Bishopric, Zion UT, 7300'

pics by Harlan W. S.
April 16, 2010

This was a 17.3 mile, 5100’ accumulated elevation gain day, over very rough country. We may have been the third party to reach the Bishopric, ever. The trip up was pretty uneventful, and didn’t seem that difficult; but on the way back, I began to lose control of my partly-paralyzed right foot, and had terrible leg cramps for 4 miles as I tried to regain control.

It was a great trip, if not a bit more “testing the limits” than I expected. Thanks to CP for organizing, thanks to Jason, Sarah and Dominic for friendship.

Sarah and Dominic did another “bonus peak on the way out!

Per CP’s wishes, the full route will remain obscure for a while, so this GPS file gives just a small portion.	This is the area covered in the GPS map at L, but observed in 3D from above. The Bishopric sits on a nearly impenetrable plateau of cliffs.	Early on, we had to cross a river numerous times.
Then we went up a steep, dirty wash, through tunnels and over thick brush.		Sarah hits ~ 5900’, and looks off to the still-snow-covered Pine Mts.
Dominic saddles up.	View to the SE as we head E, toward Towers of the Virgin, W Temple, and Kinesava.
		Heading down Goblin Gulch.
		Top of a waterfall.
View up at Bishopric high point.
\The west summit of The Bishopric triad.	Don’t go there – the E side of Bishopric.	Sarah surmounts a big gnarly step.
	View at the snowy gap between Middle and West Bishopric.	View S, after crux and just before creepy traverse on W side of peak.
View E.	View down the NW,	Sarah on the N end, view W.
View S, the creepy traverse.	Sarah pointed out this waterfall to NE of peak, head of Coalpits Wash.
View SE.	View SSE over Towers of the Virgin, Altar of Sacrifice.	Coming down creepy traverse on W side of peak.
	We decided to put a handline down the crux. This ramp was easy enough to go up, but the rock was sandy and the consequences of a fall were not good.	Heading S.
View back at Middle and East peaks.	A rattlesnake warned us, just above this hoodoo. S/he disappeared into a rock before I could get a photo.	Some of the junk we had to downclimb late in the day.