Utah

Orderville Canyon and The Narrows

Rachel high up in Orderville Canyon - the first few kilometres are often similar to this, with more open walls and dry, rocky floor

Occasionally the walls close in

The first obstacle, a log slide. The logs are typically much more smooth and slippery than similar logs in Australian canyons

The party behind us at the log slide

Rachel on the island between two muddy sections. Similar to Birch Hollow, Orderville drains a section of the plateau with shale formations that deposit a muddy layer on top of everything when wet.

Canyon formation

Rachel in an impressive section of the canyon

Canyon formation

First signs of water flow

By now there is a good flow of water in the canyon and it is time to get wet feet. You can see the line of moss where the springs are seeping out of the rock. In dry weather, these springs are the only water flow in many of the local canyons.

Canyon formation

The party in front of us abseiling at the Guillotine

Rachel

Rachel handlining the drop at the Guillotine ...

...and now you can see why it is called the Guillotine!

Canyon formation

Nearing the junction with the Narrows, though there are still a couple of obstacles left to negotiate

First this awkward drop...

...to a compulsory swim

Then a sunny section ...

...followed by a climb down a rope at Corkscrew Falls...

...and finally the slippery descent of Veiled Falls

Orderville Canyon

Rachel in Orderville

Rachel at the bottom of Orderville

Orderville Canyon then flows into The Narrows (of the North Fork of the Virgin River)

The Narrows

Typical scene in the Narrows - it takes a long time to be able to take a picture that doesn't have any people in it. There is always a steady stream of hikers

The Narrows

The Narrows

The Narrows

The Narrows

The Narrows

Lower down in the Narrows