Play Time

Having “hung up the tools” a bit early, my wife Cinda and I hit the road in July 2014. Since then we’ve traveled the western states visiting places we love and finding new areas to treasure. While I suffer from wanderlust, Cinda likes to stay in an area for a bit and watch the leaves change colors and the shadows lengthen with a sun’s altering arc. What better place for us to wind up for a few months than here in Zion N.P. Cinda has taken a volunteer position with ZNP’s education/interpretation team, which affords us residency in the Park and allows her to continue her love for education, and I get to explore a huge playground!

Although I’ve sent out a few invites since my arrival, my outings have been primarily solo. Past experience in the area, coupled with a myriad of information sources and more playtime than I’ve ever had before has resulted in an incredible February.

Always the cautious one, I began working thru Purcell’s Zion National Park: Summit Routes, starting with the class 1 peaks, and am moving on to his listed class 2 outings. Here’s a pic on top of Windy Peak, the third peak on a four peak day that included Spendlove, Firepit, and Pocket Mesa.

Then, to get my canyoneering feet wet, so to speak, I visited my old friend Keyhole. My 5/3 wetsuit was almost to warm! The sculpted walls always bring a smile to my face, and unlike my past summer/fall trips thru this canyon, my first time “winter” wade revealed just how clear and fresh smelling this canyon can be.

With the incredible weather, and knowing that Zion would be a Zoo, we headed for Death Valley, meeting up with one of Cinda’s workmates, J., for the Presidents weekend. J. and I descended Scorpion Canyon. Guess we didn’t avoid the crowds after all as we got lumped in with a group of eight. They were nice enough to let us use their ropes, and when we caught up with another group of three, J. and I were able to slip ahead and have the last three raps to ourselves.

As a side note, none of us had ever been up to the Racetrack, so we ran up there (smoking the front shocks!)

and spent the night, allowing us to explore the playa’s moving rocks before our drive back to ZNP the next day

So our adventure continues: when it snows, we go skiing! (Or Not!! LOL!!!)

When I need canyon adventure new to me, I let beta be my guide! Had my first trip through Boltergiest yesterday, and being both solo and abundantly careful, I somehow managed to add two or three extra raps, HA!

Oh yeah, we’re also exploring the restaurants: Spotted Dog, Whiptail, Wildcat Willie’s, Tia Sapa, Pizza Noodle, and Oscar’s. The Bit & Spur on Superbowl night was a hoot!

Anyone want to come out and play? Who knows what the next two months will bring about?