A Perfect Hideout
What constitutes the perfect hideout? Though remoteness of location is an obvious factor, it seems the best hideouts are largely defined by technicality of terrain. After a couple hours on a rough dirt road, we arrived at the brim of an extensive network of canyons – sprawling for miles across the barren desert in Central Utah.
We found ourselves deep in the red-rock playground lying within Robber’s Roost. We would be tracing the footsteps of the notorious outlaw, Butch Cassidy and his “Wild Bunch Gang”. However, instead of seeking refuge from the law, we were seeking an opportunity to adventure through one of the most beautiful canyons in the region.
Upon arriving, we began to scout out our starting point for the next day’s canyoneering excursion and set up camp nearby. Because we were within BLM land boundaries, no reservations were needed for camping and we were able to snag a perfect spot just a stone’s throw away from the trailhead.
The High Spur canyon drains east to south into the Green River, and offers adventurers like us the chance to experience some of the most photogenic slot canyons in the area. The route we would be taking involved some nontechnical sections, followed by a couple of rappels into the canyon’s basin. In addition to the essentials – rope, harness and related canyoneering gear – a selection of products enhanced the quality of our trip. A couple MVPs in the gear roster included Chum’s Downriver Rolltop Backpack and Adjustable Retainers. While there was no water flowing in the canyon during our trip in early May, the stormproof backpack and retainers proved invaluable in protecting and securing our gear as we maneuvered through the narrow sandstone walls.
After a warm night spent underneath the desert sky we hit the trail early. A short path branching out from Deadman’s Trail road led us to a quick scramble down into the canyon. The first couple miles, though nontechnical, proved an absolute blast. Every corner offered a new opportunity to revel in the novel beauty of the territory. As we descended deeper into the canyon, the sandstone walls became steeper and created a narrow passageway lit by slots of light sourced from openings between the rock a couple hundred feet above. This portion of the canyon is commonly compared to the carved walls in Arizona’s iconic Antelope Canyon. As we weaved through the canyon we found ourselves immersed in our environment, filled with awe and wonder as the rising sun cast beams of light down towards the canyon floor.
A couple miles into the journey, the slot canyons began to widen and we neared the technical portion of the route. After gearing up, we rappelled down the first section. At the bottom, we took a short 20 minute walk to get to our final rappel. The excitement built as we approached the cavernous opening of what would be a fun 85 ft rappel with a memorable overhanging section. This was truly a gem of a hideout. The opportunity to safely navigate this stunning terrain was a valuable reminder of our privileges. We are privileged to have the knowledge of rope skills, the necessary gear, and the time to explore remote hideouts in the wilderness.
With the heat of the day upon us, we made the trek up and out of the canyon and returned to our car. We wrapped up our desert adventure for the day with a long, rocky road back to civilization.
