weavers

October Canyoneering

We went and did 4 canyons this past weekend (10/17 - 10/19). Here are some pictures, and the canyons we did.

Slideanide

It can be a tight fit in the canyons. I had just downclimbed that. Devin is at the top of the climb taking a picture.

This was the final rapell out of Slideanide. I know its hard to see, but yes, we did come out of that crack.

This is what it means when a canyon is 'hard on clothes and gear'

Merry Piglet

This was the tiniest, cutest little frog that I found. If you look close you can see its tiny little foot. There was about 5 of these all hopping around together. I wanted to take one home!!

Morocco

There was a really cool arch IN the canyon. It was pretty incredible, you don't see that to often.

That's me doin' some rope work.

Right Leprachaun

This canyon had a ton of tight slots. It was one of our favorites though. Lots of downclimbing and lots of work to get through this canyon, but still a lot of fun!

Our Close to the Summer - Zions

Our first trip on Thursday (9/18) was in Mystery Canyon. Here is a group picture (left to right) Dan and Heather Pettingill (California), Ron (Denver), Me, Devin, and Rudy (New York).

That is our Canyon 'Mystery'

Me Climbing down a log in Mystery.

Looking up a hill that I don't want to climb.

Stemming over some water.

Here is a video of the final rapell in Mystery. It was one of my favorite rapells.

There is Rudy going down the final rapell.

Me and Devin rapelling out of Mystery and into the Narrows.

Oure second trip (9/19) in Spry. Devin, Me, Frank (Vegas), Bill (SLC), Jim (Canyon Leader, SLC).

After walking up a bunch of hills and approaching the top to get into the canyon there was this wall with a bunch of petroglyphs on it. If I was an indian this place would have been perfect to have my spiritual moment....

We rapelled down here, but the view looking out was incredible, pictures never do it justice.

There is Devin at the top of one of the raps.

This is by far the coolest picture of anyone rapelling! This was the last rapell out of Spry. Oh, and yeah that's me. :)

Our last trip was in Birch Hollow, which comes out Orderville (lots of people do Orderville). We didn't get a group picture that day, but we went with: Dan and Heather Pettingill (California), Alan and Megan Pryke (Australia), Me and Devin, Jill and Mike (don't remember last names, from Denver), David McNay (SLC), and Ari Ewell (SLC).

Because of the large group, we set up the rope with what is called a stone knot so we could rapell 2 at a time and also took 2 ropes, it was rapell after rapell. That is me and Ari rapelling at the same time.

Devin doing some down climbing.

All of us piling in the truck to go get the other truck we left at the top.

Special Olympics

I went with my company to help out with the Special Olympics tryouts (Sept. 12). I had a lot of fun! I was somewhat emotional throughout the day, it is just incredible to see people that have severe challanges in their life be so incredibly happy to just play some golf. When I go do things like this I realize how truly blessed I am in my life!

Marcia, Erika, Daron, Jon (one of the finalists), my boss Carolyn, and Bridgette.

Some of the winners

Homer, and one of the volunteers.

This is Bryce, he was one of the sweetest guys, and was also one of the happiest.

Some more finalists.

Blarney and Shillelagh

Devin and I took my cousin Matt, and my little brother Daniel down by Hanksville to 2 canyons, Blarney and Shillelagh (Sept 5th and 6th). It was Matt's first time, he did a really good job, lucky for him he is very tall and was a really good canyoneer.