Moab IV - Day 6
Lost and Found Canyon
In some ways this would be a no-win day. Still
riding a major high from the previous day’s ascent of Ancient Art, nothing we
could do would top that. Of course, that fact wasn’t about to stop us from doing
something and we chose the Lost and Found canyoneering route, touted in Derek Wolfe’s
book as being one of the finest slots canyons around Moab.
Like South Six-Shooter, this trip started with
much confusion about how to get to the correct trailhead. We were aiming
for the 4WD trailhead, but ended up near the 2WD trailhead, which would add 3-5 hours of hiking onto
the trip. Retracing our path, we did eventually end up at the correct
trailhead, about 2 hours past our original starting time. No worries – we were
on vacation and had all the time in the world!
Once in the canyon, this trip very much lived
up to its reputation – stunning canyon scenery, three great rappels, and long
sections of narrow slots to negotiate. What perhaps caught us by surprise was the
technical nature of this canyon, in comparison to canyons with an identical
rating – more to come.
After a couple of short but mildly exposed
sections of downclimbing and some great slot hiking we reached the first rappel
– a super interesting drop through a hole to the continuation of the canyon
below.
The second rappel was quickly reached, it too
providing plenty of entertainment. Here, you rappel down onto a small platform
in the narrowing canyon, clamber over some dead trees stuck in the passageway
and then finish the rappel over the trees. Not confident our 2 ropes would
reach the bottom and very confident the ropes would get stuck when we tried to
pull them, I had Dan join me on the platform, where we decided that I would
finish the rappel and pull the ropes and then Dan would downclimb the rest.
Before executing the plan we had another good laugh (aka Ancient Art), as I
contemplated the thought of Dan rappelling to the bottom and leaving me
stranded on the platform forever! I then proceeded to quickly grab the ropes
and informed Dan I was not “letting go”! Thankfully Dan didn’t leave me
stranded (probably because I had the car keys) and the plan worked like a charm. Onward and downward.
Terrain between the second and final rappel was
the technical crux and perhaps most enjoyable and surprising part of the canyon. Several
sections of the canyon narrowed to the point where walking on the canyon floor
would be impossible and so stemming up the walls and then traversing was
required – fun, but not a place to slip – getting wedged between the walls
would have been very, very bad!
The long third rappel was yet another
spectacular experience amid the towering walls of the canyon.
For return we
wanted to take the 4th class exit. Apparently this route has been difficult
to find in the past and so it has been well signed and was in fact quite easy to follow. I
had read a couple of startling stories claiming there was 5.6-5.7 climbing to
get out of the canyon, but the easiest route was only 4th class,
though exposed in a couple of sections. The trip ended with an easy hike, back-dropped
by the snow-clad La Sal Mountains, back to the car.
A superb canyoneering trip!
Hiking down the wash is a pleasant and very scenic route to the start of the canyon
Same as above
Still in the wash, but the canyon is close
Definitely in the canyon now! Dan leads the way, downclimbing a tricky section
Looking back at the section we downclimbed
Narrow canyon...not so narrow canyon
Another couple of tricky sections (photo on the right by Dan)
1st rappel through the hole (photo by Dan)
Dan prepares to rap
Dan's turn
Leaving the "hole" rappel
Entering a really cool section of the canyon
The 2nd rappel (photo on the right by Dan)
The log-jam (left) and Dan comes to the rescue (right)
Rappelling over the log-jam (left photo by Dan) and Dan untangles the ropes that DID get caught when we pulled them
Dan carefully downclimbs the section I rappelled
This is clearly a true slot canyon
Remarkable terrain to be in
Dan was loving this section throughout
Narrow and tricky (left photo by Dan - I'm in there!)
The 3rd rappel is right outside the narrow section. Dan tests the anchor.
Looking back into the darkness from which we came
Not bad surroundings
Yet another sweet, sweet rappel!
My turn (photos by Dan)
The hike out was equally scenic
Looking for the 4th class escape route
It starts off quite easy
Looking back into the canyon
Dan searches for the easiest route up
Last look at the complex and maze-like canyon
Hiking back with the La Sal Mountains to the right
