TeleRoss Posted October 23, 2012 Posted October 23, 2012 Trip: Zion - a few Date: 10/15/2012 Trip Report: Had an awesome week in Zion with Trish and Jason. We climbed a ton, did some hiking with my folks, drank some tasty beers, and even epic'd horribly once! A great week in the desert! Having never climbed in Zion before we decided to get on something short and moderate to familiarize ourselves with the rock and such. Smashmouth (4p. 5.11), is a sweet fingercrack splitting a steep headwall, and was perfect as our Zion intro. [img:center]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/66305_10151052436322757_1956418693_n.jpg[/img] Jason leading p3. [img:center]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/308089_10151052436942757_1007301003_n.jpg[/img] Jason following p4 [img:center]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/557777_10151052437147757_724027288_n.jpg[/img] crux [img:center]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/644475_10151052437422757_155029478_n.jpg[/img] then we walked over and did Inner Chi (5.11) it's beautiful [img:center]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/59597_10151052438062757_913807516_n.jpg[/img] cruiser stemming with some decent rests, to a funky mantel up and out of the corner at the top...to a sweet one bolt anchor, because the second bolt had pulled...welcome to Zion [img:center]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/561988_10151052438567757_79819881_n.jpg[/img] The next day, Trish wasn't feeling well, so she decided to do a short hike and then relax in her hammock, while Jason and I climbed Shune's Buttress (8p. 11c) The first pitch in a super enduro 5.11 corner stretching 165' to the top of a prominent pillar. so good! leading p1 [img:center]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/552378_10151052439697757_236401930_n.jpg[/img] Jason following [img:center]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/69321_10151052441637757_767621113_n.jpg[/img] The highlights of the climb are exiting this chimney [img:center]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/530775_10151052442432757_1638443423_n.jpg[/img] and climbing this splitter high on the headwall [img:center]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/292727_10151052442667757_124464505_n.jpg[/img] Looking down the sick splitter [img:center]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/644026_10151052442927757_1005089669_n.jpg[/img] The next day, Trish was feeling better so we hopped on Monkeyfinger(8p. 5.12b). It's beautiful [img:center]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/76236_10151052540152757_1443880938_n.jpg[/img] Trish following the pillar on p1 [img:center]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/269940_10151052540407757_1928711062_n.jpg[/img] More corner splitters [img:center]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/420810_10151052451692757_811736890_n.jpg[/img] Jason following the endless finger crack above the roof on p2 [img:center]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/578376_10151052452132757_1199803913_n.jpg[/img] Tired from our first three days of climbing we decided to just climb one pitch, Fails of Power (11c) a sick splitter that is like something from the creek came to Zion, and then do some hiking with my folks the next day. Fails of Power [img:center]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/525635_10151052535542757_1097407839_n.jpg[/img] Sweet climbing [img:center]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/578613_10151052535992757_1432786016_n.jpg[/img] difficult roof and layback race up to the upper chains [img:center]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/285673_10151052536037757_1650835063_n.jpg[/img] Then we went hiking. We saw some sheep [img:center]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/541293_10151052539487757_624565497_n.jpg[/img] some petroglyphs [img:center]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/269982_10151052539172757_1071170154_n.jpg[/img] and a nice sunset [img:center]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/299381_10151052539822757_1754340215_n.jpg[/img] Next up was taking my folks up the trail to Angels Landing Doin pretty good for a couple in their mid-60's! [img:center]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/548564_10151052460727757_1149938526_n.jpg[/img] summit shot! [img:center]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/563977_10151052461477757_2061099137_n.jpg[/img] After Angels Landing, we had beers at the Zion Lodge, but Trish was stoked to lead something. She decided to hop on Cherry Crack, her first 5.10 trad lead! gettin stoked [img:center]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/426311_10151052462272757_1670427267_n.jpg[/img] sending! [img:center]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/320378_10151052462577757_1825510572_n.jpg[/img] We had a couple of days left, and had a couple of climbs picked out...but we epic'd horribly on the decent from Mojo Risin', spending a cold night high on the peak before an epic hike out the next morning/day. DO NOT WALK OFF MT. JOHNSON! The climb, Mojo Risin'(8p. 5.11) was sweet tho! early morning light on the approach [img:center]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/224550_10151052463297757_1982760923_n.jpg[/img] Mt. Johnson west face, the climb follows splitters up the steep headwall in the left-center of the photo. [img:center]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/693_10151052463077757_1350391193_n.jpg[/img] the climbing is adventurous, wild chimneys and caves, sick splitters, and some Zion sandboxes and stacked sand plates up a sweet face, oh and one gnarly looking bat inhabiting a sweet handcrack Jason leading into a funky chimney [img:center]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/318820_10151052463962757_461805035_n.jpg[/img] Trish following the splitter enduro corner [img:center]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/254251_10151052464397757_1833407110_n.jpg[/img] Jason high on the route [img:center]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/306667_10151052464572757_1714925221_n.jpg[/img] Trish topping out in the evening light [img:center]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/14179_10151052465702757_1462426280_n.jpg[/img] sun going down fast! [img:center]https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/418082_10151052465467757_1940861542_n.jpg[/img] summit shot, before an epic decent, involving a forced bivy, running out of water, never ending wandering up and down endless gullies and washes, many rappels, a freshly eaten deer carcass, and a long, long hike back to our packs, comfy shoes, and finally pizza and much beer! [img:center]https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc6/223648_10151052465812757_1523758141_n.jpg[/img] What a sick week in Zion! Can't wait to get back for more! Quote
powdherb Posted October 24, 2012 Posted October 24, 2012 Holy Shite that looks like a lot of fun. Climbing tuff? .12b, dayum. Quote
matt_warfield Posted October 24, 2012 Posted October 24, 2012 (edited) Ain't tuff (that is Smith). It's sandstone in Zion. And TeleRoss does not screw around climbing or skiing. Great TR and the pics help our vicarious pleasure. Edited October 24, 2012 by matt_warfield Quote
Pete_H Posted October 24, 2012 Posted October 24, 2012 Burly routes, burly climbers! Nice work Ross and Trish! Quote
layton Posted October 24, 2012 Posted October 24, 2012 Awesome finally seeing you again, even if it was for only like 5 minutes. Zion is like graduate level Red Rocks. Amazing climbs, but slightly more burl. Quote
denalidave Posted October 25, 2012 Posted October 25, 2012 Schaweet! "Moderate" is 5.11? I guess I should just give up on ever becoming even a moderate climber... Quote
mountainsloth Posted October 30, 2012 Posted October 30, 2012 that was the best ad for Zion climbing I have ever seen. SOLD! thanks! Quote
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