Mystery and Pine Creek for Thanksgiving

[great_adventure]

We're newbies with one whole Keyhole trip on our resume'. We have had a few summers of instruction from Tom & Hank & Calvin & Scott at ZAC. We were hoping to hit Mystery and Pine Creek the weekend before Thanksgiving. I've read recent reports of snow, ice on ropes, etc. and wonder if we're being too ambitious. Anybody want to offer advice or a conditions update/prediction?

Also, I'm guessing a stop at ZAC for drysuits is in order if we go?

[tcott]

I did pinecreek last Saturday mystery a couple weeks ago, cold water but no ice. Unless we get a significant storm between now and then I would think both canyons are fairly straight forward. Mystery in February was a little tricky this year, but it was very snow filled and icy at the time. Dress warm and keep moving.

[moabfool]

We're newbies with one whole Keyhole trip on our resume'. We have had a few summers of instruction from Tom & Hank & Calvin & Scott at ZAC. We were hoping to hit Mystery and Pine Creek the weekend before Thanksgiving. I've read recent reports of snow, ice on ropes, etc. and wonder if we're being too ambitious. Anybody want to offer advice or a conditions update/prediction?

Also, I'm guessing a stop at ZAC for drysuits is in order if we go?

Did you really go? If so, how deep/big was the pool at Mystery Springs? Was there any deep water on the hike down the Virgin? Were there any other special difficulties I should know about? Do I need to schlep a wetsuit all the way up there? Any input would be appreciated.

EDIT: Anybody know anything about Spry? Are wetsuits needed/wanted?

[ratagonia]

Did you really go? If so, how deep/big was the pool at Mystery Springs? Was there any deep water on the hike down the Virgin? Were there any other special difficulties I should know about? Do I need to schlep a wetsuit all the way up there? Any input would be appreciated.

EDIT: Anybody know anything about Spry? Are wetsuits needed/wanted?

There was an inch of rain in upper Orderville Saturday Night 11-17...

Thus, the dirt roads on the Ponderosa might be un-driveable for a couple more days, though you could get within a mile, probably.

There might be water in the Lake in Mystery.

The "deep spot" in the Narrows below Mystery is typically waist deep.

T

[Felicia]

The "deep spot" in the Narrows below Mystery is typically waist deep.

T

When we did Mystery the last of September, the "deep spot" was gone. For the Narrows walk out, the water never got more than knee deep.

Felicia