Mike Brunson making his way up the East Rim trail from the Weeping Rock
trailhead on our way to Mystery Canyon.
Sunrise on Zion's canyon walls.
Mike in the distance making his way up the East Rim trail.
Timer photo of the two of us before we head down "Death Gully" and into Mystery canyon beyond.
The beginning of Mystery Canyon before the technical sections.
Mike relacing his shoe after putting on an ankle brace. He misstepped, twisted his ankle and, what we thought at the time, broke his little toe. As it turned out he only
badly sprained his ankle and little toe. That said, it did kind of change things as we had quite a way to go on a short November day.
Mike making his way down the dozen or so raps in Mystery. In order to make time Mike would rap and hobble on with trekking poles to the next rap while I derigged, passed him up and rerigged the next rap. In the end his injury probably only cost us an hour or so.
Forced smile from a real trooper.
No matter what happens, Mystery Canyon is a great place to be.
There was literally no one else and it felt like we had all of Zion to ourselves.
Mike taking a picture of me catching up to him to set up for the next rap.
Down one more!
Even though it was late in the season the colors were still spectacular.
In my dry suit and ready to rappel into a fairly cold Mystery Springs. It was cold enough that there were patches of snow and ice on some of the south slopes.
Nearing the bottom of the Mystery Springs rap.
Trying to catch up to Mike once more. He moved through the canyon pretty fast considering his injuries. That said, I did have to ask him to quit whining once in a while. :)
The last little downclimb before the final rap into the Virgin River.
Mike standing in the Virgin River at the bottom of the last rap of Mystery Canyon.
CLICK HERE for a video clip of Mike making the final 120 foot rap into the Virgin River.
In the Zion Narrows looking back up the Virgin River at the wall where Mystery Canyon intersects.