Zion Summits: Courting Angels Beyond the Gates May 1-5, 2016

[John Morrow]

Zion National Park, Kolob Terrace Region


North Guardian Angel 7395' Class 4 Northeast Ridge
West Northgate Peak 7267' Class 3 North Ridge
South Guardian Angel 7140' Class 4 Northeast Ridge
East Northgate Peak 7159' Class 2 North Slope


Zion Canyon


Angel's Landing 5790' Class 3 Chains
Refrigerator Peak 6011' Class 1 South Slope


May 1: Drive from Escalante, get permit, goof off in Springdale, hike in the chill 2 mile Northgate Peak Trail to set up a camp on the rim of Russell Gulch. Literally "chill" with rain and wind and 40 degree F. cold temps!



May 2: Allowing the rock to dry with a leisurely start, Kimberly, Robert, and I set off to summit the North Guardian. It is fairly challenging scrambling with consistent Class 4 to start above the NE shoulder (Class 3 to there) and several exposed Class 4 steps here and there to the summit. In general, after the first sustained pitch, go slightly left (south) of the NE Ridge crest. We opted to go faster by avoiding to rope up. On the descent we did 2 rappels, however. Spectacular Climb in an amazing location!



Trying to beat incoming T-storms, I quickly went up W. Northgate Peak on its' pleasant and solid Class 3 North Ridge.



May 3: 6:30 AM start, knowing this would be a potentially long day to South Guardian Angel. It sits in a magnificent and remote location deep in Zion Wilderness. Though the Peak itself is solid and pleasant Class 3, getting to it is another story. There is but one way, that is to descend to the famous Subway of the Left Fork North Creek. It goes like this:
Walk around the west edge of the unnamed point east of N. Guardian Angel.
Descend the prominent South Ridge of this point until it gets too steep.
Cross left through a shallow drainage to a second south trending rib.
Take it until it steepens beyond reasonable progress.
Look down and right into a gritty dirt gully...Take it.
Take the gully to a brushy flat, 200 vertical feet above the Subway.
Traverse the flat 100 yards left to a second gully...Take it to the bottom!
The key Jughandle Arch is right across from you.
Climb 15 feet of Class 3 gully left of the arch to 10 feet of Class 4 mini face.
Ascend the rest of the gully out to a tread on the left switchbacking up.
Find your way to Guardian Angel Pass and locate the Red Sandstone Amphitheater...scramble it to the NE Ridge of South Guardian Angel.
Enjoy the NE Ridge to the top!
Retrace.



Summit views are awesome!!!! Then head back...




Once back at the Northgate Peaks, I scrambled the easy N Ridge of East Northgate. A tread gets you up, but fun Class 2 rock is more enjoyable.



May 4: Then it was time to eat and celebrate in Springdale! A quick hike out and a set up in the South Campground by the Park Visitor Center.


May 5 : Drats, my last day. I opted for Angel's Landing and some Courtney Purcell bump called Refrigerator Peak. I was first out of camp and thought I'd meet everyone on top. But somehow we never crossed paths???? Then it was time to begin the long drive.

[Glenn]

Wow, John! That was quite a trip! I'd love just to scramble up the Northgate Peaks just once. Did you all camp there overnight (saw the tent photo; looked like that area)?

[John Morrow]

Wow, John! That was quite a trip! I'd love just to scramble up the Northgate Peaks just once. Did you all camp there overnight (saw the tent photo; looked like that area)?

Hello Glenn,
5 of us camped in the Northgate Peaks crosscountry zone where we were told to camp out of site of the trail on durable surfaces. We chose dense pine needle beds and crypto free sand and stone. It is two easy miles or less. A great scenic base for the Ngate Pks if you choose to do so. We found water near the trail junction with the Wildcat trail. Should be there most spring seasons. Go enjoy it!
John

[Glenn]

Hello Glenn,
5 of us camped in the Northgate Peaks crosscountry zone where we were told to camp out of site of the trail on durable surfaces. We chose dense pine needle beds and crypto free sand and stone. It is two easy miles or less. A great scenic base for the Ngate Pks if you choose to do so. We found water near the trail junction with the Wildcat trail. Should be there most spring seasons. Go enjoy it!
John

I hiked by Northgate during my Trans Zion Trek last month and would have visited them if I'd had time (that was the longest hike of the trip). And yes, there was a lot of water at the junction. If I hadn't already cached water at Hop Valley TH, I probably would have filtered another liter or so there.