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Hi all!
This TR is on behalf of my better half, Gale. I was not present for this adventure...probably a good thing.
Behunin Canyon is another great technical canyon. It runs behind the Majestic and Cathedral Mountains within Zion National Park and drains into the Emerald Pools which is where the hike ends. There are multiple big rappels with many in the 100 to165 foot range.
On this sunny morning, Gale and 4 other men from the annual ACA Rendezvous (American Canyoneering Association) being held just outside Zion that week, set out early for what would become an amazing learning experience. The weather report that day gave the area a 20% chance of rain. After a review of the weather and a look at the morning sky, the eager group took a vote. It was unanimous. They would go for it.
They caught the early shuttle to the trailhead (passenger vehicles are not allowed in this area of the Park). By 6:30 AM they were on the trail and well on their way. In less than an hour, they passed the area known as Angels Landing, quite a popular destination in its own right, and continued up the long ascent. After a few hours of hiking, they reached the drop in point. The sky showed a few more clouds but was clear over the canyon’s drainage area. Nothing looked too threatening so the decision was made to gear up, drop in and begin their Behunin adventure.
About half way through the canyon, all were enjoying the numerous rappels, canyon obstacles and the cool sandstone when a little grey cloud rolled over just down canyon. The few raindrops that fell got everyone’s attention. The group decided to skip lunch and press on with one eye to the sky. Over the next couple of hours, the sky seemed to clear a little, but all were a wee bit nervous because the limited view in the narrow slot made it impossible to know what was happening in the wider skies.
At the second-to-last rappel, an angry little grey cloud rolled over and it began to sprinkle. The rain appeared to be coming several hours earlier than in previous days. When they attempted to pull the rope, it wouldn’t budge!
It was stuck! Not good. Just as they were about to abandon this rope and continue on with their backup rope, the recoil of one last pull affected its release. It was free. What a relief.
The group scurried the short distance to the final rappel, each searching the sheer canyon walls for potential refuge – just in case. This particular section of the canyon seemed to offer little of it. In no time at all, the final rappel into the safety of the broader canyon below was rigged and ready to go. Gale was second-to-last off the ledge. He impatiently waited his turn as he watched the surrounding rock walls of the canyon slowly begin to weep. The water in the narrow stream bed turned from a series of drips to a small but steady trickle. Just as the last man came down the rope,
the skies opened up! The group moved to the shelter of a rock shelf and in just a very few minutes, the trickle coming over the falls turned to a steady stream. And then it came...flash!!! Gale said it sounded like a freight train coming down the canyon. The torrential wall of water came crashing through and over the 165' cliff that they had just rappelled!
The trip was expected to take 8 to 9 hours. But after waiting over two hours for the water to subside in order to cross the creek and meet back up with the trail out, the entire hike ended up taking 12 hours. Everyone was very wet and a bit cold, but all ok. This was the first flash flood any of these Canyoneers had ever been party to. It probably won't be the last, but as Gale said...at least now they know what to expect.
Lessons learned? Flash floods happen. They can happen quickly and are awesome in their power! Check out the video of the flashflood after all the photos... (sorry for the quality)
- Overlook of Zion Canyon
- Angels Landing
- The long ascent to Behunin Canyon entrance
- Drop in point
- The adventure begins...
- Pot holes
- Into the breach
- One of the first rappels
- Gale and Dave gearing up
- Top of the second to the last rappel...skies still blue
- A few minute later, same rappel, rain begins to fall
- Gale trying to pull the rope in a hurry to beat the water
- View from the top of the last rappel - rocks are getting saturated and water is beginning to flow
- Last man down the rope - rock walls weeping
- FLASH!!!!!!!!!!! Thats where they just rappelled down from!!!
- Flood waters subsiding hours after the rain stopped
- Waterfalls down canyon
- Flood finally over - time to cross the water
- The wet slog out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIBbbV3905YTill next time!