For Lisa's birthday we joined our friends Mike Brunson and Peter Christiansen for a wonderful day canyoneering through one of Zion's best canyons, Mystery Canyon.
This picture of Bob and the birthday girl was taken at the Weeping Rock trail head where the trail, leading through the beautiful fall colors to Observation Point and on to Mystery Canyon, can be seen behind us.
Visiting Zion in the fall is a special time. There are no crowds, the temperatures are pleasant and the already spectacular landscape is even more colorful. Here we are on our way up the switchbacks above Weeping Rock on our way to Observation Point.
The elevation of Observation Point, according to this U.S. Geologic Survey Marker, is 6,508 feet; a gain of 2,148 feet from the valley below.
The hike to Angels Landing, the rock buttress in the middle right of this picture, is a Zion classic and one we've enjoyed many times before. It is not an easy hike and it seems a bit odd that it is so far below us and the effort to Observation Point is not that much more difficult. Perhaps it is the exposure on the Angels Landing hike that makes the difference.
Bob and his good friend Mike Brunson on top in more ways than one.
Bob and the Birthday Girl in one of our favorite places.
Our group: Mike Brunson, Peter Christiansen, Bob and Lisa Potts.
Lisa thinks that this is the best place ever to have a birthday.
About a mile past Observation Point we arrive at the drop into Mystery Canyon. We take a break here to sort gear and have a little lunch and prepare to deal with the least favorite part of this outing, "Death Gully".
Death Gully is the steep 1,000 foot descent through loose rock and brush that takes you from the East Mesa plateau to the first rappels of Mystery Canyon. The social trails through this section are one of the main reasons permits to go through Mystery Canyon are only available through a lottery system. Currently the park service is only allowing 12 people per day through Mystery Canyon. If you're lucky enough to be one of the 12 you are almost guaranteed solitude through one of the best canyons Zion has to offer.
Peter enjoying a little lunch after a beautiful morning hike and before starting into the canyon.
The lower section of "Death Gully".
Once we reached the bottom of Death Gully we were welcomed by even more spectacular fall colors than we saw earlier in the day.
Fallen trees and leaves in full fall color.
As we descend into the canyon, the steep sandstone wall start to rise up and push us deeper into the fall colors and slots below.
Beauty abounds everywhere. Because of the obstacles, canyoneering slows your pace, forces you to look around and then you get to enjoy vignettes like this along the way.
A single fallen leaf; a scene just for us.
Mike and Lisa waiting at the bottom of one of the earlier, short rappels.
Lisa had just tossed up a handful of fall leaves -- birthday confetti.
More autumn gold.
Lisa at the bottom of the first "true" Mystery rappel. It is a very nice 45 foot rappel through a water carved chute and the beginning of a dozen or so more to come. Peter and Mike are preparing to follow.
Nothing but smiles...
The fluted sandstone is exquisite.
Peter pulling the rope.
The heart of Mystery Canyon is a "symphony of sandstone".
Mystery's last rappel is an impressive 120 foot descent through a small waterfall and into the Virgin River. It was beginning to get dark and a full moon rising made this rappel even more spectacular.
Lisa in her dry suit on the slippery, algae cover wall of the last Mystery Canyon rappel.
Warm in her suit and happy in her heart on her 48th birthday.
Only moonlight to light the last rappel down the last wall from Mystery Canyon into the Virgin River.
Bob on the wall with the leaves that appear as white spots in this black and white of the final rappel into the Virgin River.
Another great day in Zion.