TR: Zion”s Echo, Mystery, and Pine Creek Canyons and Emerald Pools

I just returned from several days in Zion and completed a trip through Pine Creek, Mystery and my first time through Echo. With a nice cardio workup to get up the 10 switch-backs at Echo, an early morning start while still in the shade is recommended. That little climb up is a great way top clear the city smog out of your windpipes. After arriving at the top of the climb where the trail crosses the stream bed for going up the left side of Echo, where the trail is carved into the rock, we met a French couple coming down from above, who seemed lost, and they asked if we knew where “Weeping Rock” was. The poor folks had climbed up almost 2 miles of switchbacks and trail to learn that Weeping Rock was only a short 5 minute walk from the shuttle stop….shared some water with them.

Echo Canyon Echo was very fun. We entered Echo after coming to a second little drainage on the Cable Mtn trail after the junction with the Observation Point route. That descent was from a slinged tree into a shallow pool that can be easily avoided. I read somewhere that described Echo as “subterranean” and found that to be a very accurate description. The walls of Echo get fairly high real quick. We found two to three spots that required very short swims. Our group of six appreciated having wetsuits. Very cold water with lots of debris and the smell of decaying matter.

After about 3 or 4 rappels, we encountered a small but deep pothole, and assumed it was one of the semi-keepers. It had about chest deep water. Immediately on the far side of it was a rappel station. After the first person got up to that point, a 3 foot sling was attached to the webbing there, allowing each subsequent person to pull himself up on dangling sling. We did not find any other potholes that required help to get up. Everything else was doable by oneself.

A very dark canyon with little light, it made photography difficult. Echo was very fun. The back to the shuttle walk down the switchbacks went a lot faster for us than the hike up, as one might guess.

Mystery Canyon Was my third time down Mystery. I really like this canyon; lots of fun. Found something I have not noticed before: some dates were inked onto the webbing at some of the rappels apparently indicating the month and year it was placed.

We found ankle deep water and mud at the rock slide area. It could be mostly avoided by stepping on a log placed near the right hand wall. The canyon cools off again below the rock slide. Nice and cool and my favorite section. The Mystery Springs rappel was only waist deep as of this week. Water is fairly clear. Anyone missing an ATC? Found one at the bottom of the pool. Looked kind of hammered. We also found, presumably, some cat tracks near the water. Lynx or bobcat? Maybe puma?

Below the Springs, the “jumping pool” was only knee deep and was downclimbed on the right side, LDC. Coming down into the narrows at this time of year, we discovered numerous tourist types taking pictures of us. One couple spotted us as we first appeared and yelled up asking, “Are you trying to come down from there?” We dimissed the thought of dropping our rope half way and asking them if they had a longer one…

Pine Creek Our few days of Zion canyoneering were finished by taking a couple of our group through Pine Creek for the first time. This was my third time thru. I noticed lots of changes this time in. The pool at the bottom of the Cathedral rap seemed a lot deeper; in trips past there was a “dry spot” to put packs down to allow picture taking. Not so this year. Also, between the Cathedral and the next to the last rap, we encountered lots of swimming and water. Was different from other trips. We encountered swimming holes at least triple the length of the so-called flooded hallway” of Keyhole Canyon. Lots of swimming really nade Pine Creek a fun hike this time around. We also encountered waist deep water in the landing zone of the final rap. A water landing could be avoided last year, for us.

While waiting for us to all get down from the final rap, a few “spiderman” types in our group discovered that you can climb back up the final rap approximately half way by shimming up a crack at the back of the alcove where spring water trickles down. Looked too tricky for me.

We hiked out through the creek bed this time as in previous times we helped contribute to the erosion under the tunnel wall. After getting past the inital large boulder section, my group agreed that the creek bed route is actually the preferred way to go. Keeping near the water cools the air temperatures somewhat and the wading through the water cools the body off a little as well.

Emerald Pools Before driving home, the younger generation in my group wanted to see the big rap of Heaps from below, so we all went up the Upper Pool at the Emerald Pools. Wow! That would be some rap! I need some work before that is tried.

Zion is awesome! Kerry