Thursday 10/3 our group pulled the 1st permit and also had 1st descent of 2019 for Behunin this year- well except for the 2 Park Rangers who did it on Tues ( I think ). They either replaced all webbing/anchors or they have aged well. Had not done since 2011 and a few of the anchor placements have changed. I have always done the 1st rap from the anchor on the right side wall, and we cleaned it up some. Not sure why you would rap from left side? The 2nd to last rap also used to be under the big chockstone, now on right wall LDC – not sure that was an improvement. The bushwhack down from top to 1st rap was more overgrown than usual but expected. All in all a great trip – our newcomers loved it as did I.
Never seen Zion canyons this dry, even when we first started in 2003 and drought still going strong. Englestead water park section had no swims or even chest deep areas. But Mystery pool still there . Pine Creek incredibly dry – last time in 2011 it was very cold, very full, and had those 2 long hallway swims. Now a dry walk. And Keyhole a completely diff experience. One pothole with waist deep water, a little wading and also long hallways of dry sand. Incredible !
Love Zion and always fun to bring others who have never been there before and only done NoWash or stuff. And the crowds were amazing but not a big problem, or should I say less a problem than I expected. Might have to come back sooner then 8 years.
ratagonia
I am happy to see your opinion is based on more than one descent, and is well considered.
On R1: several trees high on the left attract webbing, and are useful in winter and spring when snow can make getting to other anchors difficult. My preferred anchor is at floor level on canyon left. It looks scary to get to, but a little ledge makes it pretty casual. Clean rap of about 70 feet, two-bolt anchor.
The rap on the right requires squeezing past a small tree which is probably dead by now; and rapping over a 90 degree edge which is awkward, hard on the rope and makes rope grooves. For these four reasons I suggest that the left route is da best. I think Bo just downclimbs the watercourse.
R penultimate- under-the-rock had always had a huge wad of colorful webbing around the pinch, and from that location the rope often got stuck. I chose a location for an anchor here that gives a clean line and easy access (there were often webbing handlines for getting to the under-boulder location, sometimes on both sides). But ropes still get stuck because of the many constrictions on this rappel.
Anchors are less conspicuous when rigged with black webbing, though the belief among beginners seems to be that one is only safe if the full rainbow is represented. It helps to bring black webbing and cut away the clown colors as much as time allows.
I’m sitting in the Atlanta airport with a 4 hour layover and two more airports ahead… bored as heck. Can you tell?
Tom
Flatiron
Hmm we did not see an anchor at floor level left side – it might still be there. But did see the anchor up high left on tree. Not sure which year but distinctly remember walking out into beautiful open bowl that begins series of first 4 raps and seeing 3 bright colored anchors – it seemed like an anchor building contest was going on. And the right rap anchor was also available but out of sight. It seems when people see anchors in open obvious spaces it encourages them to make more of same. I have even had discussions/arguments with folks who think every anchor needs 2 or 3 pieces of webbing with bright colors for safety and easy spotability.
Flatiron
2nd to last rap also seemed poorly placed. Obvious eyesore on right wall, instead of better anchor under chockstone which gives you a straight shot down the canyon. I always thought PART of anchor placement was trying to keep canyon visually clean instead of garbage. Right side bolted anchor also has couple small bushes growing out causing issues with throw and pull, along with an enormous log there creating same possible problems. I appreciate the effort to place and maintain anchors – however IMHO the original hidden anchors were overall better. Just saying.
ratagonia
Most of the anchor work in Zion is done by me, and I almost always show and explain my work on the Canyon Kollective and on the Latest Rave. (Exceptions apply).
I think you will find that the canyon left option at Behunin R1 is vastly superior in several ways.
Tom
Flatiron
From 2003 to 2011 we did a Zion trip every year. Behunin was our 1st canyon ever in 2003. The beta, yours, had R1 on canyon right side after short ledge walk. 2 bolts out of sight. Over the years another anchor appeared on left side on a tree, often with bright colorful webbing you could spot a mile away. Then another anchor showed up in the middle off of a pile of stones. Then a 4th rap on left side on a diff tree, also with bright webbing, kinda like a flashing sign saying I”M HERE !! I hope they weren’t all yours.
The left might be a little cleaner pull but also longer and very very obvious eyesore. If you cleaned the others and used only right then you have a clean beautiful bowl to enter and enjoy. I go right, except in politics.
ratagonia
There’s a water park section in Englestead?
Flatiron
Orderville – I stand corrected.