Waypoint :: Splendor

On the cusp of the COVID19 pandemic…

This adventure team of 11 friends old and new gathered deep in central Utah in early March of 2020 for an unequivocal canyoneering adventure sponsored by the outstanding people at Triple Aught Design. A Waypoint event is an accessible, limited, but free adventure curated for their customer community designed to expose individuals to new adventures and skills. Each Waypoint focuses on a unique type of personal adventure designed to expand your world and skillset. You provide the motivation and your gear, Triple Aught Design provides the context. I have had the blessing of attending every Waypoint event thus far, and they have given me friends and memories beyond compare.

We didn’t know our latest Waypoint adventure would be the last backcountry adventure most of us had for a few months. The COVID19 pandemic had been spreading worldwide and had been looking more dire in the USA in previous weeks. However, we didn’t expect to find out over satcoms that there would be a national state of emergency issued that weekend and the shelter in place orders that would soon follow. This turn of events made Waypoint :: Splendor even more treasured for all of us. Not just the beauty, camaraderie, and adventure- for a couple, it was even more special. They got engaged!

A Waypoint event always brings in adventurers from far-flung corners of America. This one was no different. Although a group of us happen to be in various locations around Colorado, attendees also drove in from Texas, California, and Arizona.

“Splendor” was the most challenging Waypoint thus far- both physically and mentally. The unique adventure context for this event would be a combination of dry and wet canyoneering. It was still early March, and most of the snow had melted in the high desert, but ice did still persist in some shady canyons. Vicki and I had done a couple recon trips for this event when the conditions were still questionable in February, but the timing proved to be good (but still cold) for the event. We had estimated a maximum of about 13 miles of hiking and canyoneering, but it turned out to be roughly 24 miles total dismounted as one works through the labyrinth of canyon. “Just two more miles”! Became the tagline for the trip, and is still an inside joke.

Many of us joined in a convoy in Fruita, Colorado to meet our fellow adventurers at the campsite deep in the southern end of the San Rafael swell near a historical location known as the "Hidden Splendor Mine”. There is a lot to see in the immediate area if you are keen to geology, history and desert riparian ecosystems. There is even a usable backcountry airstrip here. There had been a bit of weather move in earlier in the day. This made the 60 miles of dirt road into the campsite a bit of a messy challenge for our friends who had traveled in from Arizona and California earlier in the day. It was still muddy, but passable when we came through. It is worth noting that although many backcountry roads and trails in the San Rafael are maintained occasionally, weather events can make them extremely difficult or impassable. You are a very long way from assistance and generally without cellphone signal in the Swell.

Zach , David, and Mike had already set up their rigs when we arrived, and the campsite had dried up significantly. They had experienced a very muddy 4x4 traverse into the Swell due to some early Spring precipitation. It was still cloudy, windy, and cold. It would remain that way for the duration of the weekend. We had some wonderful time catching up around the campfire that evening, anticipating the adventure to come.

We got some breakfast, and did final preparations on our gear Saturday morning and headed back up to the top of Music Canyon roughly 6 miles away by road. It was still cold and windy that morning, and had been a noisy night in the tents. Still, we were all very excited to embark on our canyoneering adventure. The first 5 miles down Music Canyon are typically dry and open for some great canyon scenery. Right away, you are greeted with a couple waterfalls to climb down. As you progress down the wash, evidence can be seen of many waterfalls that tumble in wet seasons off of the buttes and mesas above. I can only imagine the sounds in this canyon during a thunderstorm downpour.

The next section of the canyon develops into a slot canyon and then adds in many significant drops into sandstone tubs that can be filled with water. Nearly all were dry this time of year, but we could see watermarks on the canyon to where levels typically sit. Needless to say, if you caught in the canyon during a flash flood, survival would not be possible, and there are very few places to climb higher the further you get down the canyon.

In all, we counted 13 rappels in the lower part of Music Canyon. Experienced canyoneers would not likely need ropes in most of the drops, especially when filled with water in warmer months. However, with the size of our group and the dry conditions, discretion and ropes were the better part of valor. It was also plain fun to rope up and rappel into those dark holes and dropoffs. Canyoneering is an inherently dangerous activity, and should never be attempted without proper experience, gear, weather conditions, and contingency plans. Most slot canyons, like this one, are extremely remote by nature and help will be very far away, if emergency services can be contacted at all. Unexpected weather can be deadly.

After conquering the lower half of Music Canyon, we finally spilled out into the Muddy Creek Canyon. There are significant sections of “narrows” in this part of the canyon. The creek flows through slots in the rock so narrow that there is no shore to the creek, it is water from wall to wall sandstone. You will have to be prepared to wade and potentially swim through most of the Muddy Creek section if atttempting. Again, you do not want to be down here during storms. Muddy Creek drains a fairly large section of the San Rafael territory, so flash floods can occur here without warning from storms occurring out of sight and hours earlier. Honestly, it’s a fun and challenging hike through the wet canyon, but bringing a packraft would also be a prime plan if the creek has sufficient flow.

Once everyone had exited the slot canyon, we took a short break and everyone donned their waterproof socks and wet suits. There were a couple tracts of water above waistline for many of us, so the waterproof socks turned out to be rather useless. It’s worth mentioning that Muddy Creek had water temperatures only above freezing for our trip. Ice was still in place at quite a few shady locations. Hiking through cold knee deep water for miles is fatiguing at best. The final 15 miles down Muddy Creek back to camp became a rough experience. At several points, “GPS says only two more miles to camp” was mentioned by *someone, but the serpentine canyon multiplied that distance by several factors.

We were all very cold and wet when we finally arrived back at camp as the sun went down that evening. After changing out of our very wet and muddy clothing, some retired to warm sleeping bags right away, while the rest of us enjoyed a warm campfire and fellowship. The close of every Waypoint is bittersweet, but this even more so with the unknown of what would be waiting for us back in “civilization”. Splendor was the most epic Waypoint yet, and we all anticipate the next.

A special recognition of two of the most amazing adventure women I know. Vicki and
Shaina took on the challenge of the canyons and completed the trek with distinction. They can do anything with class and style!