Bridge Mt., Zion, ~6820'

pics by Harlan W. S.
Sept 30, 2007

This “hike” was led by Branch Whitney, who has detailed instructions at his site. Don’t try to reproduce the route purely from the maps below; while well-cairned, the upper route is subtle and so exposed that you may be inclined to go the wrong way out of disbelief. I would recommend at least ~140’ webbing per party, with an option to put about 30’ around bushes and trees at the sketchy traverse, as a sling for a longer handline. Class 4.

Bridge Mountain shows a very impressive profile from Springdale and the Watchman campground.

Click any small image to see the larger corresponding image.

GPS trace on 24K map. The hike starts S in Gilford Wash.	Closeup of route near summit.	Starting off in Gilford Wash, after 7AM.
Climbing W out of Gilford Wash.	Traversing on ledge system N of 1^st bowl.	Descending NW into 2^nd bowl.
Coming down ramp to east-west wash. (3^rd bowl).	The Vortex, a huge crack back into the mountain (thanks Lori C).
		Primroses
View S. Starting up the 1^st N-trending ramp.	Farther up the same ramp.	The airy traverse on thin ledges.
	Up the fragile sandstone. View SE. Shortly after this photo was taken, several hundred lbs of rock, just left of Nick, let loose, totally unexpectedly. Richard, below, dodged the mass by quick-thinking and good reflexes.	Richard below.
View E back at the route in.	From the summit, WSW to West Temple.	View S to Springdale.
	We knew Chazerton Purcell had been there before, so we signed his name in the log.	Panorama mainly N.
Down to the upper end of the ramp.	I’m looking back up, N, as my compatriots descend the ramp.	On the way out, I’m looking W to the saddle S of Bridge. There is a hidden gully behind the smooth sandstone shoulder, but I have no idea if it would “go”.
View W to Bridge, showing our approximate route.	Heading W to the 3^rd bowl.	Neat rock.
BW keeps wall from collapsing on NN.	Mud dauber. this feature was incredibly hard, appeared to be made of sandstone, and was out in the open on a 0 degree slope.	View S; heading out of Gilford Wash.
Canid.		The last irony, as we approach the parking lot.
The delicate arch that gives Bridge its name.