Pine Creek for newbies?

Laura

Laura

freespirittraveler
Joined
Oct 1, 2012
Messages
961
Hi All,

Stan and I are planning a trip to Utah for next May (yes, I like to plan way, way out ahead) and one thing I've always wanted to check off my bucket list before I get too old is to do Pine Creek. I especially want to shoot in the Cathedral. Except we've only done two slot canyons, Keyhole and Echo, in 2015. The plan is to take a refresher canyoneering class, do Keyhole as a warm up and work out the kinks, then Pine Creek the next day. Does this sound reasonable, or does it sound likely that we will become one of the sad stories you read about (Pine Creek has the most fatalities of all the Zion slots).

Any advice is appreciated!


Laura
 
Lots of people do Pine Creek without enough experience, but I don't recommend it. The last rap is the biggest problem. 100 feet, totally free hanging right from the start. Lots of rescues happen there. If you don't have plenty of experience with longer free raps, then I would get it elsewhere first. Also, the rap into the Cathedral is kind of sketchy to get to the bolts. Not that bad but it's a good idea to have a cowtail that you can reach out and clip into it. That would be an easy place to take a fall without it. With all that said, lots of people would disagree with me but I err on the side of caution when it comes to canyoneering.
 
Nick said:
Lots of people do Pine Creek without enough experience, but I don't recommend it. The last rap is the biggest problem. 100 feet, totally free hanging right from the start. Lots of rescues happen there. If you don't have plenty of experience with longer free raps, then I would get it elsewhere first. Also, the rap into the Cathedral is kind of sketchy to get to the bolts. Not that bad but it's a good idea to have a cowtail that you can reach out and clip into it. That would be an easy place to take a fall without it. With all that said, lots of people would disagree with me but I err on the side of caution when it comes to canyoneering.
Click to expand...

Thanks Nick, I do too. Looks like we will move to plan B, something else. What would you recommend after Echo? I checked out Joe Braun's site and looks like he thinks the top down Subway is a good next canyon. I checked out Pine Creek, too. Damn those pics are cool.....
 
Last edited:
YES! Top down Subway is great. Technically no more difficult than Keyhole but physically it is way harder (but totally worth it). If you're feeling comfortable with longer raps but don't want to jump straight to free-hanging, try the optional Russell Gulch entrance. It has three consecutive 100-foot raps, the last of which is probably 80% free-hanging but it starts out much easier than the free rap in Pine Creek. Or just do the regular route. You can't go wrong. Just remember that once you get done with the wetsuit/tech section, you still have the most physically demanding 3 miles of the route to get out.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Don't like ads? Become a BCP Supporting Member and kiss them all goodbye. Click here for more info.

Back
Top