Three Canyon

[Udink]

I did my first "hiking with ropes" this weekend. I spent Friday tooling around the Green River area, then met up with @ibenick and @plutacratic77 at a sweet campsite along the Green River, just west of Tenmile Canyon. We had a great evening , which made for a late start the following morning.

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Abandoned building at the missile base


Natural oil seep near Crystal Geyser


Crystal Geyser


Water running over the mineral buildup


Geyser water running into the Green River


Another abandoned missile base building


Runoff from a flowing spring near the airport


Flowing spring near the airport--it's built up a mound of minerals about 10' high


Horse Bench Reservoir


Chaffin Geyser


View from very near our camp


Camped on the edge of Labyrinth Canyon


Sunset on the cliffs of Labyrinth Canyon


Labyrinth Canyon


plutacratic77 and ibenick


'Round the fire



We drove to the exit of Three Canyon and fixed a rope above the exit crack, then met up with Jake at the Saucer Basin turnoff where we started the hike at the top of the canyon. The rappel came up quickly, and we did it in two stages. The first rappel was pretty straightforward, but the second had a pool at the bottom, so we all skirted around it while on-rope. That's it, the technical stuff was over. After stowing our gear, we enjoyed a simple hike down the canyon. Flowing water came and went a couple of times, and there was one nice pool in particular that everyone but me swam in (shouldn't have worn cotton shorts and a leather belt in a possibly wet canyon, perhaps?).


A short hike to set the handline at the canyon's exit


Above the exit crack


Dropping into the top of the canyon


An easily-avoided mud hole


Landing spot for the first rappel


ibenick readying his descent


On rappel


plutacratic77 starting down


plutacratic77 on the second rappel


Three Canyon below the rappel


We couldn't avoid this mud


plutacratic77 gingerly climbing out of the mud hole


The first sign of flowing water




View straight up at a bend in the canyon




In the wider lower section of the canyon


Nice swimming hole





There was some bushwhacking shortly before reaching the northwest fork, but nothing too terrible. We hiked up the northwest fork until reaching a big pool and dryfall, then had to backtrack a bit to find the way past the dryfall. The fixed rope wasn't far past that. Everything was pretty easily climbable up until the crux where the moqui steps are carved into the sandstone. I handlined up that part, and even that was more difficult than I was expecting. From there, it was a short climb to the canyon rim and a quick walk to the truck. It was a fun, easy, and pretty canyon. Thanks @ibenick for the invite!


View down the main canyon from the mouth of the northwest fork


Northwest fork of Three Canyon


Large pool in the northwest fork


Steep scramble up the exit crack


At the crux


View down the northwest fork after reaching the rim


And now for a short hike back to the truck



There are a few more photos here:

https://picasaweb.google.com/Dennis.Udink/ThreeCanyon#

[oldno7]

Very cool pics Dennis! Just a note of caution--Nylon cuts Nylon, sometimes very rapidly--Thats all

[Udink]

Just a note of caution--Nylon cuts Nylon, sometimes very rapidly--Thats all

Yeah, I noticed that when looking at the pics just before posting this TR--I didn't even think about it while we were there.

[ibenick]

Man, that was fun! Thanks for coming! It was great to finally meet the infamous Udink!

[Sandstone Addiction]

Loved the TR! Pictures are awesome. Thanks for sharing.

[pixie1339]

Nice TR. Looks like fun was had by all.:)

[Iceaxe]

[accadacca]

Cool area!

[gringorio]

great photos! looks like a fun trip... Is this also known as "Trin Alcove"

[ratagonia]

Nice. Good to have you in the "Hiking with Ropes" club.

uh, not the ACA, yet.

T

[Scott Card]

Nice. Good to have you in the "Hiking with Ropes" club.

uh, not the ACA, yet.

T

Tom you ah... .


Great TR. Loved the photos.