Escalante, Utah: Choprock and Neon Canyons, Golden Cathedral (May 1999)
This 5-day trip was over very complicated terrain, including many canyons that involved difficult rock climbing. The highlight was the rappel into the Golden Cathedral, and the exploration of the cold depths of Ringtail Canyon. Personnel: Byron Lemay, Katie Larson, Janet Jacks, Tom Whitesides, Stan Wagon.
The terrain between Choprock and Neon Canyons offered lots of opportunities for full-body stems. Tom Whitesides stemming. To get to the rappel in the Golden Cathedral in Neon Canyon, one must descend through some pools. This is Stan, a non-swimmer. (Photo: Byron Lemay.) The Golden Cathedral is an amazing feature in Neon Canyon, not far from the Escalante River. One can rappel through the giant holes. We came down Neon Canyon to the lowest hole, which offers an 80-foot rappel into either sand or a pool of water.
