Just getting back from an awesome week with some great “peeps” in eastern Utah’s San Rafael Swell. Our team of twelve assembled near Goblin Valley to do some testing of the Black Diamond Spring 2010 pack line. The deep, narrow canyons of the Swell were excellent testing grounds, giving us the opportunity to explore some of the most incredible terrain anywhere.
Breakfast Pack Discussion-Day One
Let the games begin. Art or no art? Time for some cairn spotting…
Mapping out the route ahead
Making sure not to disturb the “crypto,” our first “tour de jour” included Swell classics Little Wildhorse and Bells Canyon.
Black Diamond intern and Colorado Rocky Mountain School “graduate-to-be,” Hayden Kennedy. Feeling energized, Hayden is psyching himself up for his next jaunt to Hanksville with jLd.
When we exited Little Wild Horse, the clouds rolled in and thunder storms skirted to the east. The weather was cooperating though, as the clouds kept things cool on the hike out.
Heading out of the slots
Our next day we headed to Upper Chute Canyon.
Penn looking back through the keyhole slot.
Kristin rocking the full body stem, with Ryan and Justin wondering whether they should do the same?
At every turn, a new corridor…a new space to explore.
Resting for the final push out from Upper Chute Canyon.
Desert flowers. And some more sun…we were leaving the slots behind.
A self portrait wraps up another great day with friends in the Rafael Swell.
May 18-21, 2009