Yeah, I belong to Beer Advocate. There are alot of trader's on the site. Tons and tons of awesome brew's from all over the world.

Zion National Park in Springdale, UT It's called Canyoneering, you start at the top of the canyon and work your way down, lots of problem solving, downclimbing, rappeling, swimming, wadeing, hiking, building natural anchor's, climbing, whatever it takes to get to the bottom of the canyon and out to the vehicle. A very addicting sport, adrenline rush, lots and lots of fun.

Also, all downclimbing is done un-protected, it get's a little dicy, when your 40-50 100 feet off the deck. Friction is your friend, lol

It sounds like a sport my ex-wife should take up....hehehe....she was a master at creating friction....

Here are a few canyon description routes:

Keyhole - This is my third time doing this canyon, once in the daytime, once at night, AWESOME! at night time with headlamps. This will be the first canyon we will do Friday during the day. Then we might go again at night.

http://www.climb-utah.com/Zion/keyhole.htm


Pinecreek - This is my 5th or 6th time doing this canyon, it's a classic. This will be our second canyon of the day Friday.

http://www.climb-utah.com/Zion/pinecreek.htm


Behunin - This is my third time doing this canyon. I really like this one, lot's of big drops. This will be our first canyon on Saturday. Has a long approach and some decent elevation gain to get to the first drop. Early start to beat the heat.

http://www.climb-utah.com/Zion/behunin.htm

Unprotected? In the pics I see helmets, harnesses, and it looks like they're wearing those Neoprene suits to keep you warm in water. Speaking of which, there's a lot of that in those pics! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Definitely not a sport for someone who's claustrophobic! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/eek.gif" alt="" />

Looks like it would be great fun! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/thumbup.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Yup. When downclimbing no ropes are used only the friction on the sandstone walls and you. Those canyons are not noted for the skinny stuff. When I say skinny I mean less than a foot sometimes. You cannot even walk down below, you have to climb over boulders/chokestones/logs. Basically you have your feet on one side of the wall and your hands or back on the other side and you inch/move yourself across to a point where you can climb back down to the bottom of the canyon. When I get home I will post some pics for ya.

If you fall, you will be toast in alot of instances. The helment is for protection, but the downclimbing part is unprotected (no ropes, bolts) just you and the sandstone walls, which are very abrasive on the body. Your pack, harness, clothes, hands, knees, elbows take a beating in these canyons. Like I said before, Zion is not noted for these canyons. Zion is noted for big drops, water, and more for trees. The other canyons I'm talking about are pure out in stick land stuff. Just you and the canyon walls, lots and lots of fun.

Sounds like you really live it when you're out there, Shaolin.

Here are some pics.

First, this is Behunin which we will be doing Saturday.



At the first drop



Me Heading Down



Heading Down



This is the Last Drop

Here is some tighter stuff.

Here is a slanted section that we have to get accross, it's about 40-50 feet above the deck, 200-250 ft. long. You just have to move accross slowly a few feet at a time. It's just to skinny below to move about. There is a huge chokestone in the middle of it, that you can go over or under it. It get's darker as you move along, finally you can see some sun.

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2745174540040891416QYMJyi?vhost=outdoors

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2237504420040891416jPfhCu?vhost=outdoors

Jim on the chokestone in the slanted section

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2729959220040891416dIqIWi?vhost=outdoors

Me in the slanted section, and I was wondering why it was getting so dark, lol

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2803119260040891416lXQDlt?vhost=outdoors

Eddy in the slanted section

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2299775010040891416KwPJNi?vhost=outdoors

Errin in the slanted section

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2855743300040891416vCXvEE?vhost=outdoors

Dave in the slanted section

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2318224220040891416OluXux?vhost=outdoors

Within the slanted section getting close to the chokestone

http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2756934220040891416vTAuFC?vhost=outdoors

At the end of the slanted section looking back up