La Verkin Creek Backpack

It's that time of year again - when Dani gets 3 days off work! and we go to Zion.

We are going to throw these pictures in non-sequitur fashion.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c1udRGMJI8w&feature=youtu.be

North Guardian Angel (below)

Our original plan was to backpack the South Fork of the Virgin River - AKA "The Barracks".
However, rain was in the forecast - so we snagged backcountry campsite # 13 near La Verkin Creek in the Kolob area of the park.

Hammock Time!

Campsite #13 is the second to last on the La Verkin creek trail. We spent two nights here with Katie and Tyler.

When it rained we played cards in our make shift shelter, but the rain never really came like the weather people said - so we were graced with showers and sunshine.

We saw some Tarantulas and another insect called the "Jerusalem Cricket" - which is absolutely terrifying. Unfortunately - I can't find the photos of the cricket - so I snagged one from the interweb.

La Verkin Creek (below)

Oh Yeah! before we started our backpack we spent 1.5 days in the Kolob Terrace area of the park camped at Lava Point - and explored the North Gate peaks area.

Storm blowing in on Northgate Peak East.

Dusk near Northgate Peaks TH.

Forward in time back to La Verkin creek. We explored the upper headwaters of La Verkin and Willis Creek.

Waterfall - as far as we could go up Willis Creek.

Willis - La Verkin confluence (above)

Zion Canyoneering: Birch Hollow and Keyhole

Off to Zion NP with Dani and Brian Conley to explore some new canyons.

Dani on my favorite rap of the trip because of the ridiculously boulder wedged in the canyon.

Brian is Dani's former principal from Northwest Middle - where they learned that they share a passion for exploring So Utah canyons. Brian had explored canyons in Escalante, Zion, and Capitol Reef - but was new to rappelling.... So Dani asked him about coming on a summer trip to try it out.

Dani on 1st Rappel

We spent a good bit of time going over the basics - using the car as an anchor.

Brian mastered the fundamentals quickly, and we shortly it was game time - a 120 foot rap over the pour off pictured above. I still remember my first rappel from about 5 years ago - it was down the Narcolepsy Wall in Big Cottonwood Canyon. Despite being about 60' and not very exposed, Thad had to basically push me over the edge. 

Brian was calm and cool as he simply weighted the rope and walked off the edge.

 Saturday night we enjoyed one of the best desert car camping experiences of recent memory. Exhausted from a day of canyoning and long exit hike - we cooked incredible food - drank fine "wine" - and enjoyed great company.

"Hulk?" 

Brian in Birch Hollows fluted walls.

iPhone Pano

Keyhole was short and sweet - about 2 hours total time car door to car door. What it lacked in length it made up for in quality - the final 4 or 5 rappels are incredible and require some fun swimming.

"Swimming through slanted corridor"