Guides and Trips
Trips
Warning: Cumulative elevation change of about 6,000 feet. Dropping 1260 from Wildcat Trailhead to Left Fork, climbing 1,669 to the summit of Greatheart Mesa. Dropping down again to Left Fork and the long hike back out to the trailhead.Warning: Greatheart Mesa plateau is dense bushwhacking. It takes approximately 1.5 hours to reach the summit once you broach the plateau.Warning: This is probably the most negative trip report I have ever written regarding...
Nice little up and back ranked peak near Lake Arrowhead. Class 1 maintained trail. Stunning views of the San Bernardino valley. Met a couple on their way up to watch the sun set... I wish I'd have thought of that!
Caution: Steep slickrock scramble route. Exposed areas. Class 3.I just found my new most favorite loop in Zion National Park. For years I have loved the Parunuweap Pass loop which provides beautiful views into the Parunuweap area of Zion. Steep slickrock slabs, route finding skills, chossy exposed scramble is required for Deertrap Mountain. GPS or good map reading skills are required to locate the entrance into Root Canal canyon to complete the...
Caution: 10 - 12 hour day minimum. Full Sun. No Water.Note: Hook Canyon makes a nice exit strategy for Mount Majestic and Cathedral Mountain, but do not hike this route simply for the canyon experience.Disclaimers completed. To be truthful, I have wanted to do this route for two years. It just looks incredible, rugged summit ascents with thousands of vertical feet, what's not to love. In 2012 when first reviewing the route, I...
Looking for a change of pace, and desperately wanting to get back on slickrock I decided to take a break from my adventures in the Virgin River Gorge and scout a few new areas. The Canaan Mountain area offers some of the best slickrock outside of Zion National Park, deep and rugged it quickly reminded me of the Kolob section of Zion National Park. You have to want to hike and scramble...
This is the one. In my opinion, Peak 4621 (AKA: Shadow Mountain) is the most impressive peak in the Virgin River gorge. Southbound on I-15, the peaks massive northeast shear cliff face sits square in the windshield right before the big horseshoe turn. I've been mesmerized by it's rugged facade for as long as I can remember. I tried to scout a route several months ago, but got hung up in the...
Good Friday and Easter weekend. This always causes quite an internal debate about where to go hiking. Zion National Park is stunning this time of year, but so are the crowds. The Virgin River gorge is getting warm and with all the road construction I was positive that I-15 would be backed up for miles. I eventually decided to go to the gorge, but to split the difference in half and stop...
My first reaction... "Are we seriously, knowingly entering a canyon with water; in March, with no wetsuits?" Our plans had changed. After recent rains, the Virgin River's flow rate had increased to the point we were concerned about the approach crossing on our way to Portal Canyon. Our team leader is the only one of the group who had done Johnson Arch Canyon and he assured us that we'd be...
Un-der-es-ti-mate: verb; estimate (something) to be smaller or less important than it actually is... underrate, underappreciate, be wrong about...There's not a picture of Kolob Canyons in the dictionary about underestimate; but there should be. I have hiked Kolob Canyons for years and I have yet - to get - any kind of estimate, that is correct, as to time and distance. Today was no exception. I was going to meet my wife,...
Just a short up and down hike to a ranked peak in the Castle Cliff quad. The approach is the longest section of this class 2 moderate hike. Sitting on the southwest side of Tabeau peak, the summit offers impressive views of the shear cliff face of Tabeau peak.
Warm weather once again had me dreaming of powder skiing while packing my sunscreen lotion and hiking poles. Don't get me wrong, but it is the middle of February. Best part about today is... I have all day. No rush to meetings, no appointments, no set time to be home. I gave Peak 5060 a serious look over on my gentle stroll of Peak 4370 a week ago. I had even planned...
This road takes a bit to locate; first take exit #8 for Beaver Dam and follow the Old Hwy-91 north through town and up Utah Hill. A prominent brown sign marking "Mojave Desert Joshua Tree Road Scenic Backway road" indicates the exit and a well maintained dirt road turns right toward Tabeau Peak. This section of the road requires only 2 wheel drive, but if you wish to drive to the summit,...
A last minute weekend trip found me heading south to Las Vegas. I didn't have to be in Las Vegas until after 4:00 pm and the time zone change gave me a few hours hiking as I pass through the Virgin River Gorge. Take exit #8 for Beaver Dam and follow the Old Hwy-91 north through town and up Utah Hill. A prominent brown sign marking "Mojave Desert Joshua Tree Road Scenic...
A weather system high continues to push winter storm patterns to the east, and with it gorgeous blue skies and mild temperatures for hiking and exploring remain. I love the Virgin River Gorge, the extreme rugged nature of the upturned land is a labyrinth of cliff bands and slot canyons. My grandfather used to tell stories of herding sheep through this area on his way to the Las Vegas railroad stations for...
Spent the afternoon doing some route exploration in hopes of finding a scramble route through the high saddle to the summit of Peak 6840-1. The high saddle is reachable, but no scramble route through the cliff face. Any summit of Peak 6840-1 will be a class 5 climb.
Ski Touring - Cedar Breaks National Monument
Cedar Breaks National Monument, Utah, United States
Cross-country skiing | 3.1 miles
Cross-country skiing | 3.1 miles
Just a brief ski touring trip to test my newly fitted skins. Beautiful day at 10,000'.
"The last storm was a bust - 1 inch storm total in 48 hours." Not exactly the powder alert I was hoping to receive when I went to bed Thursday night. With major storms dumping snow in northern Utah, I was hoping for a little spill-over onto the southern resorts. Nope, nada. However, temperatures are expected to reach 62 degrees in St. George, if you can't beat them, join them sounded like the theme...
