Utah Canyons - Shenanigans, Monkey Business, Hog 2, Hog 1

April 13-14, 2024
Utah Canyons - Shenanigans, Monkey Business, Hog 2, Hog 1

It had been exactly two years since Laura and I had canyoneered with our friend Josh. He was searching for partners for some canyons in the north wash area and I saw someone on facebook looking for a partner there as well. While the weather didn't look great in Colorado, in Utah it was just right to run a few canyons so we set up a group and made a plan to camp at the Sandthrax campground on Friday night. We decided to leave Hazel at home this weekend since we will be going back to the same area in two weeks time and the drive is over 8 hours. 

With just a 15 minute stop in Fruita for gas and dinner, Laura and I arrived to camp at 8:30 pm. Josh was not there yet so we chose a visible area to park the Jeep and crashed in the back. The plan was to be moving by 7 am Saturday morning as we had a fairly ambitious plan of running both Shenanigans and Monkey Business in the same day. 6 am alarm goes off and looking around, I see Josh parked right next to us. We'd never met Daniel before but in a few text messages I had relayed our plans for the weekend. He pulled in at 6:30 am ready to go. I love it when a plan comes together and everyone in on time!

Shenanigans

We set up a shuttle for Shenanigans and headed for it first, leaving the cars around 7:30. The weather was cool but we knew it would heat up as the day progressed. Shenanigans is the most narrow canyon we have ever done so I took a pack with our smallest rope and a single, small Gatorade. Josh skipped the pack and instead hooked water to his belt. Daniel shouldered a small pack as well. 

Gearing up for the first drop into Shenanigans

Daniel downclimbing in Shenanigans

Working our way down the canyon, it narrowed and opened in several areas. We downclimbed what we could and rappelled several times as well. In the narrowest spots of the canyon, both my chest and back would touch opposing walls. Laura could squeeze through but Daniel and Josh both had to climb up and over several times as it was just too narrow for them to fit through. The scenery was amazing and Josh rated this as one of his top 5 of all time. It took us just 5 1/2 hours car to car. 

Daniel going high at a particularly narrow section

Josh even used his headlight in one of the narrow passages

Interesting and fun rappel in Shenanigans

After a 30 minute lunch and hydration break at the car, we jumped back into canyon mode and headed for Monkey Business. This canyon, while impressive, was not as narrow as Shenanigans. It was much shorter and we were able to downclimb almost the entire canyon. We completed Monkey Business in about 3 hours and were back to the cars after a 9 hour day. 

Justin working down canyon

That evening we relaxed at camp and ate tacos while chatting about canyons and life in general. As we sat around camp, a cat with a green headlamp passed by. I pointed it out, exclaiming "why is that cat wearing a headlamp?" Josh replied "Is it an Alien?" Sure enough, the cat belonged to another group of canyoneers and had run Leprechaun with them that day. I now have the idea to write a children's book titled The Canyoneering Kitty. 

The canyoneering kitty

Sunday held the same start plan and we had decided on Hog 2 and Hog 1 as they are shorter canyons. We could head out after the first or easily combine them together if time allowed. Hog 2 is a fun canyon and had good downclimbs. We were able to complete the canyon in just 2 hours. 

A section of Hog 2 nicknamed the birth canal

Exiting via the shortcut climbers exit was exciting as you have to climb exposed slab. Daniel went first and tossed a rope for the rest of us to use as a handline. 

Exposed slab climbing on the climbers exit between the Hogs

Hog 1 is a canyon that we took Hazel through when she was just 1 year old and we knew it was a fantastic option. There is a lot of downclimbing, some high stemming and narrows all mixed in. With partner assists and our strong group, we were able to downclimb where several rappel slings were present. Hog 1 is one of my favorite canyons and I would happily repeat it again. It took us about 2.5 hours. 

Back to the car before noon, Laura and I rinsed off with our portable shower and hit the road. We were home in time to eat dinner with Hazel and had a blast in the canyons. 

Josh contemplating a downclimb in one of the canyons.

Neat rappel near the end of Shenanigans

Josh starting down one of the Hog canyons

Let me see!

Laura and Josh hide from the sun while Daniel and Justin rig the rappel

Justin relaxing waiting for the group to finish rappelling

Cool arch on the hike out from Shenanigans

Justin and Daniel stemming

Josh having fun canyoneering

Interesting pattern in the rocks.  It kind of looks like scratches except these were raised up.

Justin squeezing through a narrow section of one of the canyons

Justin on a slippery downclimb to reach the first rappel for Hog 2

Josh in one of the Hogs

Daniel poses before dropping off the edge

Josh having fun as he starts a rappel

Interesting rock in this section of Hog 1

Josh in one of the canyons

Daniel, Justin and Josh exiting the alcove at the bottom of the birth canal.

Daniel providing a courtesy handline for the rest of us

Josh and Daniel in a narrow section

Josh and Daniel making the high stemming look easy

Justin in Hog 1

The hike out of the Hog canyons back to the cars