Heaps
From CanyonWiki
ctaletorac cnamonbodel acelalc chitrelcnar zelroldarac acdomta Heaps canyon is probably the most difficult regularly-traveled canyon in Zion National Park.
Only expert canyoneers should attempt this canyon. Like any difficult canyon, the best way to do this for your first time is with someone else who has done it before.
In Tom's Canyoneering guide at http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/, he has a special introduction page to the canyon:
Heaps and Imlay are unlike other canyons in Zion, and deserve their own introduction. Deeply incised into the stone, Heaps and Imlay have a character that is both sublime and perilous. Sublime because the dark hallways, carved stone and subterranean pools offer an experience only hinted at in other canyons; perilous because what accompanies these beauties are continual exposure to water, difficult pothole exits and a degree of strenuousity one giant leap greater than other Zion canyons.[1]
[edit] External Links
- Tom's Introduction to Heaps Canyon - with link to his description of the canyon
- Heaps Canyon page on Shane's Climb-Utah page. note: this canyon is part of the paid "circle of friends" program and you must pay to join this to get more than just introductory information.
Bold textSome Brief Beta
Tom and Kelsey give excellent directions for getting into this canyon, I'm going to add my own experience doing the Phantom Valley route.
It's useful for canyoneers to have some climbing experience, the ridge traverse getting to the initial raps are intimidating with a big pack. The big (~62 meter) entrance rap will leave you short with more static ropes, angle right (facing the wall) to hit higher ground. The initial Phantom narrows provided the only pothole that gave us problems (July 04 with very full pool), but the whole section was very beautiful and not to be missed. We found an excellent bivy spot in the wash at the Crossroads area. The final section is the buisness, water levels will make a huge difference. Many short and awkward raps off logs. Efficient rope managment is crucial, as is gear managment. A heavy pack and/or one the doesn't drain properly will really slow you down. There are no tricks here, just be efficient and you'll have no problems. Plan the last raps very well, communication between stations and between stations and the ground is difficult, having someone on the other side of the pool to relay shouts helps. Pull the pull line off too the side before the last person goes down the ultimate rap to make sure there are no kinks, and use a Euro death knot to avoid the rope eating crack. This should obviate any issues with the pull. Enjoy.
My group of three got a latish start hiking in, bivied early, and were on the ground by 1 in the afternoon. It made for a leisurely time, but when I go again I'll shoot for the day. Hauling bivy gear around, and having a heavy pack of gear hanging from your harness on the last raps ain't fun. In good conditions this is long, but has difficulties no different in kind than other canyons (Das Boot, Squeeze, etc) it is the grand scale of Heaps that makes it in another class.
