My New Favorite Zion Canyon

[Scott P]

Deleted.

[oldno7]

Really? How many canyons have you done? I've certainly done some that I wouldn't do again.

Why don't you go do something your capable of like making heart shaped eggs.

Including this one--I'd guess I'm up to 5-6

You should probably leave "having fun" up to those of us who know how to do it,Mr. Literal

[tylerhirshfeld]

Tyler---If'in I told ya once--I told ya a million times, Don't post pics of me carrying the rope bag--I have a reputation to uphold...

Nice shots!!!

Only because you put up pictures of me in my Kelsey shorts

[Scott Card]

Are you asking me a question? I've been around long enough to see changes.....and most importantly...to hear the reasoning why the changes take place. We may not agree, or we may? One thing is for sure, changes do happen.

No question being asked. I agree that change happens. Problem is with Zion Permit system, the changes aren't always or even often good for canyoneers. Like you, I was doing canyons in the good old days, prior to the permit system. Putting canyons ON the list is not a good thing in my humble opinion.

[Brian in SLC]

I have a Zion area canyon I will be doing in a month, or so.
It is on Private property, flowing water....
I'm guessing it has not been done much.

On, or access from?

I still haven't done "Trespass" or whatever that rig out by Lava Point is called. The one south of the there...buncha squeezin' but not much juice.

[Scott Card]

The approach is a mother!

Yep, look at the nicks and cuts to the legs of those in the photographs. Just like I thought it would be (besides the distance).

[Scott P]

Why don't you go do something your capable of like making heart shaped eggs.

Including this one--I'd guess I'm up to 5-6

You should probably leave "having fun" up to those of us who know how to do it,Mr. Literal

???????

What was that about? It was a simple comment and wasn't meant to be rude, nor meant to be any kind of attack on you are the trip report.

[oldno7]

???????

What was that about? It was a simple comment and wasn't meant to be rude, nor meant to be any kind of attack on you are the trip report.

Yea--right, thats why you edited your post!!
The original is still in my quote on the next post down.

[ratagonia]

Kurt is very sensitive about many issues. Hair-trigger.

Even about things you did not actually say.

Tom

[Bo_Beck]

Putting canyons ON the list is not a good thing in my humble opinion.

Somewhat "precisely" my point. If attention is wanted, then bring it to the internet irregardless of a good or bad permit system.

[Scott P]

Yea--right, thats why you edited your post!! The original is still in my quote on the next post down.

Yes; and now completely deleted it because apparently it is still taken as offensive (when it was not meant to be). PS, you forgot to quote the nodding smiling face that was in the original post as well.

My point was that I've done quite a few canyons that I wouldn't do again (I have not done Checkerboard so wasn't commenting on Checkerbord in fact it is high on the list), so the last canyon I did was not always my favorite. This is/was for many reasons, i.e.:

Extremely beautiful/spectacular, but full of poison ivy that left me oozing for months): Death Hollow
OK, but not worth all the effort/pain for the return: Poncho Wash
Too much bushwhacking: North Fork Bull Canyon (Dinosaur)
Too crowded/touristy: Antelope
I'm too fat now: Egypt 4

I assume most other people run into a non-favorite one eventually.

That was the only point of the comment. I (honestly) apologize if I offended you. My comment was not meant to be an attack on you or the trip report (in fact I very much liked the trip report).

I think that every canyon I've done was worth doing (to me) once, but some of them not more than once (not referring to Checkerboard). Since I don't want to hijack the thread and since the thread might get too much off in a tangent, I won't comment further.

[moab mark]

Nothing about your done inviting me because I bailed again?

[oldno7]

Nothing about your done inviting me because I bailed again?

Never done inviting you...

I can handle rejection.

Guess it wouldn't do any good to say you missed a great time

[Pelon1]

Looks like a great time. Hope Tyler enjoys the AF. This thread sure got off on a couple crazy tangents

[nelsonccc]

Corral Hollow?

But...really, Checkerboard, top 3? No way. Better than Kolob, Imlay, Heaps? Better than Pine Creek (ha ha)?

Yeah, there's a few off the radar rigs. I think folks gettin' a permit for "Birch Creek" might end up fooling the permit folks by having them think its "Birch Hollow". Where?

Yep. I knew it had Corral in it somewhere! We pulled a permit for Corral Hollow when we did it. The narrows area is one of the few areas I won't poach stuff. Too many rangers hanging out at the end of the paved trail. Checkerboard is good and fun, especially for those of us who rarely venture out of southern Utah but not in the top tier of Zion canyons. But I think my opinion is heavily tainted by the god awful ash/mud situation we encountered when we did it. The last rap at the time dropped into a big "bowl" of soupy mud. I literally had to crawl and belly squirm up the mud to get to the rim. At least there was some nice clean water nearby!

[ratagonia]

Why don't you go do something your capable of like making heart shaped eggs.

Including this one--I'd guess I'm up to 5-6

You should probably leave "having fun" up to those of us who know how to do it,Mr. Literal

Perhaps, at some point in your life, Kurt, you would like to learn how to play well with others. Certainly your abuse of Mr. Patterson was entirely uncalled for. Scott has a tendency to stumble over his own tongue, once in a while, but he had a valid point.

Have you never done a dud?

I've done plenty of duds. Some were good, but not worth doing again. Some were poor, but we still had a good time. And some were just a waste of a day.

Yes, many of us take the "Bonington approach". Often the best canyon I have done is the one last done. Certainly is today.

Tom

[oldno7]

Perhaps, at some point in your life, Kurt, you would like to learn how to play well with others.



Tom

So--You sayin' I'm black, Mr. Pot??

[Iceaxe]

But I think my opinion is heavily tainted by the god awful ash/mud situation we encountered when we did it.

Yeah... Checkerboard lost a lot of its charm right after the 2007 fire, except for the approach which became easier. It's been a few years since I last did the route, but from looking at Kurt's pictures its appears the canyon has regained its splendor.

I expect it to be a popular route this year...

[Stick]

I expect it to be a popular route this year...

It has been a long time since I have done this canyon (2004 or 2005), but I cannot imagine this canyon becoming very popular. It is a very nice slot, but that approach through the bushes is a killer. I still have no desire to return due to all the bushwhacking. I would rather hike up the MIA exit...

Or maybe we just chose a poor route when we did it.

[Iceaxe]

I cannot imagine this canyon becoming very popular

That is pure speculation on my part... but I do have some experience with the subject.

My speculation was based on the fact that the post 2007 bushwhacking is not as bad as the pre-2007 bushwhacking. And the fact the route is now available to the general public so everyone that has done Heaps, Imlay or Kolob and is looking for the next great canyon will target it. Checkerboard is certianly a big-boy canyon and not a Pine Creek or Keyhole.

The approach is about the same as the Imlay Sneak approach or MIA Exit with regards to effort spent and the payoff is certainly as good....YMMV...

FWIW: Rumor has it there is an approach that supposedly knocks an hour off the time and eliminates some bushwhacking.

Of course a good boyscout disaster, rumors of a blue lake or an arm chopping off story would really bump it up the popularity scale.