Canyoneering in the Roost!

Blake Merrell

Blake Merrell

Life Elevated - Rising Higher
Joined
Feb 25, 2013
Messages
600



Woah! Has It really been 7 Months since I have ran a slot canyon? My friends think I am broken and threatened to replace me. Whatev. Life is better with a bit of variety :) One day they will all learn. (haha!)

Butch Cassidy and his gang are rumored to have hidden in the remote sections of the San Rafael Swell as they ran and hid from local law enforcement. I can see why. Not only are there 100's of slot canyons to hide in, but it takes F...O...R...E...V...E...R... to get out there. It was neat to wander the old stomping grounds of the old outlaws.

High Spur Canyon. I have had this canyon on my radar for years. It was finally time to see what it was all about. I was not disappointed.

The whole canyon was very scenic, but it wasn't until we hiked into the final section of narrows when things started getting really good. The canyon is known for its curvy and cavernous features. Right before the canyon kicks ya out, things get deep, dark, and beautiful!

The sun did a spectacular job of lighting up the canyon walls. Sunbeams bounced among the towering and twisted walls filling the corridors with apen-like glow. Arches lurked within the walls and cave-like cathedrals demanded our reverence. It was good to be in a slot canyon again.























































































































 
Last edited:
Jammer said:
Awesome -- thanks for sharing!

How was the exit route back out of the canyon?
Click to expand...

Exit wasn't to bad. It took a bit of route finding to get up the second cliff section, but we managed. The beta I had, and the route I took were different though.
 
Thanks guys. It was better than I expected. The final section of narrows was so pretty. It's canyons like these that make me grateful that I know how to use a rope when I hike :)
 
Beautiful photos. I love living vicariously through reports like this.
 
Awesome. Looks like this should be a great canyon for a down-and-up trip with my kids and w/o ropes.

But it would be fun to get into the lower corkscrew part -- do you know if there are any class 2 or 3 entries/exits into that part?
 
looks amazing. Pardon the stupid question but the one picture where you have repelled into a small pocket with smooth walls on all sides, how did you get back out? Jumars?
 
regehr said:
Awesome. Looks like this should be a great canyon for a down-and-up trip with my kids and w/o ropes.

But it would be fun to get into the lower corkscrew part -- do you know if there are any class 2 or 3 entries/exits into that part?
Click to expand...


I don't know of any ways into the lower part, but I think it is doable. I was noticing exits all over as I was hiking through the canyon.

One could hike to the corkscrew part with out doing a real rappel. Ya might need to set a few small ropes for some tricky drops, but none really required a serious rappel. The two mandatory rappels were at the very end of the canyon after the Corkscrew section.
 
kimbur96 said:
looks amazing. Pardon the stupid question but the one picture where you have repelled into a small pocket with smooth walls on all sides, how did you get back out? Jumars?
Click to expand...

No ascending was required in this canyon :) The pictures you are talking about is just an illusion. Yeah, you have to climb up and out, but it isn't anything difficult.
 
Blake Merrell said:
I don't know of any ways into the lower part, but I think it is doable. I was noticing exits all over as I was hiking through the canyon.

One could hike to the corkscrew part with out doing a real rappel. Ya might need to set a few small ropes for some tricky drops, but none really required a serious rappel. The two mandatory rappels were at the very end of the canyon after the Corkscrew section.
Click to expand...

Thanks! Sounds like an exploratory trip is in order, though of course I have to be conservative if kids are along.
 
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