SATURDAY
Friday night while Kayla, Sarah & I were getting drinks, Sarah & I decided to climb the next day. Kayla had her eye on a long hike down in the Needles District of Canyonlands. I ended up saying we should wake up at 5am & climb Ancient Art… I regretted that decision at 5am Saturday morning when I had to wake up in the cold 😂
Ancient Art is a totally epic climb in Fisher Towers, it’s a mixed aid/free climb with bolt ladders on pitches 1 & 3. Pitch 2 is a trad chimney that runs around 5.8 or 5.9ish. I had climbed this route with Adam, Ana & Italia last summer, and really enjoyed it! It was just as pleasant this time around.
We got started around sunrise & hiked the mile or two approach. We racked up & decided Sarah would do pitches 1 & 3, & I would do 2 & 4. This was our first climb together… which halfway up I realized is pretty wild! Trad multi-pitches for a first climb is a big step hahaha
The climbing was awesome, the weather was perfect. We were the first group on the wall, with 3 parties of 3 behind us. We were flying up it compare to the parties of 3. I was really grateful that we decided to get such an early start.
The “Diving Board” is the mental crux for me on this route. It’s just higher than waist height, and you’re probably 15 feet from the last anchor, down the “side walk.” So if you fall or trip or whatever it’s going to be a wild ride down the side of the wall… there’s also no where to place any gear, so you kind of have to “dolphin flop” up it… so scary hahaha, but both of us were pretty quick about it! Last time I stood there for like, 5 minutes before committing to the move.
Overall we had a great time, were smart & safe about the climbing, and had a great morning! Such an epic view from the spire at the top. We hiked out & then drove to Indian Creek to meet Kayla & climb a few cracks.
(omg and in the middle of the night someone knocked on the van door & gave us a lost dog?) and then the dog stayed with us for the night until Kayla found his owner the next morning? So weird..)
SUNDAY
Sunday morning we woke up thinking we would climb in Indian Creek, but I had a pretty gnarly scrape on the back of my hand from a silly accident on the lowering of Ancient Art. Definitely not something i wanted to jam into some cracks & scrub sandstone into…
So we decided to do a hike out to Mary Jane Falls down the Professor Creek!
This hike was SO AWESOME. It starts out following along the creek, and then you end up inside this really cool canyon. The hike is about 4.5 miles each way, it’s incredible. Tons of creek crossings, giant canyon walls, etc. So cool!!
The waterfall is the turn around point, it’s about… 20’ tall? Absolutely beautiful in the canyon with all of the light bouncing around the canyon walls. Sooo cool. Loved taking photos here.
MONDAY
Monday it was pretty chilly, so I worked from the Jeep outside the library. Again, it’s SO NICE to be able to retreat to the Jeep & spend an afternoon in there working & catching up in “my own space.”
After work Kayla & I went to hike the Grandstaff trail, a super popular hike that I’ve never done before. At the end of it there’s a small arch that people rappel from, pretty sweet. Might have to bring the rope & harness next time… Super pretty hike & sunset on the way out!
TUESDAY
I took a bit of a rest day & worked late, showered, etc. Caught up on real life stuff. Made tasty dinners… nothing too exciting! I had a lot of video editing to do, so I downloaded what I needed & then went off into the desert to get it done! Loved working out there.
WEDNESDAY
On Wednesday after work I went to check out the Moonflower Canyon trail, a super short trail (less than a mile round trip). It ends at a little pool thing tucked back into a canyon. Really pretty! This robin followed me for like, half a mile. Had to bust out the 200-600mm to snap a photo.
After Moonflower I went to Hunter Canyon to hike down for sunset. It’s a bit longer than Moonflower, going deeper into the canyon & following a creek. Really pretty hike, that whole area is so awesome. I saw a few bolted climbing routes, but it seemed like it had a ton of potential for climbing… might have to learn how to put in bolted anchors & establish some new routes!! how cool would that be.
THURSDAY
Thursday was another rainy & cold day, so after work I went to check out the waterfalls at the Mill Creek area. It got pretty rainy, so I bailed early & decided to head up to Dead Horse Point for sunset. I made it almost there before finding a fun looking sandy 4x4 road to explore…. I drove down it & snapped some photos, enjoyed the moody atmosphere with the clouds & fog.
As always, gotta snap a bunch of Jeep pics…. <3
FRIDAY
Friday I took it pretty easy again & went further into the Mill Creek trail, to the second waterfall. It’s so pretty! I love these desert hikes along the water & creeks. Got a few photos, but nothing I was really proud of. Probably should have stuck around for sunset. I did meet a few nice folks on this trail who were visiting & doing some fun Jeep stuff & hikes.