After a very busy summer my friend Mike Brunson and I finally had a chance to sneak away over the Labor Day weekend and head to Zion to do a little canyoneering. Joining us was another friend of mine, Pete Dronkers, and his girlfriend Michelle Hutchison (aka Micki). Labor Day weekend is always busy in Zion so we decided to visit one of our favorite canyons that doesn't see a lot of people, Englestead Hollow.
The 300 foot entry rappel is the main reason Englestead doesn't see a lot of people. This is picture of me taken by Pete about half way through the first rap near a set of anchors where you can stage rappel if you don't have long enough ropes. It was good to have Pete along because he took some really great photos. In fact, most of the pictures on this page were taken by him. If you want to see more of his work, check out his Web site: petedronkers.com.
A little better perspective of the entry rap.
Micki on her way down the long first rap into Englestead.
Mike's turn to drop into Englestead.
Mike Brunson, a really good guy!
Pete Dronkers took this picture as he started down the entry rap into Englestead. It gives a pretty good sense of what it's like.
Working our way down the staged rappels through this beautifully fluted canyon.
Pete took this picture of me at the base of what is arguably one of the prettiest rappels in Englestead.
Micki had never been in a technical canyon before; what a way to start.
Micki coming down Englestead's beautiful 120 foot fluted rappel.
Through an open section on our way to the end of Englestead where it intersects Orderville Canyon.
Good friends.
Walking through places like this with friends is the best!
This is a good example of a typical canyoneering challenge -- awkward rappels.
Pete, myself, and Micki.
Englestead Hollow is a big canyon as slot canyons go, but it's full of beautiful, delicate sections like this.
In Orderville Canyon.
Orderville has some of the narrowest, deepest canyon sections I've ever seen.
Every time I've been in Orderville I'm amazed at this section where the entire canyon narrows to the slot pictured here in front of me.
One of the many gardens in Orderville Canyon.
The "Guillotine", the only technical section in Orderville Canyon.
Hannah and Caleb's sidewalk art to welcome me home. It reads, "Our love for you is not narrow." Gotta love that!