DAY 5 - More Climbing and More Canyoneering

With 6 glorious days in Moab, it’s next to impossible to pick out a favourite day - they were all TOTALLY AWESOME! However, if I had to pick one, Day 5 perhaps edged out the others by a fraction of a hair width!   
 
Firstly, we both wanted redemption on Owl Rock. I knew I couldn’t lead it, but Evan was confident that he could. As a warm-up we tackled nearby Bullwinkle, having a considerably easily go of it than our first time in April.  
 
Evan then led Owl Rock. I was super impressed to watch him power up the route. He then belayed me up. Yep…. no way could I have led that! This summit felt especially sweet. Hats off again to Evan for getting us there.
 
A double hotdog lunch was reward for our efforts and then we set off to try another canyoneering route – Dragonfly Canyon.
 
In short, Dragonfly was an absolute BLAST!  All the phenomenal scenery we had come to love about Moab, a couple of terrific rappels, and two deep, water-filled holes to get by. The holes were full of murky water and we had no idea how deep they were and if anything (dead or alive) lurked beneath the surface. Maybe Evan will go first???
 
Of course he did! I was happy to stand back and watch Evan plunge into the unknown. Thankfully nothing bit Evan or arose from the depths and so I, without a lick of hesitation, leapt fearlessly into the water!! Since there was a fuzzy, dead caterpillar floating in the water we named it "Dead Caterpillar Hole".
 

Another equally entertaining hole followed and then the two rappels. A scenic hike finished one of the best days I’ve ever had in the outdoors.  
     
BULLWINKLE

 
Warming up with Bullwinkle



  Evan near the summit



Summit view from Bullwinkle



More great views. Owl Rock at the right



Interesting perspective!!
 


Evan is still hanging out at the summit




Evan rappels Bullwinkle


OWL ROCK


Heading for Owl Rock and the second attempt



Evan leads the entire climb....



.....except the final few metres, which are an easy scramble. I get the thumb up from Evan, as I reach the summit



Evan at the top






Nice view from the top



Evan rappels another well-earned route


DRAGONFLY CANYON


The route starts with a little cross country travel



And then it's down into the canyon



You wouldn't want to fall into one of these



Easily bypassed



The canyon narrows



Evan prepares for Round 1 of Dirty Water Canyoneering!



Success!

click HERE to see my fearless (?) sojourn through "Dead Caterpillar Hole"


Looking back at the first water hole


click HERE to see Evan in Round 2 of Dirty Water Canyoneering


Evan on the other side



Evan starts the rappel into another water hole



Heading down



Looking back at the second hole, before I rappel



Fortunately you are able to avoid a dip into this pool by going to the side



A scenic walk through the next section



The canyon REALLY narrows for this part



....and then leads to another super rappel



Evan at the bottom



More scenic walking



Eventually you pop out onto open terrain



  Life is good when you have this kind of scenery to hike alongside on return

continue to DAY 6
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