Headwaters: Abe's Multi-Phase Birthday Bonanza

Albert Camus once said:

This quote truly resonates with me. As I approach 50, I still feel young at heart and mind, but the body is definitely starting to show signs of wear, especially in the back region. I'm sure this feeling will only be amplifed with each passing year as I go into my next half century of life - nothing to look forward to really. How does one combat this feeling?

An idea: interact with youth.

Interact is not to say copy, mimic, idolize, even always agree with youth. Just interact with them and let their energy, their perspectives, their life rub off on you for a bit. See if you can understand, keep up, "hang out", even if it means you have to "hang tough" (more on "hanging" later).

Enter Abe. He is my nephew, 12 years younger than me, and defines youthful exuberance in a lot of good ways. Like any respectable youth, Abe has lots of physical hobbies, and always has. Some of them are not of interest to me - golf and dance come to mind. Others are of great interest to me - canyoneering and frisbee. We have been talking about getting out in the slot canyons of southern Utah together for the past 2 years. I've always wanted to use Abe's home in Santa Clara, UT as a base camp for desert adventures, with Whitney's grace and permission of course.

Abe, Whitney, Everest, and I (not shown here is Ryker).

But life has always annoyingly gotten in the way with these desires for adventures. So finally, about 6 months ago, we resolved that the best time (a.k.a. best "excuse") to get outside would be in conjunction with his birthday celebration. Because I believe that the gift of experience and activity is the best gift we can give ourselves - and when we do it with loved ones, even better because it beomes even more memorable. Honestly, I really don't remember very many physical gifts I've been given over the years - but I remember pretty much every adventure I've been on (especially with the help of this blog-journal). Interesting how quickly we usually forget most "gift things" and how long we hold onto "gift activities" - this material world would say that it would and should be the opposite... but that is not so.

Abe's birthday was November 17, and life (again) kept us from getting into the desert on that actual date. So luckily we scrambled our schedules to get out a mere 6 days later on November 24. We finally found a date that everything came together - we were off work, we had finished our "honey do's" so we were on our wife's good side, and the weather was spectacular. Abe even found a couple of willing buddies (who were even more youthful than him, at least from my middle-aged perspective) to join - Shannon and Kramer.

After some debate on which canyon to do, we settled on a slot into Snow Canyon State Park apparently called Secret Canyon. The plan was to go up the left fork of this canyon, work our way north across the ridge and then descend into the right fork of the canyon, and then hike back to the trailhead, making it a full looper. We hit the trailhead at a comfortable 9 am, knowing this wouldn't be an "all day affair" which was wise in retrospect due to other phases of his celebration. The canyon started off mellow enough, as we scrambled through sage towards the climb.

A perfect morning for an adventure

Working our way towards the upper ridge

Cool desert "secondary glow" (think Alpenglow) make for soft orange hues.

We eventually ascended to the top ridge, opening up 360 degree views of the unbelievably diverse landscape all around, consisting of snow-capped peaks to low-lieing valleys and everything in between. We even looked down into the Tuacahn Amphitheater to our south. Southern Utah is such a special place (don't move Abe and Whit!).

The late Fall desert panorama from the top of Secret Canyon

The view back to the confluence from the left fork.

Route-finding along the ridge.

We soon came upon the top of the right-hand fork drainage, flanked by steep cliffs on three sides - a classical box canyon. The eroding water could carve no further up canyon - it was a dead end. This was our entrance. It was finally time to transition from the cardio of uphill to the adrenaline of downhill. While at this point in my adventure I am usually peeling off my skins, switching my bindings to lock, and getting ready for waist-deep powder, this time I was rather strapping on my climbing harness, making sure I had enough locking beeners, and adjusting my helmet. A different set of (expensive) gear, no doubt. But the excitement was still building for me here in preparation for rappelling in the desert, just as it does in the Wasatch for skiing. We were in for a great descent as we had 8 rappels to now enjoy, each with their own quirks in terms of entry onto, and exit off of, the twisting and curving cliff faces.

'Here goes nothing!' - my first descent into the box canyon.

Kramer taking it easy (and safe) on Rappel #1.

Tight quarters.

Preparing for Shannon's descent on Rappel #3.

The pinnacle experience for me was what I call The Serpentine, Rappel #7. Abe said the rappel didn't have a name with the local shops and beta books, so I thought I would give it my own. This 80' + contorting cliff face was a blind entrance, meaning I couldn't see how to get started, as well as a blind exit, meaning I couldn't see the bottom. The rope just disappeared into blackness when looking down from the top. The descending rock face, used to support yourself by bouncing off during the rappel, kept twisting and changing angles. Tiny water seeps were bleeding from the cliff cracks, creating patches of mossy wall paper. Hanging there in the cool of the shade, slowly twisting in the mid-air, suspended and saved only by my rope. was a surreal experience. For me it was really a serpentine cathedral. Regardless, I was still grateful to see Kramer, who had graciously gone first, around an overhang about half way down the free rappel.

Shannon hanging out, while hanging tough, on The Serpentine, Rappel #7

Trying to not get wet!

After The Serpentine, we had one final rappel to perform, The Waterfall. This plunge was a 100'+ sheer drop that is clearly the direct path of running water. We all decided it would be amazing to come here after a hard rain storm to see water using its carving power in this canyon - but only safely from a perch or a drone view. Taking our time and being methodical, we all safely made it down this amazing, totally exposed rappel to finish out our experience.

Getting ready for The Waterfall drop

Great views of the Pine Valley Mountains and the "Utah Blue" sky from our final Rap Station.

But that was only Phase 1.

We then headed back to base camp, quickly checked in with Whit, picked up Ryker, and were off to Phase 2. I recently purchased a new used Toyota Tacoma, aptly named as my latest "man toy." These cars are meant to go off road, usually preferring 4x4 over 2x4. I had not tried the 4x4 function yet, and Abe let me know this was unacceptable. So we "broke it in" on a drive up to some comms towers at the summit of West Mountain. The last mile of this dirt road was some of the most treacherous driving terrain I'd been on in the last decade. Steep drop offs sloping away on the left and sharp rock outcrops jutting into the road on the right forced the driver to be true to the middle of the road, especially on the hairpin switchbacks. The views on top made this phase totally worthwhile.

Amazing views into Nevada, Utah, and Arizona.

True 4x4 terrain up here - the photo doesn't do it justice.

But that was only Phase 2.

Turns out...Kramer is a gun expert. Abe is learning about guns as his apprentice and student. And I just think it's cool to blow stuff up like in the movies. So on the way back we stopped and shot 5 guns, blowing up cans and bottles and cardboard boxes. They told me all the cool specs and data on guns, but I don't remember any of it. All I know is that some guns were big, some guns are small, and all guns are (very) loud. It was just cool to blow stuff up in this phase in the waning light of day.

Abe feeling the testosterone flowing

Me pretending I was a cop taking out the bad guys.

But that was only Phase 3.

Every adventure takes massive amounts of physical, mental, and spiritual energy. The body can get depleted of energy stores quickly. So the final phase was the "gut bomb" meal at Culvers consisting of burgers, rings, fries, kurds, and shakes. This was the funnest phase for young and energetic Ryker. We all snarfed down this unhealthy, but well-deserved, food with great zeal. And - one more time - that was not the final phase.

For the last half of the day, I had been envisioning not only the hot burger and fries, but also the hot tub. That would be a perfect way to end a perfect day. My sore muscles would have been so appreciative. And Abe has access to a hot tub facility through a family friend in the area. I was really hoping we would have time to do this, but I had to get home that night and still had to do a 4 hour drive. So alas, we skipped the final phase of hot tubbing. As my wife likes to remind me - "you just can't do everything!"

But fortunately, I did this phase a year ago with Colter, Ryker, and Abe and still have a picture to prove it. This is what it would have been like - so I'm counting this phase as well.