VMO+: Canyoneering and backpacking in Utah

We'll fly into Las Vegas, take a three day course on technical canyoneering near Zion NP, then head out to Grand Staircase / Escalante and Capital Reef NP for canyoneering, day and overnight hikes. Subtracting a day for travel on either end, we're looking at eight days of activities in Utah.

Here's the course for training for technical canyoneering to canyon grade 3B:

http://guidesinzion.com/product/three-day-basic-canyoneering-course-in-zion/

I've ordered books and maps for Grand Staircase and Capital Reef NP, but I haven't planned out that portion of the time out there. The current thought is to do some semi-technical canyons and at least one overnight trip. While late spring is normally dry in Utah, we won't do slot canyons on our own if there is any projection for rain that day due to high flash flood danger in slot canyons. We'll do day hiking or backpacking that day instead. I'll work on the plan for this section during some travel this winter. Or I might wing it and just talk with the guides and rangers when we're out there (and plan it on the flight out).

Other than the first and last nights, expect to car or back-country camp every night. We can load up a cooler with provisions before we leave Las Vegas. Most of the hiking trails are completely dry, so we'll be doing overnight trips and returning to the cars for cases where we need to carry all of our water. Expect there to be a fire ban out there, but usually canister stoves are the last to be banned. We'll have to pick up the canisters in Vegas as you can't pack them on the airplane.

Technical canyoneering involves rappelling down the larger drops in the canyon. It's usually spectacular scenery in a narrow canyon, which makes it worthwhile. However, this trip is not appropriate for those with a fear of heights. Thus the "+" rating on it as I would like to require basic rock climbing or previous technical canyoneering experience before signing up for the outing even though the guiding service doesn't require it for the class.

If you've never rock climbed before, please take the "introduction to climbing" class at any of the local climbing gyms first so that you have some time to contemplate whether you're OK with heights before committing to the trip. In addition, if you haven't done a fair amount of rock scrambling before, I highly recommend doing some climbing with the various climbing gym based Meetup groups to obtain basic climbing proficiency through indoor 5.7 or outdoor 5.4. While none of the intended routes have class 5 terrain (climbing), most have class 3 (scrambling). Depending on the exact canyon, we could hit short sections of hard or exposed class 3. Specifically, the descriptions in the book are subjective and usually relative to other canyons in the area. So having some basic proficiency in climbing should help for the scrambling.

To get the most out of the canyoneering class, there is some knot tying which I would like people to learn before we take the class out there. Looking at the prerequisites for another a similar class, the following knots and hitches used in climbing should be learned before taking the class in Utah:

Knots:
Figure 8 - on a bight, retraced and Flemish bend
Double Fisherman's
Water Knot

Hitches:
Prussik
Clove - onto a carabiner
Munter
Girth
Auto-block
Optional but helpful:
Klemheist
Overhand on a bight
Flat overhand
Directional figure 8 - aka in-line figure 8

While not required, if you have never taking any first aid training, I recommend taking a two day Wilderness First Aid class, as we'll be in the middle of nowhere in Utah when in Capital Reef and Grand Staircase.

Based on a quick look at the maps, it's likely we'll be following topographical features for the hiking in Escalante. So basic skills with a map and compass are needed.

While we're not intending to do 20 mile days, we'll be doing long hikes for a number of days in a row, thus the VMO requirement. If you're not yet a veteran member but think that you should qualify for an exemption, please talk with me and get an OK first, otherwise I'll just update your RSVP to "no" without further inquiry. Generally, you're going to want to exceed the physical fitness standard of a single 20 mile day.

Cost estimate:

Per-person trip cost estimate:
$640 - guiding fees, taxes and tip
$400 - airfare
$160 - portion of rental car
$100 - lodging
$200 - food
$150 - misc equipment
$150 - misc

$1,800 - total

Gear:

We'll pack gear for doing technical canyons on our own after the training course, but it's weather dependent if we'll get in any more slot canyons. In addition to your normal backpacking gear, you'll need the following technical gear:

• climbing harness
• rappel device and locking 'biner
• helmet
• auto-block
  (1x locking 'biner,
  4-5' of 6mm Nylon cordage or 13.5" holoblock)
• prussiks
  (2x locking 'biners,
  cordalette - 24' of 6mm Nylon cordage,
  4-5' of 6mm Nylon cordage or 13.5" holoblock)

It's currently TBD if we'll need wet-suits. I'll deal with the remaining technical gear. E.g. rope, slings, quicklinks, etc.

Travel:

While sometimes you can find cheap tickets to Vegas, it seems that most of those discounts come when the airline is trying to fill the plane. Last I checked, it was about $350 round trip, which isn't dirt cheap, but seems OK for going 3,000 miles. Steve and I are both flying on a non-stop flight out of BWI on the morning of Saturday, April 22nd and returning the morning of Monday, May 1. The Southwest Airlines flight numbers are 6220 and 535 respectively. Folks are welcome to camp on the floor of my place the night before so as to ease carpooling to BWI or if they are part of the car-less in DC crowd.

Maps: Nat Geo #710 - "Canyons of the Escalante". Either the Nat Geo or CRNHA map for Capital Reef NP. There are more Nat Geo maps for Grand Staircase, but I think we'll be on the main #710 above as it has some of the trailheads that I'm interested in. And we'll drop by the multi-agency center for the permits anyways.

Projected weather:
Sunrise: 6:45 am
Sunset: 8:15 pm
Moon: new moon

Typical weather:
Capital Reef NP:
Hi Low Precip Snow
April 66 40 0.57 0.4
May 75 48 0.61 0.0
Zion NP:
April 73 43 1.3
May 83 52 0.7

Signing up:

The process is:

1. Email me the info below to discuss your background and make sure you'll be prepared for the trip.
2. sign up on Meetup
3. Pay the guiding fee so that we can add to the reservation. The current arrangement is to paypal me at aplydon@gmail.com and I can then add to our reservation. Use the "friends and family" option so that I receive the full $640. If I know you well and you're old school, you can email me to see if I'll take a paper check from you. Please note, normally guiding fees must be prepaid and are not fully refundable. So if you cancel, I'm only going to refund what the guiding company refunds to us, which is to say, don't expect a refund. In particular, within some time frame none of the guiding fee is refundable. DO NOT EXPECT A REFUND.
4. Do any prep work necessary. E.g. order maps, knot practice.

Information to email to aplydon@gmail.com:

1. Name
2. Cell phone number
3. Emergency contact name and number
4. Any canyoneering experience?
5. Rock climbing experience? Inside? Outside? Rappelling? Setting anchors? Following trad? Leading trad?
6. Any first aid or medical training?

I tend to handle most things by email instead of a thread on the Meetup discussion area.

I've set the size limit to eight as it's the suggested limit for Grand Staircase. The various group size limits we'll come up against are:

6 - limit for technical canyoneering in Capital Reef NP. Largest size for class before dividing into two.
8 - suggested limit for Grand Staircase / Escalante area.

Liability waver:

By RSVPing to this trip or any other DC UL trip, you agree to DC UL's liability waiver. https://www.meetup.com/DC-UL-Backpacking/pages/Liability_Waiver/

In addition, be advised that canyoneering can be dangerous. Expect to sign a separate liability waiver with the guiding service in addition to agreeing to DC UL's liability waiver.