Canyoneering - Good Day Jim, Lake Powell

In recent years the Shoells have gotten really into canyoneering. Last year at Lake Powell we did a little rapel, but nothing much. This year, Kevin planned a day-long trip. The night before they were planning to go I got all sorts of anxiety about it. 

Ever since my rockslide fall in 2010 I just don't trust rocks anymore. Paul was kind as could be and just let me know that if I wanted to go, I'd be safe and if I didn't want to go, he'd stay with me on the houseboat. 

I thought really hard about it, and in the morning I felt good about it all and decided I was in. Luckily, Shelly decided she was in too so everyone packed up in the ski boat and we drove up-lake to Sevenmile Canyon.

We parked at the mouth of the canyon, much to the dismay of the weird people that were camping there.... and started our hike up to the drop in point.

I was so proud of my legs on this hike. My quads were still tired but they were strong enough to do the job. Thank goodness because the views were fantastic.

Paul and I talked about building a castle on top of that plateau. Just so flat!

Eric was there! He hiked all day long and then drove back to Salt Lake that night, then packed up everything and drove a Uhaul to move to San Diego the next day. What a champ.

I believe this was our first, rapel, right into a water/mud filled pot hole.

The canyon started out pretty wide but got more and more narrow as we rapelled through more pot holes. Some of the potholes were neck deep on me, chilly water!

I was happy to find that I wasn't really nervous about rocks giving out on me. Everyone was really professional and all the lines were set up with a lot of care and thought, this helped a lot and I was so happy to be overcoming my fear of rocks.

This was my favorite rapel. It was a bit of an overhang at the top so we were free rapelling for a while, and then back onto the wall and that pretty mossy green.

I could not believe Sterling's skill with free climbing - here he was being a great belayer.

The worst news was that I didn't have any shoes besides chacos. These were not ideal, but amazingly I didn't have much trouble. Hallelujah, because it was one of my biggest stresses about joining the trip.

My mom wasn't scared of a thing. She loves this kind of stuff. And look at my dad just being so proud of her from the top.

Shelly pretends like she hates  but she actually loves it the most.

Kevin's just the pro and always takes up the rear. He put so much work and energy into this day trip and I appreciate it so much.

The canyon starting getting very narrow. This was one of the most challenging part. With no ropes or assistance you had to prop your body between the canyon and slowly scoot yourself down the wall. Paul was a champ and did it with a backpack hanging from his waist.

It doesn't look long, but from the top of the rock it was probably 15 feet. You'd break your legs if you dropped on the solid rock below.

This was by far the best part. Magic dreamland skinny as can be canyons.

And the walls were so tall on both sides

Next up was the birthing canal. Squeezing through the tiniest hole in a rock onto a tiny ledge.

 

Then we came to the skinniest part of the canyon where I couldn't even walk straight because my hips wouldn't fit through. I couldn't fit in the bottom at one points so I had to stem across a higher part of the wall where it was a few inches wider.

This was my favorite part. The skinniest, windy canyon and looking up to a sliver of sky.

We encountered a few more potholes and rapels from there. But eventually made our way back to the mouth of the canyon, passing this warty rock on the way.

Hooray! Good Day George was an awesome canyon to experience and one of the neatest things I've ever done at Lake Powell or really my whole life.

(With my Dad)

(with Kevin).

Dirtiest legs and shoes (or feet in my case).

And a nice boat ride home.

Where we all chugged mini water bottles after having to conserve water all day.

Thank you so much Kevin and Shoell family! What an amazing adventure!
(In case you missed it - the rest of our Lake Powell adventures from Sep 2012 here).