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Canyoneering Route Description

Fat Man's Misery - 3B III
Zion National Park, Utah.

Pictures 04-21-07
Pictures 07-19-09
Pictures 06-06-10

Quick Facts

04-21-07, 8 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 11.7 hours)
07-19-09, 4 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 10.75 hours)
06-06-10, 4 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 13.2 hours) - Navigation experiment gone wrong.

Distance - 6.5 miles Total, 1.6 miles Technical
Rappels - 4 Rappels, Longest Rappel 50 feet.

See the Canyoneer Trip Report Explanation Notes page for an explanation of how the technical mileage or the gear used list is determined.

Gear Used for Canyon

Rappelling and anchor gear, 120 foot rope and 30 feet of 1” webbing for sling placement.  A wet suit is not needed during the hottest part of the summer but it is recommended during cooler months.

General Comments

The approach in to Fat Man’s Misery offers great views around the south eastern edge of the park!  During cooler months I would even suggest hiking the exit route down to the East Fork of the Virgin River just for the views.  The canyon itself is a series of tight windy narrows and open sections.  Near the end of the technical section is a dark chamber that goes under 2 arches with a water filled pool below.  After that the water begins to warm up due to a warm springs seeping out of the rocks.  After exiting the canyon there is a 0.3 mile walk down a beautiful section of the East Fork of the Virgin River with very tall vertical walls.   

The misery on this route (in my opinion) is the hike out.  The hike out is long, mostly uphill, has lots of sand and is very hot even during some of the milder months.  The views are still great but as you exit you start focusing on the views less as you wish it would just cool off.  

Fat Man’s Misery is not too technically challenging and is a very enjoyable scenic route both in and out of canyon.  Navigating back may prove difficult if you are not paying attention to where you are going.  Map navigation and or GPS are highly recommended to keep from getting off track on the way out.  There are trails, paths and cairns all over the area south of Checkerboard Mesa to the Virgin River.  Not all of these paths will take you where you want to go.  Use a map and pay attention.

Highlights in the canyon are a water filled grotto that is dark enough you almost want to pull out a head light and the warm springs flowing into the end of the canyon.

Getting to the Trailhead and Exit Vehicle (Escape Pod) Parking

To get to the Trailhead

From the East Gate of Zion National Park on highway 9 drive southwest (into the park) 0.9 miles to a turnout on the right (north) side of the road.  The turnout is on the west side of the drainage that runs down the west side of Checkerboard Mesa.

To leave the Exit Vehicle / Escape Pod

No exit vehicle is needed.  This is done as an out and back route.

Maps

Map showing entire route.

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Map showing technical section.

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GPS Waypoint Information

Details

The Approach:
From the turn out cross to the south side of the road and follow one of a few use trails leading to the drainage on the west side of Checkerboard Mesa.  Once in the drainage it is easy travel along a soft sandy bottomed wash.  Along with the soft sandy bottom are areas with close side walls and lots of vegetation.  This section is a very pretty start to the route.   

About 0.3 miles from the road you will find the first obstacle.  It is a medium sized boulder wedged between the walls just above the canyon floor.  When you see the boulder back up about 200 feet and look for a path leading up and around it LUC (left up canyon).  A short distance after dropping back to the canyon floor (about 0.5 miles from the road) the canyon appears to fork (wFatManRP-1).  Follow the left side of the fork to continue the route.  

The drainage / canyon starts to get more rock debris along the way and starts to get steeper.  There are a couple of boulder piles along the way that are relatively easy to climb up and over to continue up canyon.   

A little under 1 mile from the car the drainage will begin to get steep.  Follow a use trail up the steep section to get to the saddle at the top (wFatManRP-2).  The saddle is about 1.1 miles from the road.  

Take some time on the saddle to admire the views.  Looking back toward the road give a great view down on the route you have followed thus far.  Looking over the other side of the saddle (to the south) you will see a hint of where you will be going next.  Since you may want a break after climbing up to the saddle it is a good time to look around.  

Drop over the other side of the saddle to the south and start down again.  There are a few use trails on the left leading down along the wash on the other side of the saddle.  About 0.2 miles down from the saddle is a trail leading up out of the wash to the left (southeast).  The point where the trail leaves the wash (wFatManRP-3) feels more like a trail fork.  The wash is flat and sandy as is the trail you need to follow.  You should find a boulder about 3 or 4 foot in diameter sitting right at the fork (sometimes has a cairn on it).  This boulder has features on it that look like someone drizzled cake icing in lines all over it.  

The trail is now very defined and easy to follow as it wraps around the south end of Checkerboard Mesa.  About 0.4 miles after leaving the wash there is a short section of slick rock to cross (wFatManRP-4).  While crossing the slick rock look a bit left to find the continuation of the trail.  There may also be an occasional cairn along the way as well.   

While walking along the trail on the south end of Checkerboard Mesa, take a moment to look around.  There are 2 reasons you should do this.  First, it is a beautiful area.  Second, what you see here you should take note of as it will help guide you back on your return route.  If you are oblivious to what is around you on this route it is possible to get a bit mixed up on the way back.  

A short distance after crossing the slick rock section, the trail will be heading almost due east and you will be able to see the next drainage ahead of you.  If looking on a map, this next drainage runs south down along the east edge of Checkerboard Mesa and along the west edge of peak 6525.  

When the trail reaches the drainage (wFatManRP-5), cross over the other side and start up a trail on the other side still heading east.  As the trail continues it will top out after a short section of slick rock and begin to turn more south east.  About 0.1 miles after crossing the drainage at (wFatManRP-5), the trail will drop into a small drainage (wFatManRP-6) not shown on a map.  Follow down this drainage (south east) about 400 feet and look for a path (wFatManRP-8) up and out on the left (east).  

The trail continues mostly south east.  About 0.2 miles after leaving the drainage not shown on a map (wFatManRP-7), the trail will drop down a section of slick rock and cross another major drainage (wFatManRP-8).  This next drainage is shown on maps and is the drainage that runs south and starts east of peak 6525.  

Cross over this next major drainage and start going up the other side to the south east.  Going up and out of the drainage (wFatManRP-8) will be some sandy trails mixed in with mostly slick rock.  About 600 feet after starting up out of the drainage, you will find yourself on the top of a ridge that runs south.  The top of this ridge is almost all slick rock.  

Continue south down the ridge for about 700 feet.  This wide open feeling slick rock area is where the route forks (jFatMansLoop).  This is where the exit route from Fat Man’s Misery will meet up with the approach.  From here turn left (east) and start over the other side of the ridge.  The other side of the ridge begins as a gentle slope and starts getting steeper and steeper.  There is no particular spot to go down the other side of the ridge.  It is more like a wide open steep slick rock bowl as you descend down into the next drainage.  The large drainage you are descending to is Fat Man’s Misery.  

About 0.4 miles from the top of the ridge you will be in the drainage for Fat Man’s Misery. 

The Canyon / Technical Section:
Once in the drainage (yFatMansTp) you are a few feet outside the eastern edge of the Zion Park Boundary.  

Start down the drainage to the south.  About 0.5 miles you will find a drop down a narrow slot.  This drop is Rap 1.   

Rap 1 has two possible anchor points.  The first is a pine tree up a path on the left side of rap 1.  The second is choice is to climb down over the first boulder and look for an old single bolted anchor down in the slot on the left about head high.  From the tree the rap is about 35 feet and from the bolt the rap is about 20 feet.  

The first narrows section is from the bottom of rap 1 and involves a few down climbs along logs and rocks.  There are also a few pools to wade through.  The tight twisted narrows makes it fun.  About 500 feet after rap 1 the slot ends and the canyon opens wide.  

The second narrows starts (wFatManRP-09) a short distance down canyon along a flat wall on the left.  The second narrows is very short and involves a few easy down climbs before the canyon opens up again. This open section does not have much of a wide flat bottom to walk like the last open area.

The third narrows starts almost immediately after the second.  There is more down climbing in this section but all pretty easily done.  Also in the third narrows you will come to a drop about 20 feet high down a slightly sloped wall.  When you get to this drop, lean out and look to the right for a glue in style anchor on the right.  You can use this anchor handline down the wall from the anchor.  The sloped wall has a shallow trough in it at the top allow you to scoot down about 5 feet or and sit to contemplate how you are going to negotiate the hand line.  The last 15 feet of the drop you will need the hand line, but there is still enough of a slope to the wall to make it comfortable while holding onto the handline.  

Shortly after the handline from the glue in anchor is another drop of about 12 feet.  We were able to set a rappel from a log wedged above the drop.  If the log were not there, another option would be to use a meat anchor to allow the others to rap down.  Everyone could then assist the last person with the down climb.  Then the people at the bottom can assist the last person down the wall.  Just after this down climb in the third narrows, the canyon opens up again (wFatManRP-10).  

A few hundred feet down canyon will be a crack that needs to be crossed to continue down canyon.  To cross the crack drop down into a pothole at the top of the crack then climb up a 10 foot ridge on the left (east) side of the crack.  From the top of the ridge it is easy to simply step over the crack and continue down canyon.  Once over the crack be sure to look down into the crack and find one of the arches along this route.  

About 200 feet down canyon of the crack is the start of the fourth narrows section (wFatManRP-11).  In the fourth narrows section there are a few easy down climbs along the way.  Just before exiting the narrows section is a down climb that can be a bit sketchy.  It is helpful here to use a meat anchor to belay everyone down then assist the last person with their down climb.  

Shortly after exiting the fourth narrows there is a series of potholes (wFatManRP-12).  These are easily bypassed by staying up on the ledge to the left.  On the right side of the potholes are a few anchors set from trees.  One of these I remember setting up a couple years ago as something to do for fun.  The anchors you see high up on the right side of the potholes are not part of the normal route.  

Shortly after walking past the potholes you will start to notice a large drop ahead.  This is where the route meets the next water course.  As you get closer to the drop, walk down the slope and look for a large tree with an anchor on it.  This is Rap 2.  

Rap 2 (dFatManR2-3) drops down a sloped crack and is easily down climbed if you would like to save some time.  Rap 2 drops about 50 feet to a large ledge.  

Rap 3 is right at the bottom of rap 2 and is anchored from a smaller tree.  Rap 3 drops about 50 feet down a slick rock wall to the canyon floor.  Once at the bottom of rap 3, head down canyon to the right (south west).  

About 0.1 miles down canyon of rap 3 is the start of the fifth narrow section with a drop at the start of it.  This drop is Rap 4.  

Rap 4 (dFatManR4) is anchored from a boulder LDC and drops about 30 feet to the canyon floor in the fifth narrow section.  About mid way down the rap is an overhang making the last part of the rap free hanging.  The edge of the overhang is a bit sharp so pay close attention and try to be careful not to slide the rope along it.  Drop as easily off the overhang as possible.  

In the fifth narrows below rap 4 are a few easy down climbs before coming to a 15 foot slick rock slide.  A meat anchor can be provided for all but the last one down.  The last person can slide down while someone at the bottom helps slow them down before getting to the ground.  

A few hundred feet after rap 4 the canyon opens again but not as wide as most of the other open areas.  It is also very brief before getting narrow again.  The next narrow section is the start of the sixth and last narrow section before getting to the East Fork of the Virgin River.  At the start of the sixth narrow section (wFatManRP-13) is a handline to help ease down into a pothole.  This narrow section is where most of the water is on the route.  The potholes that follow are usually full of water.  A wet suit is nice in cooler months but during the hot part of the year the cool water will feel like a refreshing break from the heat.  

After a few pools to cross is one of the best treats on the route, a grotto with a double arch overhead and a pool at the bottom.  Depending on how much sand has washed in or out of the area the pool below may be a swimmer or only deep enough to need wading.  Unfortunately the grotto is so dark it is VERY difficult to get good pictures of it.  

To drop into the grotto use a hand line to lower yourself down to the pool then swim or wade to the other side.  Once on the other side take a moment to look back at the double arch overhead.  I find it amazing that sections of canyon can get so tight and deep that a flashlight would be nice to have along.  

After the grotto, continue down canyon and enjoy a few easy down climbs along the way.  The temperature of the water should begin to get warmer farther down canyon since a warm spring empties into the canyon here.  

Just before getting to the East Fork of the Virgin River there is a lot more vegetation and some ferns since the water is constant and warm.  As the narrow section opens you are greeted with a lot of vegetation.  Look for a trail LDC that cuts through the vegetation and leads to the river.  

The river (yFatMansBt) is the end of the technical section and is a good spot to take a break, enjoy the views and filter water if you need it for the hike out.  This will be the last water on the route. 

The Exit:
Continue about 0.3 miles downriver (south then west as it curves).  This is a scenic treat similar to portions of the Zion Narrows.  Look for a route up the right (north) side (jFatManOut).  The route up starts up a short trail but soon involves some 4th class sections.  About 0.2 miles from the river you the climb tops out on a saddle.  

From the saddle (wFatManRP-14), look for cairns leading the way up the hills to the left.  There are a couple spots to scramble up along this route.  Keep an eye out for cairns to help follow the route.  The route continues almost due north.  After the trail tops out briefly about 0.25 miles from the saddle it begins to get easier to follow with more defined paths.   

As a reminder this area is full of trails going to many places.  Use a map or GPS and keep an eye on what direction you are going.  This is also the hot part of the route.  Since the route is almost all uphill for a long way and there is little or no shade it can feel like you are in a huge frying pan.  

About 0.7 miles from the saddle will be a set of almost bee hive like formations along the side of the trail (wFatManRP-15).  From these beehive formations continue north-northwest and on the west side of peak 5534.  The trail will drop slightly down to another small valley then back up onto a saddle (wFatManRP-16).  

From the saddle (wFatManRP-16) continue north-northwest.  Note a large drainage on the left (west) but resist the urge to drop down to it.  About 0.35 miles from the saddle the trail will seem to top out on a slick rock ridge.  This is the slick rock ridge you were on earlier in the day just before dropping down to Fat Man’s Misery.  You should also be able to recognize the south end of Checkerboard Mesa if you were paying attention on your way in.  As the trail tops out on the ridge, turn more toward the west and start dropping down to the drainage below.  Once in the drainage, retrace your route back over the next drainage, around the south end of Checkerboard Mesa, up and over the saddle, down the canyon back to the road. 

GPS Waypoint Information

Back to the Canyoneering Trip Report List page.

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