This was a great trip! I felt very safe today since I got the chance to hike and canyoneer with two Search and Rescue men from Kane County and a Search and Rescue Vetran from Zion National Park. Bo and I met for breakfast at the Thunderbird and we met up with Mark and Dean at 9am. Although the forcast called for some light scattered showers it had been raining all night and it only let up a short time the entire day we hiked. First questions was where were we going, and Mark got a smile on his face and said how about Red Cave. Since it was raining that was a good idea. We did not want to let the slot have time to flood. After talking to my brother we decided the best way to go was through Tait Lane in Mount Carmel. Although there is a wild 4WD road that is entered through his yard there is now a locked gate past his house on anothers property. We did not see anyone to stop and ask if we could go so we drove slowly and made sure to shut the gate behind us. The road pretty much leads to the slot and Dean knows the 4WD areas well so we easily made it to Upper Red Cave. We stopped and checked out the entrance but with the cold temperature outside, the rain and the fact we would have to get pretty wet at the start of the slot we decided to go and check out Lower Red Cave. We were in luck and found that slot to be totally dry and it was sand filled to my delight. I had been through the slot earlier in the Summer with Shane Burrows and the boulder obstacles were not easy at that time. Today on the otherhand, they were a breeze. Right at the start of the slot is a rope obstacle. Climb this frayed ancient rope at your own risk! The climb seems easy for the men, but I had to take the alternate route and go around the right side of the slot and hike up the mountain side and find a way down. Bo, the gentleman he his went with me and found us a nice spot to enter the slot. We got down and did not find Mark and Dean anywhere so we hiked back to the rope area to find them just 15 ft past the rope obstacle at another fun obstacle. After a quick look at it, and the face that we did not bring any rope, the guys decided that they too would go out and hike up the mountain side and drop into the slot.
The rest of the slot was easy with sand laid down high in the last flash flood. I have no doubt with all the rain we are having this week that the slot will be flooding again soon and each time the characteristics of the slot change. We made our way through the beautiful and skinny slot, past the window and the open area into another nice slot section. When we got to the end we were cold enough we turned around and went back rather than hiking over to the upper section and going in that from the back and having to hike back to the Rover all wet.
This was an outstanding day with awesome friends!
Thanks Bo, Dean and Mark!
Zion National Park
Complete Trail Description and Photo Album
Zion National Park
Zion National Park hiking guide
Zion National Park Hiking
