KOLOB CANYON

[Bclark29]

On June 22, 2013, we had our annual Sausage Fest in Zion, so we did Kolob Canyon.

This was my second time doing this canyon, and holy crap the conditions were totally different. Last April (2012) we hit Kolob and she was chuck full. It was awesome. This time though, she was pretty dry.

We started our trip off early and left Springdale around 6 a.m. Drove up the Kolob Terrace road until we got to where you can see the water being released into Kolob. I can't remember what it was at, 2-4 CFS. So, we thought, sweet, water will be shooting out on all of our rappels.

We then drove to the MIA gates and parked, did a final gear check and then headed north to Kolob, we passed Boundary Canyon, and before we knew it, we were at the head of Kolob...and there was a drizzle of water coming down into it. WTF!? She was not flowing at all. We knew we were in for a few swims still so we all wetsuited up and geared up. The first rap is off a big tree with a freshly place anchor around it. There were four in our group and we brought 2 60 meter ropes to leap frog each other to get through the canyon quicker. Once we were all down we saw 2 dead deer. A descent 3 point buck and a doe. I remember these 2 from our trip last year. We continued on hoping for some water and finally after about half way through we hit some swimmers. We also came across a dead skunk. Damn, it stunk. All of the anchors in Kolob were in great condition but the webbing should probably be replaced in the next few months. I honestly don't remember step by step of all the rappels and obsticles in Kolob, I guess I was having to much damn fun. Most of you on here have done it already, so if you want to try it when it's dry, now is the time.

I love the final rap in Kolob, it's the big 170' or whatever it is. It's slippery as can be with all the moss, but like I said before, there wasn't but a drizzle coming down that huge waterfall. At the end of that rap you end up in a big knee deep pool. It's a great spot to lay down and take some pictures of the rest of the group rappelling down.

After that rappel, the canyon is pretty much over, but you do get to walk down some pretty sweet canyon sections as you work your way down to the MIA exit point. I think this is prettier that the "Narrows", plus you don't have all the tourist. There was a little bit of water here. As we walked past Oak creek canyon (whatever its called) and Boundary, the water slowly began to rise. We did pass a dead doe, it was maybe a month old. Hold your breath she might make you throw up.

You're probably sick of wearing your wetsuit by now walking down the canyon stream, but keep it on. There are a few small rappels still or bypass the rappels and jump in like we did. All of the pools at the bottom of the small rappels were plenty deep enough to jump into. I'm 180 lbs and 6'-1" and I didn't touch the bottom. If you are getting low on water and were planning on pumping water out of the creek at the MIA exit, do it well before that. About 200 yards or so from the MIA exit point, there is no water in the creek, it must go underground.

We ate lunch and took off our wetsuits and gear at the MIA exit point. If you've never done the MIA, you're in for a real treat, not. The MIA sucks. I've done it before so I knew that I'd go through about 1 liter water going up it. And I knew that I can get to the dirt road just behind the 3 dead trees in a little less than 90 minutes. The trail was pretty easy to follow, cairns were all over and there were still some orange markers in trees. Just remember to stay to the left all the way up and the pain in the ass hike.

My brother-in-law and I reached the road in under 90 minutes and the other 2 in our group came up about 20 minutes later. Most people head north on this road and start their final 2 mile ascend to the MIA gates/truck. But, head south, there is an awesome spring coming out of a sprinkler pipe about 300' from where you exited the MIA. This water is damn good and cold. Refill your water here, take a break, and pat yourself on the back for just completing the hardest canyon exit. Well, you still have 2 miles of dirt road walking to get back to your truck. The 2 miles back to the MIA gates/truck sucks. It's not the hardest hiking but it just seems like it's never going to end. There are a few sections on this road that have a pretty good incline, but you'll get through it. I forgot how long it took us to get back to the truck from the spring...2 hours, maybe?

It would be nice if the "church" would open their gate for us canyoneers. It would save us 2-3 hours of hiking on a lame dirt road. But we all know that will never happen.

There you have it folks, Kolob Canyon. Again, if you want to hit it dry, now is the time. If you were too scared of doing rappels there while the water is shooting on top of your head, head up there now and get your permit.

Oh, it took us about 9 1/2 hours to complete this canyon with 4 guys.

[Kuya]

I can't wait to do this canyon!!!!!

[Slot Machine]

Great report! Thanks for the tips on the best places to fill up on water!

[jman]

Nice guys! That's a fast climb out of MIA. Yea that pipe spring is nice.

If it's this low...imagine kolob in July and August. But then again "monsoon" season should be ramping up then.

[Sombeech]

Nice report! Rockin' the bogley gear

[Byron]

I did it with Kelsey quite a few years back, we did it from start to finish in 10 hours...you guys must really have been moving along, cuz we certainly were. The canyon was bone dry when I did it as well. Love all those big raps.

[Iceaxe]

Tap'n on my Galaxy G3

[Mountaineer]

[spinesnaper]

Great report. Love the pix.

[Bclark29]

It's a good fun canyon. Yeah, the group I go with hauls ass. We've just been going together for a long time our rope bagging skills are quick and so is our route finding.

[WorkBad]

Great TR. I really liked the details. Thanks!

[lrnohl11]

What did you all use for wetsuits? We are planning on going into tomorrow and it's supposed to be a high of 107 in Springdale. Water still reported to be releasing at 3cfs. Did you get any sun in the canyon?

[Bclark29]

Sorry, just saw this, we used 4-3 wetsuits and were just fine.

[JBartlett]

Drove up the Kolob Terrace road until we got to where you can see the water being released into Kolob. I can't remember what it was at, 2-4 CFS. So, we thought, sweet, water will be shooting out on all of our rappels.

Before we knew it, we were at the head of Kolob...and there was a drizzle of water coming down into it. WTF!? She was not flowing at all.

As an aside, we did this canyon on Friday -- the day after lrnohl11, actually! -- and it had pretty good flow. Not what I'd call "sporting" by any stretch, but certainly more than a trickle (and certainly less than that caving video we posted early this year).

Washington Co water told us that they are alternating weeks of 3CFS and 0CFS, so conditions for us were 3CFS after several previous days flowing at the same 3CFS. Will post photos & videos a bit later this week.

[Iceaxe]

It's been a few years since I last did Kolob. I'm just curious how much boyscout gear is still scattered throughout the canyon. Last time I did the route (6 years ago?) there was still really a lot. Sleeping bags tangled in logjams, mess kits and canteens in the bottom of potholes, clothing trapped in snags, yada, yada.....

[qedcook]

I think I know this guy from the Seattle area a few years back. First name Chris?

I'm just curious how much boyscout gear is still scattered throughout the canyon.

I don't recall any boy scout gear the last two times I went through in the last year and a half.

[ratagonia]

It's been a few years since I last did Kolob. I'm just curious how much boyscout gear is still scattered throughout the canyon. Last time I did the route (6 years ago?) there was still really a lot. Sleeping bags tangled in logjams, mess kits and canteens in the bottom of potholes, clothing trapped in snags, yada, yada.....

I looked for some, earlier this month. Did not see any items at all! I remember seeing stuff about 10 years ago.

Tom

[Bootboy]

I saw what may have been some of the gear back in August. I can't be certain it was from that event as it was much farther downstream, near the 400' waterfall, but I spotted some old and worn blue fabric (denim?, sleeping bag?) among some flood debris on the RDC side of the creek. I didn't investigate. It can be kind of eery when you encounter things like that.

[ilipichicuma]

When we did it back in the fall of 2010 we found a drybag near the 400 foot waterfall. It looked too new to be from that event, though. We packed it out.