15/09-15/10/2017 - photos
Participants: Tom Brennan, Rachel Grindlay
Morocco Canyon
Rachel scrambling up to the cliffline
Traversing the exposed ledge around into the canyon
Rachel abseiling into the canyon
At a small arch
Nice drop into an amphitheatre
Rachel bridging her way down canyon
Grumpy at being asked to smile on an awkward drop!
Small people's route (not my way!)
Chilly wade and swim near the end
After checking the forecast in Hanksville, we moved camp back to the White Roost car park, in order to do Robbers Roost (North Fork) the next day
Sunset over the Roost
Spectacular moonrise at sunset
Rachel attempting to capture it
Robbers Roost Canyon (North Fork)
Robbers Roost Canyon is a bit of a cattle trail
Rachel checking out the anchor for the first drop
On the first abseil
In the canyon
Second abseil
Rachel on the third abseil
Canyon formation
Dropping under a large boulder
Easy bridging in a high-walled section
Lovely light
Squeezy downclimb
More gorgeous light
Rachel abseiling into the lower canyon, below our eventual exit point
Beautiful corridor
Ascending back up our fixed rope
Scrambling back up toward the exit
We moved camp to Granary Springs (Motel 6), which was a bit more sheltered, and reasonably accessible to our options for the next day (Not Mindbender, with Larry as a fallback)
Larry Canyon
The road to Not Mindbender Canyon was being covered by migrating sand dunes - this one was fine, but we got turned back at the next one
Rachel descending the moki steps into Larry Canyon
Easy downclimbing
Chilly wade
Narrow squeezing
More narrow bridging
Rachel on the first abseil
Below the abseil
Second abseil in Larry Canyon
Amazing high walled canyon
Great Basin Gopher Snake
Pleasant wide section of canyon
Slanted corridor (my nemesis)
A couple of final abseils could be avoided by walking around the corner along this bench
Rock arch in the canyon wall
Rachel climbing the steep crack to get out of the canyon
Slickrock exit to the ridge
Alcatraz Canyon, just below our campsite
Sunset over Alcatraz and the Henry Mountains
Blue John Canyon (Little West and Main Forks)
Rachel climbing down the imposing entry to Little West Blue John Canyon
Scrambling down under a chockstone
First abseil in Little West Blue John Canyon
Water streaks in the walls
Rachel on the second abseil
Below the abseil
Heading up the main fork of Blue John Canyon, through a muddy pool which is thankfully only waist deep
Close!
Impressive
Bridging to avoid muddy feet (which would not be helpful!)
Rachel starting the ascent up the final section of the canyon
Resting at the top of the hardest section
Rachel heading up further with a rope for pack hauling
Almost at the top!
At the top were a clean cut group of guys looking like they were about to hit the gym, rather than descend a grovelly canyon - I suspect they would have been worse for wear by the end!
On the way out of the Roost we pass through an area of sand dunes
Cedar Mesa
Jacobs Chair at sunset
Camp above White Canyon in the Cedar Mesa
Rock arch at dusk