Gear that Got It Done: Canyoneering in Southern Utah
Rappelling 160 plus feet through a giant natural arch in the depths of 241,904-acre Capitol Reef National Park is an experience you won’t soon forget. And hopefully you won’t forget the rope work, the survival skills, and the teamwork it took to get you there, either.
To assist in such a life changing adventure, Active Junky enlisted the help of Steve Howe, founder and lead guide of Redrock Adventure Guides and a local – and international – legend, having climbed, backpacked, paddled, skied and explored the globe as a writer, photographer, and guide for more than 45 years. And since 1990 he’s called wild and dramatic southern Utah home.
That first jaw dropping rappel of the day was Cassidy Arch, as we would climb, stem, and rap our way down Cassidy Arch Canyon, a series of dry waterfalls and slot formations through a deep ravine carved in Navajo and Wingate sandstone. We’d been camping in the desert for four days, hiking and canyoneering in preparation for the day’s big adventure involving seven rappels ranging in height between 40 and 160 feet, through multiple sandstone arches, four of which require free rappels, dropping over abrupt edges and dangling in open air down into mysterious grotto-like spaces dotted with pocket forests and the sounds of elusive wildlife.
Thunder and some light precipitation greeted us after the hour-long hike to the top of the arch, but we collectively decided to push on, our packs loaded with rain jackets, gloves, food, headlamps and everything else we needed to feel confident on our full-day descent.
Here’s an Active Junky roundup of a few of those essential items that helped make the trip a success:
Thule Versant 70L
If you’re forced into a name association game, you’ll likely say “racks,” not “packs,” when the name Thule comes up. We’d like to change that knee jerk reaction for good. There outside of Torrey, Utah, we put the Thule Versant through the rigors, and no one in our group was less than impressed. The Versant is Thule’s new feature-rich backpacking pack, available in 50, 60, and 70 liters. Its uniquely customizable hipbelt and interchangeable pockets make this one of the best contemporary multi-day packs on the market. The removable lid converts to a handy sling pack for day hikes and travelling. This monster is fully loaded with a front-shove pocket, integrated rain cover, water bottle side pockets, ice-axe loops, large U-zip front panel, and breathable back and shoulder straps – all without tipping the scales in price or weight.
Gerber Multi-Plier 600
This Gerber multi-tool is not the only knife we’d have on a trip like this, but it is certainly one we’d always include. From opening food packaging quickly, cutting cord for guy lines, to splicing and cutting cords and ropes, everyone on the trip was glad to have the MP600 in his or her pack. A of the standout feature is one-handed opening pliers. Check out the Active Junky multi-tool buyer’s guide for a more detailed review of this and other multi-tools we love.
Black Diamond Crag Gloves
Some kind of belay/rappel glove is essential for negotiating the long drops of Cassidy Arch Canyon, and testers were overjoyed with the performance of Black Diamond full fingered Crag Gloves. All BD gloves that we’ve used are of the highest quality, great for everything from skiing to chopping wood or motorcycling, to name just a few of our favorite activities. The Crag Gloves are nicely padded, breathable and lightweight, easily clippable to your harness or pack. They pull on easily and stretch for a perfect fit without compromising dexterity.
Stio Divide Tech Tee LS
For staying comfortably dry and as stink free as possible, we recommend the Men’s Divide Tech Tee from Stio. Of course you’ve got a lot of tech-tee options out there, but this is truly one of the most comfortable, best fitting, and effective available. The softness comes from the heathered “drirelease” poly-cotton blend combined with high-end flatlock stitching. FreshGuard is the anti-stank technology employed by Stio, and the stuff really works for almost all body chemistries. Long sleeves with UPF 15 protect from abrasions and desert sun. Stio says the shirt dries four times faster than cotton, and our extensive testing corroborates that stat. And because you won’t stink after climbing, this tee will take you all the way into town for post-canyon beverages.
Big Agnes Red Canyon 4 mtnGLO with Goal Zero Tent
Big Agnes is one of the best tent makers on the market, and the integrated LED lights of the new mtnGLO series, powered with Goal Zero sustainable solar power, takes the BA Red Canyon tent to the next level. A four-person tent you can stand up in with integrated soft lighting makes the perfect place to hide out from rain, wind and dust storms and get some work done on the laptop between climbs. Multiple Nomad 7 solar panels integrated on the rain fly keep you charged up, and 18 square feet of vestibule space provides plenty of room for boots and gear – not to mention the 60 square feet of floor space. All totaling about 14 pounds. Basically, this is one of the best base-camp tents we’ve ever used.
Yeti Tundra 65
When you’re camping in the desert for five days, you definitely want to splurge on a Yeti cooler. Having experienced how bombproof these products are, and how much better they keep ice and cold beverages, the sticker shock quickly wears off. The Tundra 65 features three-inch-thick walls of PermaFrost Insulation and the trademark ColdLock Gasket, with innovative rubber latches that won’t come undone. Use block ice on desert and river trips and your food and drinks will stay cold even longer.
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