Jeff & Angela Monson Family: Birch Hollow Canyon

We left the family reunion and ventured to southern Utah to explore Birch Hollow Canyon. The kids stayed with Grandma at a friend's (Milka's) house in Kanab, and we spent most of the day exploring the canyon.

The before picture: Mark, Stuart, Me, and Jeff.

After hiking for 35 minutes at a brisk pace, we made it to the first repel. It's a 100 ft drop with lots of loose fragile rock. Above, Mark is checking out the drop and Stuart is geared up and headed down.

Jeff beginning his descent.

Jeff-- the first repel

Mark on the first repel.

Angela-- Second repel, (85 ft)

Stuart 2nd repel.

We reached the beginning of the narrows.

Jeff in the narrows after the 2nd repel; Mark checking out the next drop. It's a small 10 ft drop that doesn't require equipment....

Just a pair of long legs, a few down-climbing skills, and a helpful husband.

A short hand-line drop.

Me on the third repel (25 ft).

Stuart repelling with me watching from below.

Stuart peeking over the edge....it's a 110 ft drop down a "nicely fluted wall". The problem? We have to make sure that both ends of the rope touch bottom, but we're having trouble seeing.

Nevermind. Jeff took care of that problem. Nobody else wanted to hang half their body over the edge of a 110 foot drop! My fearless husband.

Jeff coming down over the top. Stuart half way there.

Me repelling the 110 ft fluted wall.

Mark repelling the same.

Those long repels REALLY heat up your gloves.

Jeff is trying out his dad's "rack". It is a repeling device usually used in caving.

Mark headed down the 5th repel (35 ft). Jeff is below him. Jeff on the 6th repel

Mark almost drops his "figure eight" while setting up for the 7th repel.

The rope is set up for the 8th repel (80 ft). This one was really neat. As you come down into the canyon you can see the next repel, which drops another 60 ft. The rock had a beautiful painted look and some neat formations.

Me on the 8th repel (80 ft).

This is the view from the top of the 9th, and last repel (60 ft). The picture on the left is what is above you, and the picture on the right is what is blow you. Pretty neat.