see where that happened" crowd has been through there years ago by now.

It looks doable around 10 mi to Burr from Horseshoe Trail head if one cuts a two mile saving short cut straight west to the info board instead of up to the mailbox junction along the road. My plan is to hike down to the main BJ slot from Horseshoe and camp above the Ralston slot where we did during filming (I didn't get to look around because of film safety regs) and out the lower slot and Horseshoe around 8 miles the next day. I worked on 127 hours and got heli'd in daily so did not get to hike in or really see any of the slots due to restrictions so I am planning my return (with my friends) for May. Thanks for any help I certainly don't want to be on your next SAR post.

I did the "Aron Ralston reality tour" back in 2003, after a canyoneering friend of mine (who has since moved to Alaska) read the book. We left Horseshoe Canyon campground around 7 a.m., biked the 17 or so miles to the pull out above Bluejohn main fork. We biked into a steady 20-30 mph headwind, and got there about 10 a.m. At this point, I was already tired. After the hot (mid-80's) mile and a half or so slog between the junction of the 3 forks and the "s log" (the beginning of the last narrows and right before the scene of the accident), I had already gone through most of my water (I was not as prepared as I should have been). After the big drop, we still had the 6-7 mile hot, very sandy slog down Horseshoe Canyon to the vehicle parked at the campground. I was so beat by the time we got to the Great Gallery, I couldn't enjoy it, because all I could think of was getting to our car and more water. Not to mention the high elevation gain to get out of the canyon at the end. It took us a total of about 13 hours. I would split it up into 2 days (or even better, 2 cars!) Thoroughly kicked my ass, which made it even more incredible to me that he (Ralston) made it out. Next time I do Bluejohn with one vehicle and want to see the Great Gallery, I'll drive to the top of Bluejohn, explore the forks of Bluejohn, then drive down to Horseshoe, hiking up to the pictographs and then return to the Horseshoe campground (still better split into 2 days). Having a shuttle at the top of Bluejohn and another at Horseshoe makes it an easier day. As iceaxe said, I can't imagine walking from Horseshoe and back in a day (even with my bike, it was almost dark when we got to the bottom of Horseshoe).

[mr. incognito]

I did the "Aron Ralston reality tour" back in 2003, after a canyoneering friend of mine (who has since moved to Alaska) read the book. We left Horseshoe Canyon campground around 7 a.m., biked the 17 or so miles to the pull out above Bluejohn main fork. We biked into a steady 20-30 mph headwind, and got there about 10 a.m. At this point, I was already tired. After the hot (mid-80's) mile and a half or so slog between the junction of the 3 forks and the "s log" (the beginning of the last narrows and right before the scene of the accident), I had already gone through most of my water (I was not as prepared as I should have been). After the big drop, we still had the 6-7 mile hot, very sandy slog down Horseshoe Canyon to the vehicle parked at the campground. I was so beat by the time we got to the Great Gallery, I couldn't enjoy it, because all I could think of was getting to our car and more water. Not to mention the high elevation gain to get out of the canyon at the end. It took us a total of about 13 hours. I would split it up into 2 days (or even better, 2 cars!) Thoroughly kicked my ass, which made it even more incredible to me that he (Ralston) made it out. Next time I do Bluejohn with one vehicle and want to see the Great Gallery, I'll drive to the top of Bluejohn, explore the forks of Bluejohn, then drive down to Horseshoe, hiking up to the pictographs and then return to the Horseshoe campground (still better split into 2 days). Having a shuttle at the top of Bluejohn and another at Horseshoe makes it an easier day. As iceaxe said, I can't imagine walking from Horseshoe and back in a day (even with my bike, it was almost dark when we got to the bottom of Horseshoe).

What time of year was it mid 80's by 10 am? What will temps be like in mid May?
Yeah I think it would be a death march to try to go from horseshoe through Blue John and back in one day. the plan is to camp in the general area of the S log (the majority of the movie crew was camped there for a week, in Apr 2010 I actually got flown in every day and went back to the hotel in green River) but I plan on camping in the "movie advance filming camp location" By my rough estimation if one cuts straight across from Horseshoe to the info board junction thereby saving 2 miles, then down the road to the main canyon turn off, then down main BJC to the washes above the Raston slot and camp there appears to be 12 miles or so, doable in one day. If it is rough going 1 1/2 to 2 miles an hour hike pace should take 6-8 hours to hike in to a camp spot. Then the next day over the big drop and out Horseshoe back to the vehicle I estimate 8 miles for a hopefully enjoyable second day looking at the gallery. grand total 24 miles on foot for a two day total.

But my question still remains: has anyone ever attempted to hike to Blue John on foot instead of shuttle? Two vehicles would seriously escalate the gas costs for my trip. I am not sure where the 17 mile figure (used in the movie and else where) comes from???? by my calculations using satellite imagery and GPS it is 12 mi to the "one mile past Burr pass" turn off for the main BJC following the dirt road or 10 miles using a direct approach west to info board then south to same and another 2 miles or so to the Ralston slot.

[mr. incognito]

The "Ralston Route" is a very long day. Doing the return hike in a single day would be brutal... "short cuts" in the Roost have a habit of not being actual short cuts. They are usually sand slogging over dunes, around brush, and up/down washes... the road is normally faster.

With the movie 127 Hours, interest is higher than ever.

Anyhoo.... the best way to see Bluejohn is to hook up with anther interested party and each provide 1/2 the shuttle. Also there is normally safety in numbers (within reason).

I was afraid of that I thought the serious "lets go see" groups would have already been there done that by now. Heading out with a group of 5 total we should be safe enough. I was eyeballing cutting out the jog north along the dirt road leaving Horseshoe trail head and just trekking overland West towards the "buffalo pond" and info board junction of the road so only around 2 miles across dunes and whatnot then down the road for like 8 miles until headed East again for BJC.

[canyoncaver]

Dude, if you're gonna have 5 people just take two cars. The part where you hike from Horseshoe to the top of Main BJ sounds brutal and unnecessary. Hell, if I'm in the area I'll volunteer to shuttle you guys. Or drop everybody off at Granary, drive to Horseshoe and hitch back. Why do you want to hike 10 miles on the road? You'd be better off spending that day exploring East and Main BJ. If you are trying to retrace Ralston's route, East BJ is the way. Feel free to spend your weekend however you want, but I think you can avoid this road hike with a little ingenuity. May will be HOT.

[mr. incognito]

Dude, if you're gonna have 5 people just take two cars. The part where you hike from Horseshoe to the top of Main BJ sounds brutal and unnecessary. Hell, if I'm in the area I'll volunteer to shuttle you guys. Or drop everybody off at Granary, drive to Horseshoe and hitch back. Why do you want to hike 10 miles on the road? You'd be better off spending that day exploring East and Main BJ. If you are trying to retrace Ralston's route, East BJ is the way. Feel free to spend your weekend however you want, but I think you can avoid this road hike with a little ingenuity. May will be HOT.

good point but alas, funds are limited and 2 vehicles will ratchet up costs by hundreds of dollars. The option to isolate the driver after a drop off at the granary with no way to communicate (cell phone are sketchy or fail on the roost right?) and no way to tell when he might make it back to the group is one of the conundrums I am considering...A thumb in the wind may be more reliable these days down that particular dirt road but I can't count on it.

[ratagonia]

What will temps be like in mid May?

Mid-may can be pleasant (ie, only 80 by 10 am) or brutally hot (ie, 90's by 10 am). It varies a lot.

T

[canyondevil]

You could always pick up an $80 Huffy at Wal-Mart on your way down to the Roost and split the cost among the group. Walking that entire distance will suck ass.

[canyoncaver]

The option to isolate the driver after a drop off at the granary with no way to communicate (cell phone are sketchy or fail on the roost right?) and no way to tell when he might make it back to the group is one of the conundrums I am considering....

I'll bet you a 20ft. piece of webbing (your choice whether you tie it to some bolts or a pile of rocks) that it will take less time to hitch than it would for five people to hike 10 miles. You could also do it the day before if you are worried about timing.