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Iceaxe
Bogley BigShot
Joined: 07 Mar 2005
Posts: 10605
Location: Local Bordello
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 Posted: Sat Mar 04, 2006 10:43 pm Post subject: Zion Canyoneering History |
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Anyone interested in a little history on the Zion Heavy hitters? Anyone interested in who placed the first bolts? Or who had the skill and courage to put in some of the most famous canyoneering routes in North America?
Mike Bogart, Dennis Turville and Mary Dern have the first documented descent of Imlay. They called it Trolls Treat. They did the canyon in 28 rappels and placed 13 bolts sttarting from Patato Hollow. June 7, 1978.
Mike Bogart, Dennis Turville, Mary Dern and Jan Hansen. Have the first documented descent of the technical section of Kolob. September 1978.
Mike Bogart, Dennis Turville have the first documented descent of Heaps. The waterfall exit is exactly 440' high and I know this because the first documented descent followed the watercourse and not the now standard "bird perch" route. September 23, 24, 25 1981
And at the time, canyoneering was referred to as "Gorging" to Mike Bogart, Dennis Turville, Mary Dern and Jan Hansen.... as in descending a deep gorge.
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rockgremlin
The Canyonator
Joined: 09 Dec 2004
Posts: 4550
Location: ***MOAB***
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| Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2006 12:33 pm Post subject: |
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Are they still alive? Still active in the sport?
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Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, as vital to our lives as water and good bread.
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shaggy125
Mountain Man
Joined: 25 Sep 2005
Posts: 905
Location: Cottonwood Heights, UT
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| Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2006 2:48 pm Post subject: |
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Very interesting stuff. For those interested I found the story off of Tom's site that tells of the Devils Pit. The story is taken from Zion's black book and was written by Royce Trapier, his partner was Norman Harding. They claim in the story that this was the first successful descent ever made of the bottom of the canyon. Did Mike Bogart and Dennis Turville possibly skip part of the canyon? Or were these guys just not aware that they had done the canyon the year before? They mention that they added a bolt to the two existing at the Birds Perch (there are 4 bolts there today) so obviously someone had at least done the rappel before.
Anyway, for anyone who hasn't read the story already it's pretty interesting. Just a note, they are descending the canyon via what we now refer to as the Gunsight Entrance or North Fork of Heaps. There is less water and serious stuff before the crossroads when doing it from here rather than from Phantom Valley, which is the standard way of doing it today.
http://canyoneeringusa.com/history/heaps82.htm
More interesting history about Zion Canyoneering.
http://canyoneeringusa.com/history/index.htm
Eric. |
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Iceaxe
Bogley BigShot
Joined: 07 Mar 2005
Posts: 10605
Location: Local Bordello
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| Posted: Sun Mar 05, 2006 9:24 pm Post subject: |
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Dennis Turville is now a professional photographer. He has posters and photgraphs hanging in the new Zion Visitor's Center. He lives in Toquerville last I heard. I know a couple of fellas from Utah did Kolob with him a while back. Dennis and Steve Allen were the "experts" called in to testify for the NPS when the scouts got whacked in Kolob. (Lloyd Bush who was teaching a canyoneering class at the U of U at the time was the "expert" for the families).
Mike Bogart lives in SLC and retired from canyoneering in the late 80's.
The others mentioned were friends and I don't have any info on them.
Yeah, I never understood Royce's first descent claim of Heaps which is what lead me to do a little more investigating. The first group did the entire canyon. Heck, his own TR mentions existing bolts for most the canyon, including the finish. Also.... by strict definition Royce never completed the entire route because he climbed out at the "Devil Pit" and entered further downstream.
I'm not here to argue first descents.... just posting dates I know are fact.
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rockgremlin
The Canyonator
Joined: 09 Dec 2004
Posts: 4550
Location: ***MOAB***
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| Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 11:56 am Post subject: |
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How do you "retire" from canyoneering? I assume he enjoyed it?
Sounds kinda weird to retire from a recreational activity that you enjoy.
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Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit, as vital to our lives as water and good bread.
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Iceaxe
Bogley BigShot
Joined: 07 Mar 2005
Posts: 10605
Location: Local Bordello
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| Posted: Mon Mar 06, 2006 1:04 pm Post subject: |
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| rockgremlin wrote: | | How do you "retire" from canyoneering? I assume he enjoyed it? |
I think its something you will understand better when you get older.... but....
You get married, have a family, pursue other interests, don't do canyons anymore.....
I've corresponded a little with Mike and he is a nice enough guy but he doesn't seem to have any interest in canyoneering anymore.
Dennis and Mike also did some of the first documented descents in Escalante. I'll see what else I can dig up and share with you guys.
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Iceaxe
Bogley BigShot
Joined: 07 Mar 2005
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Location: Local Bordello
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| Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2007 4:26 pm Post subject: |
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Here are a few more details I know..... Turville and Bogart did a full Right Fork of the Great West in Zion in 1977. It was not a first descent as beta was given to them. I have no clue who gave them the beta or when it was first descended completely.
What we now call the Imlay Crossroads was referred to as "Quadruple Junction" by the pioneers.
I wish more of the history of the canyoneering pioneers was available. It's a shame that most of it is disappearing with time. Heaps was near the end of Bogart's career. He did only four more first descents after completing Heaps. |
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j_trapier_w
New Member
Joined: 27 Jan 2009
Posts: 5
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| Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:14 pm Post subject: Royce D. Trapier is my grandpa!!! |
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| I believe that my Grandpa Trapier was the first to successfully complete a descent through Heaps. |
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ratagonia
The Emperor
Joined: 21 Feb 2005
Posts: 1431
Location: Quiet and charming: Mount Carmel
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| Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:23 pm Post subject: |
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| Iceaxe wrote: | Here are a few more details I know..... Turville and Bogart did a full Right Fork of the Great West in Zion in 1977. It was not a first descent as beta was given to them. I have no clue who gave them the beta or when it was first descended completely.
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You're just not trying hard enough, Shane. 
June 26 - July 2, 1966. Victor Schmidt and party. They did, however, avoid the 'direct' section, establishing the 'silver staircase' work around.
http://canyoneeringusa.com/history/right66a.htm
Placed in the Black Book, so there is a good chance Turville and Bogart got it from the Park.
Tom |
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ratagonia
The Emperor
Joined: 21 Feb 2005
Posts: 1431
Location: Quiet and charming: Mount Carmel
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| Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:30 pm Post subject: Re: Royce D. Trapier is my grandpa!!! |
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| j_trapier_w wrote: | | I believe that my Grandpa Trapier was the first to successfully complete a descent through Heaps. |
Welcome to the group, "J".
I admire the work of Royce, and sometimes feel like I am tracking his adventures, finding those bolt hangers marked "RT" in various obscure corners of Zion.
I think Royce claimed the first "complete descent on the canyon floor", as the previous descent by Turville and Bogart had shuffled along a ledge for 50 feet. My impression is Turville and Trapier were rivals, and none too friendly. Hard to say which first descent "counts" the most, but as much as I have a distant affection for Royce, I think I lean towards Turville on this one.
ps, if there is presentable historic material available, I and we would be delighted to see it. Contact Shane = Ice if you live up north, or me if you live down south (me = CanyoneeringUSA at gmail dot com).
Tom  |
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Bo_Beck
Desert Rat
Joined: 02 Dec 2005
Posts: 1200
Location: Southern Utah
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| Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:39 pm Post subject: |
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| ratagonia wrote: |
You're just not trying hard enough, Shane.
June 26 - July 2, 1966. Victor Schmidt and party. They did, however, avoid the 'direct' section, establishing the 'silver staircase' work around.
http://canyoneeringusa.com/history/right66a.htm
Placed in the Black Book, so there is a good chance Turville and Bogart got it from the Park.
Tom |
Really Cool! Thanks Tom for the great research!
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Don
Solid Gold
Joined: 20 Feb 2006
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Location: Happy Valley
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Bo_Beck
Desert Rat
Joined: 02 Dec 2005
Posts: 1200
Location: Southern Utah
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| Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 7:46 pm Post subject: Re: Royce D. Trapier is my grandpa!!! |
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| ratagonia wrote: | | j_trapier_w wrote: | | I believe that my Grandpa Trapier was the first to successfully complete a descent through Heaps. |
Welcome to the group, "J".
I admire the work of Royce, and sometimes feel like I am tracking his adventures, finding those bolt hangers marked "RT" in various obscure corners of Zion.
I think Royce claimed the first "complete descent on the canyon floor", as the previous descent by Turville and Bogart had shuffled along a ledge for 50 feet. My impression is Turville and Trapier were rivals, and none too friendly. Hard to say which first descent "counts" the most, but as much as I have a distant affection for Royce, I think I lean towards Turville on this one.
ps, if there is presentable historic material available, I and we would be delighted to see it. Contact Shane = Ice if you live up north, or me if you live down south (me = CanyoneeringUSA at gmail dot com).
Tom |
My understanding is that Royce had an unsuccessful first attempt in Heaps and was eventually rescued, and having to leave gear behind hesitantly. With desire to retrieve gear and complete what he had started, made another sucessful attempt soon after. (I have a friend that was on the rescue of Royce on his first attempt). Royces account of Heaps was my reason for my first trip and many successive trips. He had good taste for the great canyons of Zion!
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oldno7
Outdoor Guru
Joined: 16 May 2007
Posts: 1373
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| Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 8:47 pm Post subject: |
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Tom
The trip through Great West had many references to photo's, is there any record of those photo's? |
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ratagonia
The Emperor
Joined: 21 Feb 2005
Posts: 1431
Location: Quiet and charming: Mount Carmel
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| Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2009 9:16 pm Post subject: |
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| oldno7 wrote: | Tom
The trip through Great West had many references to photo's, is there any record of those photo's? |
Those photos were not in the Black Book when I got to it. They might be at the museum - I'll try to remember to ask if I am there this week. Yes, might be interesting to see them.
Tom |
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Sounds familiar somehow.