Fat Man's Misery

"Why do they call it Fat Man's?" you ask. This shot of Frank and Carolyn downclimbing their way through one of the many slots in Fat Man's repertoire should clue you in. Visitors to Zion National Park ready to get off the beaten path and explore the backcountry have world-class canyoneering options to choose from. The beauty of Fat Man's (or the misery, depending on your fitness level)is its hidden location - four miles behind Checkerboard Mesa and the strenuous six mile hike out of the canyon.

Our group of seven backpacked with wetsuits in tow, prepared for a swim in the cold, dark, murky water that pools up in the deep slot after canyon monsoons. Slots are formed by water, after all, and while our biggest concern was beating afternoon rainstorms and the deadly flashfloods that follow, shady canyons and freezing water temps can be a deadly combination. Luckily there were no swimming pools in the canyon and the wetsuits quickly turned into our own personal dry sauna in the desert heat. Being the lean desert explorers that we are (ha!), we stripped those clinging sweat suits off before what little insulating fat we had on our bodies could be melted away.

Aside from all the fun and challenging descents, my favorite part was the exit into beautiful Parunuweap Canyon. The Virgin River was flowing cool and refreshing with mint patches growing at the mouth of Fat Man's. Aaron, our herbalist guru, harvested some of the healing herb and brewed a delicious tea for dinner.

With four rappels and dozens of downclimbs, Fat Man's isn't for the meek. Get yourself a guide, an experienced friend, a guidebook and top map before you head out.

The National Parks: America's Best Idea

I hope all of you outdoor lovers have been watching The National Parks: America's Best Idea on PBS this week. I know, I know, it's the second week of Dancing with the Stars (I'm a closet fan), but come on now, where are your priorities?

Ken Burns has created a beautiful film documenting the development and progression of the National Parks in America. I knew that President Theodore Roosevelt was in office during the conception of the Parks and Monuments, and after learning of his enthusiasm and heartfelt connection to the great outdoors he has become my favorite. Can you imagine a president today directing his staff, special services, family, and even (gasp) the media to leave him alone and let him enjoy the wilderness in peace?

In its first two nights the film has paid tribute to one of the forefathers of American Wilderness, John Muir, whose writings influenced Americans from coast to coast at a time when the dominant thought process in regard to wilderness was to dominate and subdue. His passion for seeking spiritual connection to God through communion with nature is an inspiration to me. If only I had the creative talent to write as he did.

The remaining four parts will be shown this week on PBS. I'm anxiously awaiting the introduction of Zion National Park, the place on earth where, as one early Mormon settler remarked, "man can come closer to God among these canyon walls than in any man-made temple."

CLICK HERE to view a segment of the film.

A Month of Zion

Summer's over, and went out in such EPIC style that I can honestly say with the enthusiasm of a school girl "it was the best summer I ever had!" I spent my last month of summer canyoneering around Zion National Park, having so many adventures that I utterly refused to blog. Who wants to sit at the computer with so many world class slot canyons to explore?

Orderville, Pine Creek, Fat Man's Misery, The Narrows, Yankee Doodle, Water Canyon, Parunuweap. So many slot canyons, so little time! With the season drawing to a close - days get shorter, water temps in the dark canyons drop to hypothermic lows - it means time to move along and make plans for next year's visit.

And now that I'm in the mood to blog, exciting slot canyon stories are on their way!