UT: Ticaboo Mesa – Paradiso, an old friend Dec 2012

I have climbs that are old friends. The first climb I did in Eldorado Canyon, Wind Ridge, is dear to my heart. But now, I mostly have canyons as old friends. All of North Wash, in some senses, for instance. I consider it my winter Home, and Middle Leprechaun in particular can be like spending a fine evening eating and drinking with a college buddy I have not seen in a decade.

Paradiso is an old friend. WAS kinda a secret friend, with only 100 people in on the secret, but I guess I can come out in public, now. I think I missed the first descent because Ram had a great team for it and I was not there… but I know I got an early descent, and have enjoyed Paradiso’s curves on numerous occasions since. Paradiso delivers.

When I finally dragged my reluctant body over to FreezeFest this past December, Ram suggested Paradiso for the next day even though we had done it together just a few months before. We had a few guests to show the canyon to, not-really-beginner types who might enjoy a little-bit-harder canyon. The weather was cold, so we knew the longish drive to the canyon would not be a liability, and the physicality of the canyon would keep us warm. Should be dry, or pretty close. Only a rappel here and there should not leave people standing around too much. Since the canyon system faces south, once below the rim the temps should be pretty comfortable.

Showing an old friend to new friends – priceless.

So we rounded up a troop and drove to Ticaboo for breakfast and packing. I mis-heard the time and ended up an hour early – perhaps a first for me, who is often last to be ready. We drove a mile in on the dirt and sorted out car-pooling. An hour of dirt-road driving leads out to the trailhead.

It was blowing like snot – glad I brought lots of clothes! We finished packing and changing shoes, then tucked our heads down and walked a mile along the rim. Cold cold cold up there in the wind. Down the slickrock toward the canyon head is still in the wind, still cold. Everyone tried to find a lee spot to put on pads and harnesses – with some success. No one was reluctant to get into the canyon, although the cold had prevented my stiff muscles and joints from loosening up. Eek.

The canyon gets at it right away. A little downclimb and traverse over leads to a stout downclimb pretty quick. Ram makes himself a meat anchor and a rappel is offered for those reluctant to test their downclimbing mettle so soon. Ram, Jenny and I float toward the back of the group, as is our way, letting the people new to the canyon be out in front.

It is a sweet canyon, with fun moves and interesting positions, and not much in the way of stout downclimbs. It’s fun for us old wizened types to gently coach the folks new to this kind of canyon, and watch them progress so much during the day. Paradiso is good for this as it has such a wide variety of problems and moves.

We’re happy to find the canyon pretty much dry, though, with the cold, we are all wearing quite a bit of rubber, so the occasional knee-deep pool is not a problem. In the canyon, out of the wind, it is pleasant though not warm.

Fairly soon, we arrive at the final rappel, “return to the land of the living”, change out of the rubber and eat our lunches, enjoying a bit of sun down in a protected little corner.

The hike up takes longer than usual, as Ram’s ticker is not working as well as it should, so he has to go at MY pace. I take lots of pictures, wondering how to explain the wonderful, convoluted route up the buttress on my website. We make the top at 3:30. Usually we do a second Dante to fill out the day, but this was not the plan today. Late start, cold conditions, slow upclimb – we took a second canyon off the table early so we could just relax, and enjoy our day with an old friend canyon, with old friends and new.

(when the photo itself is dull, apply Photoshop).

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