Bogley

[nelsonccc]

West Rim trail in Zion

We headed up Thursday night. We finally reached the base of Mohoney hill after several sketchy parts of the road in 4 high. I put the ford into 4 low and we headed up the hill on what was definitely a butt puckering drive up that thing. You forget how steep it is until you're trying to go up it in the snow. That sharp little switchback right at the first turn almost did us in, but a scream of "more petro" put us through. The snow was about 12 inched deep on a base of slippery ice. We fishtailed and spun quite a bit towards the top but we were able to maintain enough momentum to get to the top. We then, very foolishly I might add, tried to go down into the Wildcat trailhead. We got stuck and after about 30 minuets of digging we got back up to the road. We spent the night right there on the side of the road.

We headed out early Saturday morning with a temperature around 10 degrees. The snow was about 25 to 30 inches deep. Nobody had been on the trail which was pretty easy to follow but we’d all been on it before. So we knew where it went. It gradually became deeper as we got ascended towards the summit over the Left Fork. Then as we descended towards Blue Creek it got pretty deep. The climb out of there back towards the West Rim was a pain in the rear. Up on top for that last half mile to the junction with the West Rim we were easily in 3+ feet of powder. When we reached the junction one of the members of our group was pretty beat and was experiencing hip pain from snowshoeing. The rest of us had been up to Mt. Charleston outside of Vegas several times in the previous weeks to “train” but alas this guy had not and was in bad shape. After a pretty hot debate it was decided to turn around. This was a tough decision as we had packed rope, crampons, ice axes, plus all of the overnight gear for six miles just to turn around. But what do you do, leave the guy there? We could see towards Potato Hollow and the rim above it and could see that it looked like the snow level decreased after you came out of Potato Hollow, but who knows.

We went back down to the spring at the head of Blue Creek, the sign was barely visible, and spent the night there. Got down to 9 degrees that night. We finished the hike out Saturday morning and had an easy ride down the hill since it had been chopped up significantly by the snowmobiles. Overall a fun trip with good friends. Maybe next year.

[Jaxx]

Sweet TR! Its a bummer that you couldn't make it but atleast you got to be in Zion right? I can't believe the difference in the amount of snow, el nino? Thanks for the pics

[Odie_Canyon]

Here are a few more pics...

[nelsonccc]

I like to let the noobs take the lead every once in awhile so they feel important. I'm always in the back, like a cowboy I have to herd the group along. If i'm in front they all stop to watch the power as I ascend the hills or stare at me ass. I haven't figured out which one yet.

PS. Just so there's no mistake I have an extra shirt wrapped around my waist, that's what makes that fat looking bulge.....

[accadacca]

Kewl. Looks like a fun trip! :five:

[Sombeech]

Looks like a blast. I'd like to do some snowshoeing next month.