Yankee Doodle\Boltergeist (So. UT) - July 21, 2012

[arnellfam]

A couple of weeks ago I took my son and two of his friends, all 16yo, down Yankee Doodle and Boltergeist, two canyons near each other in the Leeds\Silver Reef area of Southern Utah, west of Zion National Park.

The area had received substantial rain in the prior week or two and there was more water in Yankee Doodle than I've seen on prior trips, though nothing more than waist deep.

My son had done one canyon before and this was his two friends' first time rappelling. It was my first time leading a canyon. YD took three hours car-to-car. Boltergeist took four hours, but we were behind a slower group that knew the canyon (I'd never been) so I opted to stay with them.

Warm day, but not too bad. Lots of shade in both canyons. YD is a "superior" canyon, if there is such a thing, but Boltergeist has a charm all it's own, notwithstanding the scramble out of the canyon at the end.


First canyon rappel ever for my son's two friends.


I sent my son down first with an auto block so he could then belay his two pals.


They loved the YD rappel.


Stemming goodness. Water was waist-deep here.


More stemming action.


Downclimb in Boltergeist



My son on the final rappel (100ft) at Boltergeist

Group shot along the creek at the bottom of Boltergeist.


Beautiful creek at the bottom of Boltergeist.

[New Mexico]

Looks like fun. My daughter goes to SUU so one of our trips down to visit will also be to do both canyons.

[Sandstone Addiction]

Looks like everyone had a great time.

Excellent TR! Thanks for sharing.