Canyoneering - Pine Creek in Zion

I had my first experience canyoneering in Zion yesterday and it was amazing. It was SO scary since I have a slight fear of heights but seriously an incredible experience. The wildlife was amazing out there- we saw these incredible owls so close at one of the rappels, we saw mountain sheep, we saw the tiniest little frogs, big frogs, butterflies, lizards, tadpoles, a deer and the list goes on. The slot canyon itself was GORGEOUS. Really breathtaking. 

Most of the rappels weren't too long but a bit trickier than just rappelling straight down a wall which is all I have done (heck, i only have been rappelling once before this). The last big rappel was basically just lowering yourself down into a huge chasm 100 feet down. It was terrifying and spectacular all at the same time. There was also this one called Cathedral where the acoustics are beautiful where we had to rappel but stay on the left side and go through this hole, it was super hard to stay to the left and not fall to the right. Amazingly enough Dan had gotten through the hole the first time and was pulling us through but it was still pretty tricky. Before each rappel I would have a minor panic attack and once I was on the rope I would be fine. I had more anxiety for others falling off that weren't tethered in. There were about 8 rappels and then we had to hike out. The hiking out was more intense than the rappelling. It was extreme. We would be hiking one way and it would lead us to a big drop off so we had to back track enough to find another way over a boulder that wasn't quite as big. We were crossing logs over big drops, going over and under huge boulders, hiking through water- which was super cold by the way. A few of the rappels you had no choice but to drop into the pool and unhook there. It seriously was unreal. 

A thunder storm rolled in when we got out of the slot canyon and while we were doing the hiking out which made the weather perfect although a little nerve wracking for flash floods. I don't think you can really put into words the cool experience it was. I hope to do it again sometime when I have forgotten how scary it was. And oh my heck I am so sore today. Especially my shoulders and legs. Seriously up there with some of the coolest things I've done!