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Trip Reports

October 16, 2020
August 18, 2019

Overview

Hype:

Zero G Canyon, also sometimes called Zero Gravity Canyon is a short canyon about halfway between Goblin Valley State Park and Green River City. Because Zero G can be completed in a couple of hours, because it's fairly easy, and because it is on the way home from a lot of other popular canyoneering destinations, Zero G Canyon is extremely popular. Some canyoneers have done Zero G dozens of times over the years. Zero G has a narrow section right at the end of the canyon that has been the source of more than one search and rescue call. Larger canyoneers should stem over the chock stone to a bolted anchor that allows them to bypass the extremely narrow section.

Canyon Rating: 3B

Time: 2-3 hours

Length: 2.9 miles round trip

Longest Rappel: 0-2 to 50 ft

Gear: Standard canyoneering gear.

Fees: None

Recommended Ages:

	0-3
	4-11
	12-19
	20-49
	50-69
	70+

Recommended Months to Visit:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Features:

Rappels
Downclimbs
Swimming
Wading
Stemming
Pothole Escapes - Partner Assist
Fixed Anchors
Tight Squeezes
Wetsuit Generally Not Required
No Drinking Water
Slot Canyon
Wayfinding
No Restrooms
Road Access is Dirt - Low Clearance
Access Road is 4WD
Arches

Links: https://www.roadtripryan.com/go/t/utah/san-rafael-swell/zerog

Getting There

Navigate to 38.775327, -110.483451.

Route

Approach

From the parking area, follow the well-traveled social trail southwest for about 1.25 miles. Switchback down from the rim to the mouth of the Zero G Canyon.

Canyon

The canyon starts out with a short downclimb followed by a short, low stemming section. There are multiple small pools coming up, so you might as well just embrace the wet from the start.

This series repeats itself several times until you reach an impressive pothole. The pothole can be climbed out directly, but many will appreciate a partner assist.

At the end of the canyon, there is a long crack that slopes quickly down to the water. Smaller canyoneers will be able to slide down the crack under the chockstone. Be careful though because this tight spot has trapped canyoneers overnight while search and rescue was called. If you're at all worried about fitting through, take the wider option by stemming over to the top of the chockstone where you can hook up and rappel down over the far side of the chockstone. It bombays near the bottom, so use the rappel rope unless you have a super strong parter to catch you. Walk down the crack to the pond below.

Exit

Follow the wash down about 0.7 miles to the parking area.

Maps

Closest City or Region: San Rafael Swell, Utah

Coordinates: 38.770497, -110.504271

Interactive Guide Map

Download Guide Map

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October 16, 2020 Trip Report

By Jeremy Dye

Trip Members

Jeremy Dye, Tara Dye, Savannah Dye, Madilyn Dye, Cooper Dye, Melissa Kirkham, Shaun Kirkham, Jacob Kirkham, Kylie Kirkham, Kate Kirkham, Leah Kirkham, ,

Logistics

Start: 10:00

End: 5:15

Story

Missy got up early and drove from Lehi to meet us at the trailhead at about 9:30. We piled all the people and gear into the truck and drove to the 4x4 trailhead. We started hiking around 10:00. We packed light because Zero G is a short canyon and when I had done it before, it had only taken 3 hours. We debated on whether or not to pack lunches but decided not to because we didn't want everyone to have to carry packs because it would slow people down.

The approach took just under an hour. The kids and I arrived at the top of the canyon quite a bit faster than those at the back, so we explored around a bit while we were waiting. We discovered a really cool arch just up canyon from where the trail enters the canyon. When everyone else caught up, we showed them the arch and Tara discovered a second arch a little bit further up canyon. We took some pictures and played around for a few minutes. Total time was 1 hour 10 minutes to the top of the Zero G.

Zero G ended up being quite dryer than usual but still very full of water. We didn't want to get the kids wet, so the adults shuttle the kids across the water. The stemming sections went very slowly as this was the Kirkhams' first time canyoneering.

At one point in the canyon, we pulled out the rope and let the Kirkhams practice rappelling in a safe environment before they would need to rappel at the end of the canyon.

We made it to the pothole by 1:40 (3 hours 40 minutes). Tara boosted out and helped the kids, then I helped Missy and Shaun up. Shaun was not in a good head space. He was freaking out because everything was new to him and because that's the way he is. He kept talking about retreating up canyon and trying to find another way out rather than keep going forward.

We kept going. It took a lot longer than normal because 1) We were shuttling kids across water to keep them dry, and 2) because Missy and Shaun were struggling physically.

In the last sequence, there is a skinny section with some chockstone. The canyon gets very narrow at ground level, so adults have to stem from one chockstone to the next to the next. Tara went first and the kids followed. Tara made it to the last chockstone and was working on rigging the rope for the last rappel. The kids were able to continue at ground level except that Cooper was first and as he was sliding down, his helmet got stuck between the two walls and he was stuck hangingn by his chin strap. He started screaming, so I had to go rescue him. I stemmed over all the kids then slid down the last drop, going through the skinny space under the chockstone. I was able to reach Cooper from below and helped get him unstuck. Then I helped all the rest of the kids down the squeeze and into the V that is below the chockstone but before the final slide to the pool (or optional rappel to keep from getting wet).

Once all the kids were down to the V, I had to reverse the canyon to go help Missy and Shaun through the stemming section. I upclimbed the skinny crack, using a handline from Tara. Then I stemmed up canyon a couple hundred feet to where Missy and Shaun were stuck at the top of a dryfall waiting for help.

At about this time, a group of 2 caught up to us. They passed Missy and Shaun and stemmed over to the chockstones. The guy used our rope that was already rigged to rappel down past the chockstone, but the girl got stuck at the last stemming section and couldn't do it on her own. I stemmed over her and lowered a rope that she used as a swing to get across to the chockstone and rappel down.

Our kids were pretty bored waiting below the chockstone, so after the girl rappelled down to the bottom of the canyon, they helped our kids down the last rappel. Meanwhile, I had to help Missy and Shaun across the last stemming sections. I helped Shaun across first. He hadn't ever stemmed before and didn't really have the style figured out or the strength to work his way up to a width that was easier to stem. I lowered a rope and we stemmed across together, him below and me above. Tara then helped him rappel down the chockstone while I went back for Missy.

By this point, Missy was really struggling. It was about 3:30 and we hadn't eaten lunch. Furthermore, Missy had only had a protien shake for breakfast and that was at 5:00 in the morning. She was very depleted energy-wise, and this was a lot more strenuous that she was used to. Missy and I did the last stemming section together. I lowered a 2-to-1 rope and planted myself between the walls above and then hoisted her up out of the crack. Then I stemmed down the canyon with her hanging from me. It was not elegant, but it worked, barely. She scraped and dragged a bunch between the walls, but we made it over to Tara at the top of the chockstone. Tara helped her get rigged up while I chimneyed down under the chockstone.

By this time, the girl and all the kids were at the bottom of the canyon. The guy (Shawn), Shaun, and I were below the chockstone, Missy was rappelling down, and Tara was on the chockstone waiting for her turn.

Missy got stuck.

She tried to wiggle and squirm down, but she was good and stuck. Tara stemmed out over the top of Missy and tried to pull Missy sideways where it was wider. She tried to act as a rebelay but wasn't strong enough. Shawn, Shaun, and I tried to help from the bottom. We could kind of reach Missy's feet, but only when we were stemming and our footholds were really bad. We worked at it for a long time, trying different angles and directions, building human pyramids, etc. Eventually Shawn was able to get high enough he could pull Missy's leg sideway enough that she fit through. What a relief. Tara then rappelled down. Shawn offered to rappel the last drop with Missy and they went together. Missy completely collapsed and couldn't even keep her feet under her. She ended up rappelling upside-down and sliding down the wall because she didn't have the strength for anything else.

Once at the bottom of the canyon, we rested for a while to let Missy regain her strength. We gave her all the remaining snacks and just gave her time to recover. We then hiked down the wash and back to the truck, arriving at 5:15.

A few days later, Shaun sent Tara and me the following text at 3:00 in the morning.

Is this the slot Canyon that Shawn said probably would have been the safer option?

This should be an email but who cares. I need to prove a point...

Little Wild Horse Slot Canyon looks great, beautiful scenery, "FAMILY FRIENDLY" and not so scary for the inexperienced and those unfit. What was wrong with taking us on this one?
It probably would have been the better--more appropriate choice--especially for one who is trying to win one or many over to canyoneering.
I'm just saying... ????????????

Melissa and I were pretty shaken up and are still trying to get over the harrowing and life threatening experience we all went through. I'm really struggling and trying to wrap my head around what could have possibly been going through your mind? ????????????

Please don't take this the wrong way but please don't invite or take any of my family on a technical excursion like this again without proper pre-planning, taking full inventory of correct gear and at least previewing it with us in a video or two like the one I just attached. It really would have been so simple to share a few videos with us first but I don't think you were really thinking about us when you chose to take us up there did you?

Not cool or smart to take anyone that is inexperienced, overweight and out of shape--especially the idea of full families all with little ones. Jacob and Kylie were probably okay but when I hear Kylie being anxious, scared, claustrophobic and stressed and then similar words and and remarks coming from Tara being worried about Cooper and the fact you had to go back and forth several times yourself to help get the little ones down and then back to us at the end was super unnerving.

My guess is if Shawn and Jen hadn't come along when they did it would have really been ugly and who knows what could've happened to one or any of us while trying to get everyone down safely.

Quite frankly, I don't think we would have made it out without search and rescue for one or more of us. It is a good thing Melissa and I prayed when we did. Our God is a great God and he knew what we needed and sent angels to our aid.

I don't know anything about canyoneering but I do know you must respect the elements and your terrain. Things can get ugly quickly the minute you don't respect your surroundings--experienced or not.

Overall, the kids had fun and it is an experience they nor us will ever forget for different reasons. Hopefully we all learned lessons from this experience and not just to chalk another one up for Jeremy. Now, please don't take this the wrong way but--PLEASE DO NOT EVER TAKE US (any of my family) on something like that again--at least not unless my kids or us have proper training and a few more beginner trips under our belt first (and I'm not talking the mid to high 3's on a scale of 1-4) and definitely not without me knowing what we or my kids are getting into up front. There should have been more discussion and critical thinking and preplanning for something like this.

Frankly, It was VERY irresponsible and inconceivable that you would even consider it, let alone take us up there.

I am REALLY upset with you and Tara for your poor judgement and putting your need for excitement and a challenge above the safety of all others.

To make comments like "a professional guide would charge $500 a head to take you on the same slot Canyon" is a joke. I'm sure they would but probably not advise or do it unless those participating were experienced, fit and had proper gear and better preplanning and training ahead of time--oh and don't forget the waiver.

I hope you weren't just thinking about yourself and not wanting to do a boring hike instead just because you might run into more people experiencing the same thing as you. I understand why adrenaline junkies have to do things that push themselves to their limits and this is how they get their adrenaline high--but even most adrenaline junkies would have better judgement not to take inexperienced souls with them without all the proper precautions and considerations first.

I believe anyone can experience plenty of Gods creations and still have a good time on a trail more traveled and still get a natural high without putting so many other lives in danger, all while risking your own, including your children and others children.

Shame on you for your absolute poor judgment and complete lack of common sense. There it is. I said it and that is how I feel.

If you want to talk about this and how I feel and what pure hell and stress you put Melissa and I through that we are still trying to get over and wrap our head around without a therapist--I am all ears. Give me a call and let's talk. I am dying to know what was going through your mind that lead you to do what you did.

Just don't ever do something like this again with any of my family. Okay. Especially without consulting with Melissa and I first and being straight up honest about what you r planning on leading us or my children into. Is that fair?

To which I responded:

Shaun, thanks for sharing your feelings, and I'm very sorry that this was such a harrowing experience for you and your family. You are right that I overestimated the capabilities of our group, and I am sorry for having put you in a situation that was so uncomfortable and scary for you. Little Wildhorse Canyon is an awesome slot canyon near Goblin Valley and does not require any rappels or gear. It's basically the only really easy canyon in the area and we really wanted to take you through that canyon. Unfortunately Little Wildhorse gets really crowded (think Black Friday crowds), especially on fall break weekend. I didn't think it would be fun for anyone to be standing in the canyon for hours not moving. Tara and I sat down at the computer and tried to plan out an itinerary that would be fun for everyone, but especially for your family. We looked at a dozen hiking trails and canyons in the area and tried to pick the best ones for the group. We also considered Ding and Dang, Baptist Draw, Southern Baptist Canyon, Crack Canyon, Wild Horse Window, Lower Eardley, and many others. If it had just been our family, we probably would have done Baptist Draw and Lower Eardley, but we were worried about Melissa's ankles and we didn't want to take the group through some of the longer canyons that are 5-8 hours long and that Tara and I had never done before. We selected Zero G because it was short (2-3 hours) and the guide book says "Zero G is a good beginner canyon with competent leadership". I freely admit that I made several bad judgments, especially not packing lunch, which led to you and Missy being depleted and not able to tackle the last and hardest obstacle. I too am very grateful that the other Shawn was there to help get Missy through the last section as that was scary for everyone involved. I hope you can forgive my shortcomings. Please know that I only wanted you and your family to have a great time, and I'm sorry it didn't turn out that way for you.