Vermin + Canyoneering = Good Fun

It was a few years ago when I was working at a Climbing gym, the Ben Lomond Climbing Center which was also my home away from home and the place where my extended family visited daily, that an idea was hatched to do a little canyoneering in Zion National Park, the mother of all canyoneering destinations.  I had done a fair amount in the past so by default I was elected the trip organizer although my partners were equally as capable so that was a mere formality.  

All things being considered the canyon went off without a hitch.  We dropped into Pine Creek which was a rather moderate technical route but one that promised a purely spectacular experience.  It was lean, dark, wet and cold with dizzying rappels amidst flying buttress style arches and chockstones and log jams to inchworm around.  On the continuum of fun for canyoneers it ranked pretty high.  That coupled with the fact that the first rappel was mere feet away from the bumper of ones car made it low hanging fruit.  Perfect for our intentions.

Somehow on this adventure an unknown quantity was introduced into the group.  Of the five people descending the canyon, myself and three others were patrons of BLCC and well known to me.  One of my friends invited another individual who was a total novice to the vertical world which I wholeheartedly welcomed to the foray, generally enjoying the chance to share my passion with others.

Towards the end of the canyon my friend's friend had withstood most of the challenges quite well and I was duly impressed.  On only a few occasions had she shed a tear or two before taking the plunge down one rappel and then another which was actually her only option given the nature of canyoneering.  Once you start doing multiple rappels and pulling ropes you are basically committed to finish in the direction you are going.

She was a good sport for someone who knew not what she was getting into.  The real challenge for her came later when we were enjoying a delicious spread prepared by our gracious hosts who were the parents of one of our group members.  For me it was an unusually comfortable arrangement with free boarding inside a cozy house with thick slabs of bacon awaiting my hungry chops in the morning.  For her it was another test of her tolerance for adventure in terms of her New York vegetarian idealism.  Things got entertaining after one too many comments about eating meat for every meal when our host decided to share how a nuisance like a skunk is handled in Glendale, UT.  Eradication included a 55 gallon drum full of water and a pirate inspired plank with a tempting morsel at the end of the line.  If the design worked correctly, the critter would creep further along after its prize until the carefully weighted device gave way to physics and PLOP!  Down went the the skunk, treading water for as long as it possibly could.  The water served the dual purpose of finishing off the vermin as well as diluting the almost guaranteed stench it would create.

I suppose when you seek out adventure you are almost always in for more than you bargain.  A healthy sense of humor goes a long ways and some flexibility too.  It also never hurts to be considerate to the people you are imposing on.

http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/utah/zion/technical/pine-creek-canyon/