lostlandscapes
rope mule
- Joined
- Jan 17, 2012
- Messages
- 328
Day two of our Moab excursion brought drclef and I into Arches National Park for a few hours of fun in U-turn canyon. Turned out to be a terrific little Sunday morning route.
View larger map.
Fireside sunrise:
From the Park Avenue trailhead. Our route would take us, clockwise, up and around this set of towers and domes. The first rappel and beginning of the short technical section is right behind the upper-most dome on the left. To get there you actually swing out up a short wash to the left of it and access the high ground through a crack where this mass and the wall to the far left meet.
Approaching the ascent. The crack climb, not visible here, begins where the wall on the right slopes down to ground level, and shoots up a joint that is hidden around the corner.
Just like Rock of Ages, the climb in U-turn was pretty exhilarating. Not anything too airy or technical, but enough spice to get the heart warm:
Which way do I go?
The crux of the climb (if there really is one), lies near the top. A little exposure here.
Just about there.
Once the ridge is gained, you're met with both sublime, 360 degree views and two domes that you have to deal with. The first is easily bypassed on the left (north). The second one here...
...you simply go right up and over.
Obligatory selfie:
That's U-turn canyon just below. Of the four rappels, the first three occur in rapid succession to the right and down from this vantage point. The fourth, final, and longest rappel occurs almost exactly below this lip, off of the smooth, flat bench that is visible in the middle of the scene:
Two of the first three rappels (or more like pour-offs) are around 15-20 feet and can be downclimbed. Even this rap (rappel #2) could be bat-manned, but we decided to play it safe.
Once on that slickrock bench (mentioned above) in between the 3rd and 4th raps, we detoured over to the east to check out "Wile E. Coyote" rock, a fascinating formation.
You can tell it gets quite a bit of visitation from climbers, as it was riddled with bolts.
A land of giants:
After that fun detour, we ventured back to the final rappel (70 ft). It took us a minute to locate the exact spot, as there was no webbing to be found. Rope grooves ultimately gave the location away, right at the head of the layer. There's a fairly significant boulder here that serves as a great anchor.
U-turn: The perfect breakfast canyon. Definitely worth the visit.
Featured image for homepage:
View larger map.
Fireside sunrise:
From the Park Avenue trailhead. Our route would take us, clockwise, up and around this set of towers and domes. The first rappel and beginning of the short technical section is right behind the upper-most dome on the left. To get there you actually swing out up a short wash to the left of it and access the high ground through a crack where this mass and the wall to the far left meet.
Approaching the ascent. The crack climb, not visible here, begins where the wall on the right slopes down to ground level, and shoots up a joint that is hidden around the corner.
Just like Rock of Ages, the climb in U-turn was pretty exhilarating. Not anything too airy or technical, but enough spice to get the heart warm:
Which way do I go?
The crux of the climb (if there really is one), lies near the top. A little exposure here.
Just about there.
Once the ridge is gained, you're met with both sublime, 360 degree views and two domes that you have to deal with. The first is easily bypassed on the left (north). The second one here...
...you simply go right up and over.
Obligatory selfie:
That's U-turn canyon just below. Of the four rappels, the first three occur in rapid succession to the right and down from this vantage point. The fourth, final, and longest rappel occurs almost exactly below this lip, off of the smooth, flat bench that is visible in the middle of the scene:
Two of the first three rappels (or more like pour-offs) are around 15-20 feet and can be downclimbed. Even this rap (rappel #2) could be bat-manned, but we decided to play it safe.
Once on that slickrock bench (mentioned above) in between the 3rd and 4th raps, we detoured over to the east to check out "Wile E. Coyote" rock, a fascinating formation.
You can tell it gets quite a bit of visitation from climbers, as it was riddled with bolts.
A land of giants:
After that fun detour, we ventured back to the final rappel (70 ft). It took us a minute to locate the exact spot, as there was no webbing to be found. Rope grooves ultimately gave the location away, right at the head of the layer. There's a fairly significant boulder here that serves as a great anchor.
U-turn: The perfect breakfast canyon. Definitely worth the visit.
Featured image for homepage:
