Trip Report: Rock Climbing in St George
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Rock Climbing in St George By Stephanie Stamm |
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| CLIMBING | 04/10/2025 | MOD |
| Twelve adventure-seeking climbers and two fur friends set out for St George on a sunny weekend in April. Most arrived at the group campsite the night of Thursday April 11th to the sounds of coyotes yipping in the distance. Baker Dam Campground had walk-in tent sites situated amongst pinyon, juniper and pine trees, as well as two picnic tables surrounding a fire ring. On Friday the 11th, the team headed to Snow Canyon state park, home to beautiful and unique Navajo Sandstone and petrified sand dunes. Two teams tackled the classic Just Desserts in Snow Canyon, a 3 pitch 5.7 mixed trad/sport climb, while another team of 3 took on Pygmy Alien, a highly rated 2 pitch mixed route. The teams on Just Desserts became trapped at a hanging anchor station 30 feet above the ground when the knot on the double rope rappel became stuck at the anchors above, and one of the climbers needed to ascend the rope to free it. Similarly, the team on Pygmy Alien grappled with a spicy descent on 4th class terrain, for which the team roped up. Funny enough, everyone got down at the same time and promptly set out for food and beer. On Saturday the 12th, the group again played in Snow Canyon on multi-pitch mixed trad/sport routes, which offered incredible, sweeping views of the canyon and into Dammeron Valley below. The long, scrambling approach to the Sand Dunes area didn't appear to be surmountable at first glance, but the intrepid climbers pushed onward, at one point lifting the dogs over a 6 foot drop while using a fixed handline to hoist themselves over. After gaining the ledge where the climbs began, two teams ascended the popular Leopard Skin, a 5.7 mixed climb that had an incredible range of features, including crack climbing, a very exposed traverse, and juggy low angle climbing on black desert varnish. Others played on Just Desserts, Thousand Pints of Lite and Will's Rush, in one case again getting the knot for a double rope rappel stuck, but this time freed by another climber in the group by clambering up an adjacent climb. After another very full day of climbing, the group set out for an early dessert at Veyo Pies, sharing the delicious treats among the group at the campsite (including one dog who appeared to enjoy the top crust very much). Over beers and dutch oven nachos at the campsite, everyone geeked out on advanced climbing knots and rescue scenarios, which were fresh on everyone's mind given the stuck ropes. Finally, on Sunday the 13th, the group headed to the north side of Prophesy Wall for some fun single pitch in the shade, when four additional WMC friends joined after a trail race - Frank, Kerry, Chris and Reed. The group took laps on the white sandstone, as a hawk flew between its nest on a nearby rock outcropping and overhead to watch us play. Before returning back to Salt Lake, most stopped at Veyo Pies again to fuel up for the long drive back. Human adventurers: Bryan Mason, Colleen Chemerka, David Baumann, Laura Kennedy, Nathan Chaffee, Paul Gettings, Sharon Vinick, Steph Stamm, Tali Brenner, Taylor Smart, Tony Calderone, Tsokyi Choera Fur friends: Utley & Mazie |
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