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On my way to Ouray, Colorado for the International Canyon Rendezvous I received a last minute invitation from a friend to descend Heaps Canyon in Zion NP. One should know that Heaps canyon is a very very big day and depending on conditions can be anywhere from challenging to hazardous. My friend was leading a group of people through Heaps and unfortunately his most experienced partners dropped from the team. To balance out the experience level I joined the trip last minute. Water levels in heaps were quite high and we did not contend with the countless keeper potholes that Heaps holds.
The final rappel in Heaps canyon is a free hanging 300′ drop, the 3rd in a very intense 500′ sequence dropping to the popular tourist destination, Emerald Pools. It is not uncommon to receive an applause while on rappel from a crowd gathered below at the pool, however, I suspect that most people sit in silence secretly waiting for something catastrophic is going to happen. In any case, this time around was different. Hell…I got an applause just for lowering the rope to the ground. Strange…anyways, great day!
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