Rappelling Negro Bill Canyon, Utah

On Thanksgiving day Josh, Raya, Fred and I set off for a mini canyoneering trip in Negro Bill Canyon (the name of this canyon was much worse before they attempted to make it politically correct...).  

Canyoneering is extreme hiking. It is a one way hike that includes rappelling into slot canyons, allowing you to see land that is otherwise not accessible without a rope and harness. It is an incredible sport. 

Everyone is preparing for the first rappel, 95 feet (a warm up).

This first rappel has a two parts. You can see Raya next to the small pool of water, but that is not the bottom. The trick here is to avoid the water and keep your feet dry. I am not sure how Raya did it without a belayer. When I did it she was belaying me so I just had her pull me over the water.

I am about to go into the canyon. The key is to not think about what would happen if the equipment were to fail. You know, and what your body would look like, and what people would do if this were to happen, and if you would still be alive after...

Once again, just don't think about the equipment.

Josh has been doing this since high school so he is very comfortable. 

Fred and I coming out of the canyon to continue the beautiful hike.

We were going to do a tandem rappel off of this arch but our rope was too short so we ended up rappelling next to it. It was an amazing 120 foot rappel regardless.  We just had to do it one at a time.

Raya.

This is Raya once again, almost at the bottom.

Fred.

Me.

Josh.

We made it! I wish I started every Thanksgiving this way, although it does make preparing for dinner difficult.

 Luckily Marla and Ruby were at home making desserts. 

Since the hike is only one way you need to arrange a shuttle at the bottom. While we were canyoneering Dan and Elle were riding quads and picked us up three hours after the hike started. 

To summarize- SPECTACULAR!