Riding a slot canyon in Utah

[FatDinah]

Beverly, my daughter works as a canyoneering guide over by Zion. We visit her at least once a year. I’ll have to get your number and maybe we can meet up!

We do a lot of hiking and rappelling with her and like you said, keeping an eye on the forecast is the best precaution. I doubt you’d get much cell phone in those slots.

Does this canyon have a name?

She assures me that the cougars/mountain lions in your area do not see humans as prey like those in California, for example. Maybe because there are still plenty of deer for them around.

She led a trip one day over in Coalpits Wash near Rockville and they saw cat tracks, then when they came back, there were fresh cat tracks and scat on top of their footprints so a mountain lion must have been watching and come down to sniff their traces.

We hope to move out there in a few years so I’ll get to see what my buddy thinks of canyon/desert riding. He grew up in Kansas so he likes wide open spaces.

If you ever want to try out canyoneering, contact Zion Mountain School, http://www.zionmountainschool.com/, it is a guide company a friend of her has just started.

[Beverley]

Wylde Sage, there are rattlers to be sure, but I’m generally a fan of snakes so perhaps not as bothered by the issue! In fact, can’t tell you how many times I have seen fellow riders step right over a snake- I say nothing in such circumstances until we are well past, why alarm folks unnecessarily? If the rattler is actually rattling, well, the horse is going to let the rider know! It’s a bigger issue for dogs along on rides, actually- for foxhunting for example, I know of huntsmen who carry the appropriate injectables in the event of snakebite to hound.

That said, I certainly do avoid areas, a couple of trails in particular, where I know they are likely to be out sunning themselves at certain times of day.

FatDinah, we certainly should hook up, I’m all for going to that neighborhood whenever I can. Yes, I see cougar tracks in my yard now and then as well- more than human attacks one sees hungry (often too old to successfully hunt) cougars going after, say, the labrador retriever in the back yard. Have to say that the other day, we saw no cougar tracks, fresh or old- I did see one set of old bobcat tracks. And we were looking- our guide for the day is a cougar hunter as well (though apparently not what you would call really, really serious since his hounds double as house dogs/couch potatoes).

I don’t know whether that particular canyon has a name, I was told that the trailhead is generally referred to by locals as ‘the Barracks.’ It’s just south of Mt. Carmel Junction.

[Painted_Horse]

We see cougar tracks all the time as we ride, I’ve found many a remains of deer that the cats have been feeding on. But it is really rare to actually see a cougar.

We tree’d this cougar with some dogs duing the winter
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/Painted-Horse/Cougar.jpg
I wear a XXL glove to give you an idea of how big my hands are, Compare the cougar track to my hand
http://i130.photobucket.com/albums/p259/Painted-Horse/Cat-tracks.jpg

Last fall while Elk hunting I saw a tawny color slipping along the edge of the meadow. Looking through the Binos I realized it was a cougar that was slinking along the edge of the meadow. He as on the opposite side of the meadow but circling around that would bring him up behind us. I continued to look for elk, but kept and eye behind me . About 30 minutes later he came sneeking up behind us. Sat down about 15 yard away and was really trying to figure us out. We were in camo clothing and sitting really still. I assume he could smell us and knew we were there, But just couldn’t place us. Finally the fellow with me couldn’t stand being stared at any long and jumped up and ran at the cougar screaming. The cougar disappeard promptly. We spotted him 10-15 minutes later continuing his slink around the perimeter of the meadow.

As far as rattlesnakes, see 3-4 each summer. Usually stretched out on the trail sunning themselves. Give them a minute and they slither off into the brush.

[JollyBadger]

Count me as a jealous one!

We don’t have anything like that kind of riding here in southwestern Ohio.

Beautiful!

[wylde_sage]

Beverly, glad you are a fan of snakes! I generally feel my legs turn to jelly after an encounter. I’m not sure what to make of cats tracking a rider. Closest thing we have to your beautiful canyon around here is Garden of the Gods…I will someday make it out your way:)

[katarine]

Now I know what Utah uses for guardrails on your tough trails

[Beverley]

@katarine;5520703

Now I know what Utah uses for guardrails on your tough trails

Yeah but we aren’t padding them, BYO kneepads.

[CosMonster]

[QUOTE=wylde sage;5519981]
I’m not sure what to make of cats tracking a rider.[/QUOTE]

Most of the time it’s just curiosity, they want to know who you are and why you’re in their territory. :lol: Cats who haven’t been acclimated to people and who have plenty of prey available aren’t a very big threat to people, especially people on horseback because we look very large and are pretty noisy (with all that squeaky tack ;)). I’ve actually heard that mountain bikers are at the biggest risk because their speed and silence is similar to deer, but I don’t know if that’s true.

Great video, Beverly. I do lots of canyon riding here in NM and it’s one of my favorite things to do.