Trip Report: High Spur/Tidwell Canyoneering
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High Spur/Tidwell Canyoneering By Melissa Hughes |
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| CANYONEER | 05/01/2026 | 3A I |
| Wasatch Mountain Club Trip Report: Robbers Roost Canyoneering (May 1-3) Trip Report by Melissa Hughes From May 1-3, fifteen members of the Wasatch Mountain Club journeyed into the Robbers Roost / High Spur area in search of adventure, scenic beauty, and opportunities to make mildly questionable decisions in narrow places. All objectives were achieved. Those in attendance were Leo Rinquest, Jocelyn Mullen, Steve & Sarah Eyberg, Terrie Gould, Jennifer Dearinger, Tonya Karren, Scott Feldman, Lani McKinnon, Amanda Lillie, Kathryn Kair, Cameron Treat, Stephanie Furrer, and Melissa Hughes. We set up camp in the desert, where the views were expansive, the stars were brilliant, and privacy was... largely theatrical. This became especially clear during one unforgettable moment when a passing group executed a perfectly timed drive-by just as one of our members was fully committed to the groover (a bucket, in the open, embracing nature in its purest form). Eye contact may or may not have been made. We will not be discussing it further. Approaches featured long marches through sandy washes, the kind where each step forward is a negotiation with gravity and loose grains. Progress was slow and steady with many new friendships made. At one point, an owl burst dramatically into view in broad daylight, apparently just as surprised to see us as we were to see it. It was either a magical wildlife moment or a judgmental flyby-we're still not sure. The canyons did not disappoint! We squeezed, chimneyed, and stemmed our way through classic Robbers Roost slots-those beautifully sculpted corridors that seem specifically designed to answer the question, "Will this person fit?" (Answer: eventually.) Tidwell Canyon brought peak drama: deep, dark, winding slots and two separate ascents, because apparently once is never enough. These sections required teamwork, problem-solving, and just enough determination to keep things from turning into a group existential crisis. Back at camp, the taco potluck delivered exactly the morale boost we needed. After a full day of sand, slots, and questionable decisions, tortillas and shared food felt like a five-star dining experience. Laughter came easily, stories got better with each retelling, and the group settled into that familiar rhythm of shared adventure. The trip had a little of everything: warm, fuzzy camaraderie, cold and prickly desert reminders, and many moments where teamwork made all the difference. In the end, the group left Robbers Roost stronger, sandier, and significantly more bonded through shared effort, laughter and with at least one moment that will absolutely be brought up at future club events. |
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