Blarney Canyon Hike

Above is my AllTrails App screen capture for my hike into Blarney Canyon

The Blarney Canyon is adjacent to the Leprechaun Canyon, I previously reviewed.  It is south of Hanksville, UT with parking just off UT95, so any vehicle can get to this and Leprechaun Canyon.

You are probably thinking that most of my hikes in this area look the same.  Tis true, but each hike is that different.

The slot canyons also get narrow as you have seen.  Yes, Blarney Canyon turns out to be a slot canyon.

Above is Susan, not posing for a picture, is maneuvering through the tight section of the slot.

And in front of you is 6-7 ft high on the right and 5-6 ft on the left.  Susan showed me up and transgressing the left side.  I was still favoring my right shoulder from my fall and dislocation and didn’t want yo slip.

Susan went ahead out of sight to check what was ahead and she came back and I was half way up the right side with toes and fingers holding on.  

Susan held my hiking pole for me to grab and I got enough leverage to pull myself up with my left arm. (Good arm)

Note: we take work gloves on these hikes for better gripping and in case we slide.

I leaped frog Susan and found a way out of this crack to get her picture ahead of her.

This was not an easy rise out of the slot as it looks in the picture.  I actually had my backpack off in the slot as it was too narrow to have on.  At the end where the crack surfaces, it’s a 7’ rise with tough footholds.  I decided to lay my backpack in the crack below and tie a rope on it and step on my bag to get up where Susan is coming out of.  Susan also used the pack the same way.  I lifted the bag with para cord I had tied on to use on rest of hike.

We went right and left after coming out of the crack and met a couple coming down the trail / slot.  We followed where they came from and found this rackfall in the slot.  We turned around as we found out that they had climbing ropes and equipment to get through this.  I did not bring my minimal canyoneering equipment to want to try it.

Therefore, our hike back was secured to be the way we came.  This is not a bad thing since you can choose to turn around where you wish if you don’t think you can get back if you go further.  Safety First!

If you come from the top down and slid down some rock surfaces and had to turn around, you may have a problem getting back if you can’t climb where you slid.  Note that hiking alone in a slot canyon requires extra care not to put yourself at risk.

Before hiking partners I used to hike solo many places on long hikes.  Things can happen and having a partner is a wonderful thing.

I had to lower my backpack into the crack of the slot to step on it going back through the crack.

Happy hiking.

Brent

Leprechaun Canyon Hike

After Joanne, Susan and I toured The Little aegypt area we headed over for a hike of Leprechaun Canyon.

It’s what we didn’t know, that caught us by surprise.

We were guessing as we started the hike if the small protruding rock formations were what gave the canyon it’s name of Leprechaun Canyon.

They were on both sides for our hike further into the canyon.

Our first surprise was that the canyon became a skot canyon.

There is a bit of an elevation change where the water carved the slot.

But then was the big surprise.  We were in a deep slot. Very deep.  Long and narrow.

Here is a look up to the top of the slot.  It was windy and sand was being blown through the slot crack down on us.



Above Susan wondered under these large rocks wedges in the slot, but leaving enough room tobstill walk under it.

Above is a tunnel trope section.  Susan and i are on the slot floor and the crack of midday sun is shining through the crack way up above shining a line on the ground.

This is the thinnest deepest slot I’ve been in.  This was during social isolation because of the Coronavirus and others were also out hiking this trail.  At spots that were wide enough I would put myself in a corner.  We were lucky that we didn’t run into anyone in the tunnel.  I had made my mask to wear but wasn’t yet diligent about having it on in advance.  Shortly after this wearing a mask became a must.

Slot canyons are fun but as you will see in another slot hike some basic equipment is helpful.

Brent

macaloney@hotmail.com