Steamboat Rock - South Coyote Buttes

When we hiked to Cobra Arch - We saw Steamboat Rock from a distance and wondered --- so today we checked it out!

This place was cool! I just don't know how we could have been so lucky
to get out there when the sand was frozen ( driving and hiking made
simple) but the winter in this area RULES! After a day of hiking and
photographing that would make anyone drool I just have to say.....WoW!
You know what Tanya? Even the drive out, with my white knuckles as the
sand had softened, was so absorbed as I heard of Michael Kelsey’s
descriptions of the possible German, Russian Spies "Cache" at "Yellow
Rock" area, I really believe that one of these days we may too stumble
on to something inexplicable! ( I think we have) Wait!!!!!!! Its all
inexplicable! Where did it all come from? Rabbits lumbering in shaded
portals; Hawks perched on pillars a million years in the making...sand,
snow, wind and flows of mud uncovered after being hidden well before
history? Its an endless search that will always be welcome....at least
for those that desire.

Thank you again today for allowing me and driving me to continue that
search! I will never understand all the mysteries...thank goodness! How could it not be? Every thing just seemed like a painting, begging
to be seen. The posture of the Bunny was so straight, proud and un-
interrupted, it seemed as if he was just waiting to be admired. The
Redtail on top of the Dome perched motionless. I wanted to see its
eyes, but the distance was just a few feet too far. I still was able
to see his eyes, and I could see myself in them. I felt eerily like I
belonged there. Deja Vu?

The temps were perfect. The snow that had fallen several days
earlier had mostly melted except on the shaded slopes. The moisture
however had remained and was frozen on the surface and beneath. I
would guess that in the morning as we drove out 9AM, hovered around
25? and as we hiked maybe a couple deg. warmer. After
circumnavigating Steamboat Rock (shaded on the northern flanks) and
heading south back to the Rover, the sand had softened a little in
the sunlight. I was a bit worried that we may have to wait until the
night temps would freeze the ground once again, but mostly the
surface had thawed and the ground underneath remained frozen making
the drive back out perfect. All in all, I just don't know how it
could have been better.

Steamboat Rock would be better explored during hot/warm periods from
Buckskin Gulch at the Middle entrance/exit of the Gulch.

-- Bo Beck

Steamboat Rock
Zion National Park

Water Canyon to Eagle Crags

We set up a car shuttle with one car at Eagle Crags (Rockville near Zion) and the other at Hilldale (by Colorado City). We took the Smithsonian Butte Backway for the shuttle which is a great drive. We got underway about 9:30 am. Bo knew that Zion Rock was going to be there guiding a canyoneering trip, so we hiked up the steep trail to the head of Water Canyon (which we had to do anyway) to see where they start and asked about the rappels. Travis (who is on the Zion SAR team with Bo) said (I don't remember exactly) that there are about 8 rappels and 160' was the longest.

From there we hiked down the drainage until we found a good spot to climb up toward the hoodoos on top. We headed up the slickrock past lots of beautiful hoodoos. Then we got on the soft, sandy 4WD (that is suppose to be closed to 4WDs now) road and headed to the "Notch" and the "Windlass." Our directions we got from Bo's climbing friend Mikel told us to follow the dirt road and it would end at Sawmill Springs. There are lots of 4WD roads up there now – a mess of them. We followed a road and it got us way past the spring, so we had to dig out a map and figure out where the spring actually was since the roads were all over now. We got there and were happy to see there was water in the spring. Really gross water though! We set up camp and enjoyed the full moon and the food Bo cooked.

The night was COLD! Our water froze and there was ice on everything. We were warm in our bags though and we had those hot hand things to help us keep warm. We could not make a fire since we were in a wilderness study area.

The next day we started out — after the sun came up and it got warm. I was not leaving my sleeping bag before that!!! Bo was already up and cooked breakfast and hot drinks. (The perfect hiking partner!)

Sunday morning we headed down Sawmill Spring Wash. After hiking up hill all day on Saturday I was looking forward to some downhill. That area was perhaps the most spectacular of the whole hike. I will post some photos later today. We hiked the north edge to the 600' pour-off. Bo looked from the vantage point but could not see any weakness in the sheer cliff that might be the chute we were looking for. We hiked along the rim, looking at each weakness and for the cairn that Mikel had placed there. We had been told the exit was less than a mile from the vantage point and Bo dropped his pack and went quite a bit farther, still not finding it.

It was getting late and we had to make a choice — stay and look for the chute and maybe camp out (and have SAR called!) Or head back UPHILL to Water Canyon. ~groan~ I was looking forward to the downhill. As much as I hated to head back that's what we did. Bo decided to try and short cut so the parts that should have now been downhill were UPHILL. We were tired, but it was good exercise so we did not mind that much. We made it to the top of Water Canyon before dark and we saw the full moon peek over the mountain. We began to headlamp down the Water Canyon Trail, but we were dropping faster than the moon was rising so that was our only glimpse of it that night. So at least we did all the non-trail parts in daylight.

Canaan Mountain
Zion National Park

Zion National Park - Two Pines Arch

Two Pines Arch

Find a parking spot on the east side fo the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel. Right now there is construction going on and it will continue until at least January 2006. There are some small parking area a little farther east of the tunnel that are actualy closer to the trailhead anyway. Located the beaten path a half mile east of the Canyon Overlook parking lot on the east side of the Zion-Mt. Carmel Tunnel.

The trailhead is on the north side of the road. Look for the small wash, identified by a yellow sign that says, "Caution Delays Possible Be Prepared to Stop". Cross over to the north side of the road and drop into the wash on the east side.

Once in the bottom of the wash, hike north for 150 yards. The wash splits into two. The prominent wash veers to the northwest and a less prominent wash goes to the right in a more northerly direction. Go right (north) and soon the wash will become more apparent. Hike in the wash. Soon a small, layered dryfall is encountered. Continue up the dryfall and the wash opens up. Look to the right at the base of the cliff where the "Two Pines Arch" can be seen. The arch is surrounded by ponderosa pine trees. At about .3 miles into the hike, the route leaves the easy terrain of the wash. Steer directly up the slickrock toward the arch. The climb is moderately steep, but it is only .1 mile.

Zion National Park

Two Pines Arch

Zion National Park - Checkerboard Mesa

Today Bo and I headed to the top of Checkerboard Mesa. We had exited this way once last winter when the wash was snow filled. Bo had done the climbing route up Checkerboard Mesa before however and knew this route. We started about 10 and it was still shady on the side of the mountain we were hiking on. This made for a nice and easy trek up the mountainside. There are a couple of chimneys that you would have to hike around in the dirt, but besides that its a nice hike through the wash to the ledge where bushwacking is required to get to the top of Checkerboard Mesa.

Checkerboard Mesa
Zion National Park

Zion National Park - Subway

The hike through the Left Fork of North Creek involves route finding, swimming ice cold pools and navigating through obstacles which often require the use of a rope. Today we took the kids! My 12 year old daughter and Bo's 20 year old son. This make the trip quite special. The kids laughed and spread their joy. We also invited a few other friends including Reid from the yahoo hiking group and his hiking buddy along with some of Bo's co-workers.

Kolob Fire at Zion is 100% Contained

A few trails like the Subway are still closed but the fire is now 100% contained!