I have been looking forward to seeing the interior of checkerboard canyon for well over a year now. I must say it didn’t disappoint. I am eager to get back again soon when there is less thunder and lightning and linger more within its walls.
On Wednesday evening, we left springdale at 8pm with a zion weather forecast for the next day coming in between 30 and 50% of the park to receive moisture. We didn’t want to leave a shuttle vehicle for two main reasons: avoid the lengthy shuttle after a long day but even more importantly if it did rain on Thursday we would be without that vehicle for days before the road would be passable. We were dropped off to rest for the night and hope the weather didn’t turn on us to force us to walk back the north fork road or drop into a more open canyon than our planned descent. Whenever, I would awake during the night, I’d check the night sky…oh, good…still have plenty of stars I think to myself and then think how little wind there has been and think maybe that storm will come in later in the day and we will have a nice window of weather for the canyon. Fortunately, I learned from ram earlier in the day that we could drop down a different canyon with far less flash potential than checkerboard if needed. I really hoped during the night that it wouldn’t come to that. At 4am, the sky still is rather benign…then I look my watch and its 5:30am and I notice distant pops of light to the northeast. Oh, great, the storm is perhaps ahead of schedule…but it’s not raining on us. As we start hiking the old dirt road at 6:10am, we can see the storm dumping just northeast of us and debate whether or not the storm has passed over us or not. I’m convinced it has and the confidence builds.
As the approach hike continues the skies never rain on us, at least not yet. I am pleasantly surprised by the lack of bush wacking we are required to do. We hit the first rappel at 9:10 and put our wetsuits on. On the hike in within checkerboard canyon, there were several pools that could easily be avoided and I thought to myself, “neoprene up.” That was a mistake for me at least as I was sweating and hoping around every bend that we would be into water. Anyhow, the first rap was great, dropping close to 180′ (I think). The skies are still being nice to us. We certainly aren’t dilly dallying…on with it.
After a few obstacles and raps, I’d guess it was near 11:00 when I felt the first rain drops. Attention definately increased. By the time the canyon opens up for the first time it’s raining pretty good. It’s not a downpour by any means but definately has our attention. We walk a short flat section free of obstacles with expectation to walk back to this higher ground if the weather doesn’t relent. As the canyon narrows and we need to either continue or retreat to the higher ground, the rains lighten. The rain doesn’t stop yet but it is noticeably lighter. I think outloud that It would need to rain consistently like this for two hours before this drainage is flowing. The rains lighten and we commit to another section of narrows. I believe the canyon opens up 3 different times (I may be wrong on this). At one point, the rains stop and I can feel sunlight. I mention to the group with enthusiasm about the sun (yippee, I think). I learn a valuable weather lesson that I’ll never forget from ram. I learned from him that the sun will likely make the storm worse as it will heat the walls and air and cause additional warm air to rise and contribute to the storm clouds and the nasty weather. I shout yippee and he is likely cringing inside as he knows better.
We play this weather game with checkerboard and finish the last rappel by 2pm. Thankful to be out of checkerboard but knowing that We aren’t out of the woods. We experienced more lightning and thunder during our walk out the narrows and more dense rain. I did finally stop and eat my tuna/pita bread wrap with chalula sauce (oh yea!!) at campsite 11 on some high ground. Other than that, I didn’t stop much in the narrows. I believe we finished about 5pm.
On the bus ride down we watched waterfalls coming down some of the canyon walls. Breath taking and humbling at the same time. Just glad we didn’t have any significant time eaters in the canyon so we could just keep plugging away at the 13 mile day.
It was a great day with several very valuable lessons learned in an amazing slot. I hope to return soon on a day with less rain.
Ram
My take on the day, with pictures
Troy Ayers had done good world for the Coalition of American Canyoneers as a board member and we had a wonderful time in Sad Cow a few years back, so when an invite arrived from him to join a Checkerboard descent, I signed right up. As the date neared, Mark Burnham shared that he was in the neighborhood. I asked Troy to include him, if there was room. There was and Mark signed on, along with 2 of Troys friends, Alan and Nathan. Five to go.
Checkerboard is a bit of an expedition. Longish approach, the canyon takes time and then you are 6 miles up the Narrows when you exit the canyon. Add the fact the top and bottom of the canyon are a couple of hours of driving apart and you are presented with logistics on a tight schedule. Oh and that road you drive up to get to the canyon? It turns to “baby poop” when wet. So the chance of rain in the forecast added another layer of concern for us. One could get separated from the vehicles at the top trail head and for several days, if the rains do come.
To the rescue comes Troy and his friends. A plan is made to drive up the evening before, get dropped off and camp. Troy and party supply all of us with sleeping bags, foam pads, shelter, extra water to fill up the next day, all from his cache of extra boy scout gear. All stored in plastic tubs, these will be cached the next morning and picked up after the trip, as Alan lives in Springdale and runs, along with Michelle, our shuttle driver, the Bed and Breakfast “Canyon Vista.” A good thing, as the rains did come and it would be awhile till the gear was retrieved.
I expected the final mile plus to the Dakota Hill trail head to be rough. It wasn’t. A Caterpillar had been through and graded the thing. It was a tad unconsolidated, but smoothed out compared to normal. We set up camp under a large juniper tree and went to sleep. At first light, I awoke to the flash of lightening to the north east. Then a faint rumble of thunder. Further daylight showed the storm cell not too far away. It would miss us, but send our senses to a more alert status. With no vehicle to retreat with, if we had wanted to, we decided to wander over toward the canyon and see how the day developed.
We left the new improved road for the ridge, wondering where this new road was headed? An hour and a half later, we figured it out. I assume the road went down to Walker and back up to the top of Esplin Canyons,following the old ATV tract, before crossing the ridge and stopping at a plowed up meadow, on the north side of the ridge. It appears that they build a stock pond. Now all they need is water. Alas the fence at the park boundary is in disrepair and cow pies are many within the park. I suspect the road out there will revert to an ATV track now that the pond is built? I can hope anyway.
We got to the suit up and harness up spot in 3 hours. The fire a few years back has made this passage stunningly easier. The upper canyon was a delight. The impressive south wall, colorful and cross bedded, was the feature for which the canyon was named. It had been almost 4 years since I was last in the canyon and the section of false bottomed rappels, which came next, was notably different than the last time I was there. This feature has changed a few times over the years. The potential for dramatic change is most possible in this section. Just as we hit first water, it started to rain. The rain was light and not of the thunderstorm variety and it added shine to the streaked walls, while not being a danger.
The rain relented, the sun came out, but we tracked the several exits in the canyon, just in case. The lower canyon was quite wet, had several ‘slides” and made folks chatter with excitement. The mild rains came again as Troy was going last down the final rap. Hot earlier, now chilled, I took off down the Narrows. One more spell of rain and one big boom of thunder in the Wall Street part of the canyon encouraged me to keep on keeping on.
I hit the bus stop before 4:45 PM, coming in at 10:35 hours, start to finish. It was a lovely day. Great to be out with Troy and Mark again and the chance to meet Nathan and Alan. Thanks to Michelle for the shuttle and Troy for the invite. The canyon, one of the best in Zion, always delivers the goods. I shall return.
Ram
Storm and moon in first light
On the Dakota Hill ridge
A stark and pretty fire scarred landscape
Alan looking rather intense
Canyon there!
Alan is off
troy on the big entry
Colorful walls
Mark sports a winning smile
Nathan on rap
Slot down there forming
Mark likes it
So does Nathan and Alan
Green light
A lovely hallway
rain streaks
The sun comes back
Troy
Slanted for a bit. Often holds snow in the spring
A serious man
Swirls
Troy post swim
Mark at one of the slides
Final rap
Rain
Mark likes food and the canyon
6 miles of river to hop
Big Spring
Rain…headed out
What dat?