UT: Zion – Imlay Sneak August 16, 2014

Well, what I planned to do was Eye of the Needle, Englestead, and Kolob this past weekend. Then I ran into a couple of guys (OK, it was online) who were planning on doing Imlay Saturday, August 16: Brian and Derrick. I can’t tell you how many technical canyons these two have done. I know for a fact that they have not done Tom’s master list for preparing for Imlay. But one thing was clear: these two had attitude. Brian, a paramedic and fire fighter and his best friend Derrick, a mechanical engineer, were going to get Imlay done even if no one joined them. Let’s face it, attitude goes a long way in Imlay. I also figured that a 27-year old fire fighter is going to be in pretty good shape. I think they are required to carry 180 lbs up a ladder–don’t quote me.

This was my second trip through Imlay. My first, a year ago this past May, was a very dry Imlay. I could stand with my feet on the bottom of the pothole of Big Bertha, water lapping at my sternum and look up at about 5 feet or more of hook holes. Recent trip reports indicated that the water was much higher now. It also rained hard in Zion midweek presumably further topping off the canyon.

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Friday I did Eye of the Needle with Zion Adventure Center. I have posted that trip. That evening, I did not hear from Brian and Derrick until about 8:45PM. They were dinning over at Oscars having finished a late run through Pine Creek. I was in Sol Foods. I ran over and we conferred on gear and set a time for them to pick me up from the Desert Pearl.

We pulled up into the parking at the Grotto at about 6 AM and hit the trail. We did the right sneak. Some how my brain completely forgot that there were two headwalls but we arrived at the cross roads at 10 AM and suited up.

The early couple of swims were serious log soup. I was a bit concerned. I felt like a sprimp trapped by chop sticks in a bowl of Kung Pow Shirmp. I was wondering how long it would take to navigate the canyon if every swim was like this. Then we hit a mountainous wood pile. Thankfully this was like a filter and there was much less wood in the pools thereafter.

Water was indeed high in Imlay. The pot holes were only revealing one or two hook holes and were easily defeated. We brought potshots but never needed them. My watch died in Eye of the Needle the day before. I was using the clock in my camera to keep time. We reached the end of the first narrows around 2 PM. Progress seemed slow in the second set of narrows. How different this canyon was compared to my first trip through. Soon though we could hear the roar of the Virgin River. It was pulling us closer.

I did get a few lessons in Imlay: locking biners need to be locked-that cost me a Petzl knife. Last year I had a little trouble with the second to the last rap, a 45 foot free hanger. That time I was fighting a water logged 200 foot rope in my pack. This time I hung my pack, made a figure 8 chest loop to redirect the rope that I clipped through a biner and the chest harness. That rap and the last rappel were very smooth. Now I feel ready for the big rap out of Heaps.

Once we were down into the Narrows, Brian and Derrick made it clear that they had evening plans in St George. We practically ran the Narrows and returned to the car by 7:30 PM. Very strong company, and an amazing canyon. Regarding my plan to do Kolob the next day? I decided to have lunch at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon instead. They have a very nice all-you-can eat buffet. The best in the area I hear. Strike that, the only one in the area.

I would be remiss to not mention the quality of the anchors. Almost every bolt was in very good condition. Where there were two bolts, one was typically very good and the second, less so. The final rap seemed to be significantly reengineered. As I recall, Tom posted about his handiwork on this. Previously, we rapped from the anchor around the corner. Now this anchor plus a very solid bolt on the balcony face were connected by 9 mm ish cordage. The result is that the rap ring lays over the face and the rope does not contact the lip of the balcony. Very nicely designed. Thanks for your efforts on this Tom.

Ken