Mountain of the Sun (MOS) and Bridge Attempt, Zion

Harlan W. S.
April 21-22, 2007

Both hikes start off route 9, NE from the Zion Visitors’ Center, east of the long tunnel. We had good weather for the hike up MOS, and nasty weather for Bridge the next day.

GPS tracks. Red for MOS, blue for Bridge.	MOS: We begin descent of Employee (Lodge) Canyon, the wash east of MOS.	The south part of Employee Canyon is deep, dark, and wild. View N. We saw bobcat and deer tracks.
View N from the top of Bo Beck’s ramp.	View SE; Twin Brothers at R.	On top, looking N to NE, from Zion Valley and Angel’s Landing at L, to Deertrap Mt. at R. Walter tops out.
	View SWfrom top.	View S over Springdale.
View NNW. Lady Mt. is just L, of center, and the Emerald Pools alcove is just R of Lady.	What??? Another view of Springdale?	N over Zion Lodge (green roof) to Angel’s Landing.
	Another panorama N.	Panorama SW.
Looking N as we descend Bo Beck’s ramp.	At the N end of the ramp, a deep cut travels W into the bowels of MOS.
Inside the cave, looking out. Flash photo.	Climbing back out Employee Canyon.	Violets.
Wallflower	This view SE over passage from Pine Canyon (in distance) to Employee Canyon. In some ways, this is the “crux” of the trip.	Picking a way back through the slabs
Back in Pine Creek.	That night, a view of Bridge from Watchman Campground. The delicate arch indicated is the eponymous structure.	The next day we started up the ramps west of Gifford Wash. Lori C. joined us. These ramps didn’t seem that bad, when dry…
Then we crossed over a pass a 6000’, and gentle rain started.		The trick is to avoid a big dryfall with a circuitous path.
		In Hepworth Wash, there were recent mountain lion tracks. Lori later saw some VERY fresh tracks, while hiking alone.
Walter climbing with apple.	The cone of Bridge in sight. We went to the top of the first steep ramp, then the rain started getting serious.	We got off the ramp as quickly as we could. We look back, and see the ramp now glistens with sheeting water. The rock had become VERY slippery
Then it began to snow and sleet. Here are Walter and Nick, saying volumes without speaking.	I put away my camera for the next 2 miles, because it isn’t waterproof.