Bogley

shaggy125 · Posted: Thu Mar 27, 2008 1:41 am Post subject: Favorite types of canyons

So while we have been talking about what our favorite canyon is, some people are not able to pick one specific one as a favorite, so maybe we can talk about what your favorite type of canyon is. When I started canyoneering it was all about Zion. Zion was my favorite place in the world and one big draw for me was that by learning how to get down slots, I could see so much more of the park than I would be able to otherwise. Zion canyons surpassed my expectations and stand out as some of the most amazing places I've been in the park, but Canyoneering ended up being a lot more fun than I expected and my reasons for doing canyons has changed somewhat since. Don't get me wrong, I still love Zion but the character of the canyons are generally pretty similar. Rap and swim, hike a little, and rap and swim. Heaps and Imlay are much more challenging, but are still mainly rap and swim with some difficult pothole problems when not full of water. Canyons outside Zion, especially around Glen Canyon, tend to have more variety. They have shorter drops, many of which can be downclimbed rather than rappelled. They tend to be skinnier and pose their own unique challenges. As my skills improve I find the more varied, and more physical canyons more enjoyable than the straightforward rap and swim type stuff. Canyons like Hard Day Harvey, Choprock, Alcatraz, Trail, Chambers, Zero G, what Tom on his rave calls Frosted Flakes, and Limbo, are all more my style. Anything I can get down without the rope is much more enjoyable to me than rapping (nothing too crazy though). What are ya'll's favorite types of canyons?

Eric

PS You can tell it's a slow night for me at work, I haven't posted anything this long for a long time!

rockgremlin · Joined: 09 Dec 2004 Posts: 3829 Location: Hotel California

This sounds really retarded, but I like all canyons equally. They all appeal to me in different ways. I don't really prefer one over the other. Kinda like my kids -- I don't love one more than the other. I love them all equally, and appreciate the unique qualities that they each posess.

Scott Card · Joined: 07 Dec 2005 Posts: 1302 Location: Provo, Utah

I'm kinda like rock on this one. I started in Zion but have been having a blast elsewhere. I am not good at stemming and downclimbing but still having a blast in the North Wash area and hope to tick a few more off in the Powell and Escalante area this summer. But for a great time in a big-boy water park, Zion cannot be beat.

marc olivares · Joined: 19 Jun 2005 Posts: 613 Location: sugarhouse

what rock said X2
:ne_nau:

Iceaxe · Joined: 07 Mar 2005 Posts: 7635 Location: Local Bordello

Put me into the "I like them all" camp.... my only preference is I favor a canyon that I have not done before over a repeat.

I'll take a new 3 star route over a rerun 5 star route anytime.

Also in my old age… :moses: .... I find who I do the canyon with is more important than what canyon I do.

How is that for a sappy answer :bootyshake:

trackrunner · Joined: 27 Nov 2007 Posts: 668

Any canyon is good. :nod:

If I had a pick it would be a canyon requiring a variety of skills from rappelling, climbing, down climbing, etc. I need to go out with someone and learn how to escape potholes so I can do some of those canyons too. :nod:

mtreker · Joined: 08 Oct 2006 Posts: 23 Location: Salt Lake City

I'm with the rest of them. I really like doing new canyons, but I can have just as much fun doing Keyhole at night with good friends.

Reedus · Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 446

Generaly, I like canyons that have water. Wet canyons just seem more pretty to me. Loved Imlay and I loved the Squeeze for that reason. Rappels are kind of a hassle to me. I hate wearing a harness through a canyon and I also hate having to stop and rig rappels every 15 minutes. That being said, i am more in line with Shaggy, I like canyons that offer a chance to downclimb rather than rappel. Hard Day Harvey is killer for that

shaggy125 · Posted: Fri Mar 28, 2008 12:07 am Post subject:

Reedus wrote: Generaly, I like canyons that have water.

Dude, we need to make a trip up to the PNW this summer! You need to get down to Matacanes too... those water canyons are super fun for sure!

tanya · Joined: 18 Oct 2005 Posts: 5502 Location: Utah

I like ones where I don't have to swim in cold water without a wetsuit. :haha:

... and ones where I get to take a lot of photos! --- Something too long like Heaps does not allow for photo time.

Other than that... I like them all.... variety is what 's cool about canyoneering.

Randi · Joined: 08 May 2007 Posts: 328 Location: The OC

Reedus wrote: Generaly, I like canyons that have water. Wet canyons just seem more pretty to me. Loved Imlay and I loved the Squeeze for that reason. Rappels are kind of a hassle to me. I hate wearing a harness through a canyon and I also hate having to stop and rig rappels every 15 minutes. That being said, i am more in line with Shaggy, I like canyons that offer a chance to downclimb rather than rappel. Hard Day Harvey is killer for that

I'm with Reedus as far as liking water canyons.. weird thing is, when I'd first heard of canyoneering, the part about swimming & water (I'm not a great swimmer) was the one thing that didn't excite me at all.
Now, I think that the element of water, ice, snow and even quicksand (which I encountered in Englestead for the first time ever) make things more interesting. Rapelling in a waterfall is way different and more exciting than a dry rappel.

But then again, I'm with Shane when it really comes down to it. It's more who I'm with, cuz every canyon I've ever done was pretty in it's own way, and felt special. I've liked them all. And every time I do a repeat canyon with someone different, it's fresh and new all over again.

nelsonccc · Joined: 30 May 2006 Posts: 241 Location: Vegas Baby

shaggy125 wrote: Reedus wrote: Generaly, I like canyons that have water.

Dude, we need to make a trip up to the PNW this summer! You need to get down to Matacanes too... those water canyons are super fun for sure!

Ahhh..Matacanes. Good times. Nothing like hucking yourself off a 50 footer.

Canyons12 · Joined: 29 Mar 2008 Posts: 17

I like most all canyons too, but prefer the wet canyons as they're more scenic. I actually prefer a low-flow class C. Kolob is about perfect, and one of my favs

wiese · Joined: 05 Mar 2007 Posts: 13

Yea I like them all, from the scenic, wet or dry, big drops to the technical but the canyons I really remember loving where the ones that where humbling.

This feeling is a lot like playing in alpine, or aid climbing where you're way off the deck and get put in your place quickly. The water conditions have changed and even knowing you ran the drop before where do you stand now. Same for new routes, no matter how many scouting trips you have taken, once you drop in your committed, and there is no way to know everything that lays before you now. The best new routes are the ones where you are stopped in your tracks and have to come back another day.

My little brother flys out tomorrow (Thurs 4/3/08) heading back to the Ruth's Gorge once again, where him and his partner keep trying to put up a technical route on the Moose's Tooth. The pointless point is, these are the routes, the ones that shut us down and pick us up in a way at the same time. Welp for me at least.

Take care
EW

Reedus · Joined: 10 Jan 2006 Posts: 446

I would love to get down to Mexico. Just need someone to tag along that know what they are doing. As for the PNW, just say when. I say we hit it in June.