girlonarope

About girlonarope

https://girlonarope.com/about-me/

Walker Gulch, Zion NP, Utah

On the Ropewiki map for Walker Gulch, there is a skull and crossbones at the head of the canyon, warning people about an overhanging shelf that should be avoided at all costs. Not exactly the normal type of beta for a canyon, but definitely the makings of an interesting day. The beta is located here: Walker Gulch - ropewiki. No permits are required as this canyon is just outside the park. Our hike in started near the 4-wheel-drive parking lot above Orderville Canyon after we exited Birch Hollow. It was early afternoon on a very cold January day and the temperatures were finally warming up above freezing. The sun felt incredible on our faces. We scrambled up some slopes and washes until we reached a mesa with a well-defined trail along an ATV route with fresh tire tracks. We followed the trail for another mile to the head of [...]

By |2025-02-06T21:25:27+00:00January 11, 2025|canyoneer, Utah|0 Comments
Read More

Birch Hollow, Zion NP, Utah

This winter we are having some very unique weather conditions in southern Utah. It has been extremely dry but also very cold, resulting in any water remaining in the canyons being completely frozen, which has made some canyoneering routes unusually accessible for this time of year. A couple of weeks ago, we decided to descend Birch Hollow and explore Walker Gulch in an area adjacent to Zion NP. It was a freezing day, but an amazing experience to see these canyons during the winter! Birch Hollow is one of the most beloved and heavily guided canyons near Zion. Being just outside the park boundary, it does not require a permit and commercial guiding is permitted. Beta can be found here: Birch Hollow - ropewiki. Birch was one of the first canyons that Max and I descended on our own when we were beginning our canyoneering journey. It was our [...]

By |2025-02-05T00:25:40+00:00January 11, 2025|canyoneer, Utah|0 Comments
Read More

Bear Creek, Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, Washington

It was a very gray and cloudy morning at the beginning of September when we met with our friend Kym at an unmarked pullout on Index-Galena Rd in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. We were planning to descend Bear Creek, a relatively new technical route that is fast becoming well-known, several hours north of Seattle. This creek was first descended in 2021 and I had participated in the third descent last year, but Max and Kym had not done this route yet. Located deep in the forest, the approach drops right into a popular swimming hole along the North Fork of the Skykomish River. The swimming hole is right next to Bear Creek Falls, an extremely scenic little sequence of intense waterfalls running through a polished granite chute. Walking past the swimming hole, we crossed the river at a point where it wasn’t running very high and started our [...]

By |2025-01-23T18:49:27+00:00September 2, 2024|canyoneer, washington|0 Comments
Read More

South Fork Snoqualmie River (Franklin Falls)

If you’re a resident or visitor to the Seattle area, chances are high that you’ve been to Franklin Falls, one of the most popular hikes in the region. Located in the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest near Snoqualmie Pass, this easy, short and highly scenic stroll is hard to beat. You start by walking along an easy trail next to the gorgeous South Fork of the Snoqualmie River, marveling at the huge trees lining the riverbanks. The lush old growth riparian forest here takes you back in time. This is also an opportunity to examine a number of old cabins on both sides of the river. Some are boarded up, while others look inhabited. The trail continues gently uphill, following the curve of the river, and soon the river canyon deepens and becomes inaccessible from the trail, although you can see the waterfalls below. About a mile further along the [...]

By |2024-12-06T04:56:37+00:00August 28, 2024|canyoneer, washington|0 Comments
Read More

Davis Creek, Gifford Pinchot NF, Washington

Davis Creek is probably the most popular technical creek in Washington state. This half-day creek is accessible from both Seattle and Portland, has a minimal approach and a trivial exit with a short and easy car shuttle. What’s not to like? But there’s more! As one of the most highly rated creeks in Washington, Davis is spectacularly beautiful with deep fern-covered basalt walls, gorgeous waterfalls, fun rappels and jumps and an iconic log that spans the canyon. I think I’ve used all my superlatives already and I’m only on the first paragraph 😊 Our first trip to Davis this summer was at the beginning of August with a group of Utah friends who were visiting as well as my nephew Aron, also visiting us at the time. We had been working up to Davis for most of the week with smaller and easier canyons and finally we felt like [...]

By |2024-09-19T23:57:04+00:00August 10, 2024|canyoneer, washington|0 Comments
Read More

Olallie Creek, Rainier NP, Washington

Olallie is so nice we did it twice! Olallie Creek is one of the most beautiful canyons in Mt. Rainier National Park and is one of the classic creeks in Washington. This summer we had the pleasure of running Olallie with two groups of out-of-town friends, and it was also my first time in this amazing place. The only drawback to this route is that you need a timed permit during the summer months to enter the park and set a short shuttle from the Grove of the Patriarchs to the Cowlitz Divide Trail. This permit is fairly simple to get the evening before if you have a solid internet connection. You can also enter the park early (before 7am) or use a small pullout right outside the gate and walk to the trail, which adds an additional few minutes. Beta for Olallie Creek is located here: Olallie Creek [...]

By |2024-10-31T18:43:26+00:00August 9, 2024|canyoneer, washington|0 Comments
Read More

Mineral Creek, Alpine Lakes Wilderness, WA

At the end of July we had the pleasure of hosting our nephew for his first trip to Washington. Aron is an athletic 14 yo who runs competitively at his school in NJ. We were a bit worried we wouldn’t be able to keep up with him! This was also his first trip alone and away from his immediate family, so it was a big week for everyone. Aron was very excited to learn to canyoneer and we had a whole plan to get him started on the rappelling wall at The Mountaineers followed by a trip to Pilot Creek, our favorite training creek. Alas, the weather was not cooperating. We had one nice day right after he flew in, and then it was going to rain for two days after that, so we switched up our plans. The next morning after his delayed flight which got us home [...]

By |2024-09-04T23:49:54+00:00July 30, 2024|canyoneer, washington|0 Comments
Read More

Dark Creek, Gifford Pinchot NF, Washington

After a few weeks back in Washington taking care of the house and other emergencies, it was time to head out for a couple weeks of adventure. Our first stop was the PNW Rondy, in a remote part of the state near Randle, Washington. This is a great springboard for canyoning in Washington, with many of the classic creeks located within striking distance. We dropped by on Saturday, July 27th to run Dark Creek with our friends Sri and Vyonne, as well as some new friends who were in Sri's group. No permits are required for this creek, and beta is available here: Dark Creek - ropewiki. Dark is a pretty creek with a more open character in the upper area and narrows in the lower part. Access is very easy, via a well-maintained trail that goes steeply uphill in some sections, gaining about 800 feet of elevation. There [...]

By |2024-08-16T22:54:04+00:00July 27, 2024|canyoneer, washington|0 Comments
Read More

Cheesebox Canyon, Cedar Mesa, Utah

Deep in the wilds of Cedar Mesa is an incredible canyon with a ridiculous name. The strangely named Cheesebox Canyon is about an hour south of Hanksville, UT. One theory about the name of the canyon is that it is overlooked by an interesting box-shaped mesa. Perhaps someone had a similarly shaped box where they stored cheese. Perhaps we will never know. Cheesebox is a fairly beginner-friendly canyon with five short rappels and quite a bit of water. I would almost classify it as a hikeaneering route going through spectacular scenery. Getting to the trailhead requires four-wheel drive with good clearance for the 11 mile drive down a rough road off highway and setting a shuttle for the exit is a good idea. Beta is available here: Cheesebox Canyon - ropewiki It was the very end of May when we found ourselves at the trailhead getting ready to plunge [...]

By |2025-01-30T17:22:25+00:00May 28, 2024|canyoneer, remote canyon, Utah|0 Comments
Read More

Good Day Jim Canyon, Ticaboo, Utah

It was a beautiful sunny morning at the end of May when I found myself standing on the shoulders of two strapping men in a 15-foot-deep pothole, trying somewhat unsuccessfully to get out. It was day two of our Ticaboo adventures and we were planning to descend the wonderfully named “Good Day Jim” canyon, with this pothole being the first obstacle. Our get-together had grown large enough that we decided to split into two groups. The first group consisted of several younger folks, which we decided to call “Team Testosterone”. Our group consisted of some of our more mature folks, aptly named “Team Old Lady” 😉. Team Testosterone went first, wriggling their way out of the pothole in no time. Sadly, in the team shuffles one of the members who we thought was going with us took one of our potshots, leaving us with only one functioning potshot and [...]

By |2024-12-12T05:50:34+00:00May 26, 2024|canyoneer, remote canyon, Utah|0 Comments
Read More
Go to Top