utahjimk - May 2, 2018 12:05 pm Date Climbed: Nov 16, 2017
the Chamber
entered the Chamber to see the skylight clearly - no farther
Foxy Long Bottoms - Nov 30, 2015 11:31 am Date Climbed: Nov 26, 2015
Quickie
Nice rap into a cool chamber before the sun went down.
Shaylee - Jan 31, 2013 10:09 am Date Climbed: Oct 11, 2011
Basilisk
September 23 2012
February 17 2012
November 13 2011
October 16 2011
Kessler - Jan 31, 2013 10:08 am Date Climbed: Oct 16, 2011
Basilisk
September 23 2012
February 17 2012
November 13 2011
October 16 2011
Scott - Jan 30, 2013 5:16 pm Date Climbed: Oct 16, 2011
Chamber of the Basilisk
January 28 2018
After getting a flat tire fixed in Hanksville, Shaylee, Keith, and I did the canyoneering route through the Chamber of the Basilisk/Goblins Lair. As usual, it was great.
September 23 2012
With two friends, Shaylee, Kessler, Kimberly and I went for a trip through the Chamber of the Basilisk. It was fine, as always, but Shaylee wasn’t in the mood to go this time.
February 17 2012
Since this is the kids’ favorite canyon, they wanted to do it again. Kessler, Shaylee, Kimberly and I met up with Bruce in Green River before heading for Goblin Valley. We made a now routine descent of the Chamber of Basilisk, exploring one other cave along the way.
November 13 2011
The weather was looking very cloudy, but the route through the Chamber of the Basilisk doesn’t have high flash flood danger, so we chose to do the route anyway. Only a little precipitation fell on the drive to the trailhead; the route itself was dry.
This is the kid’s favorite canyon and they were eager to show everyone else the canyon. Twelve other people joined us, which was a good crowd, but since the route is all hard packed dirt and sand, it is well suited for a group.
Since we had done this canyon previously, we knew the route well and we were able to go directly to the starting point. We climbed into the canyon to where it slotted up. The thing that makes the Chamber of the Basilisk so unique is that the slot canyon disappears into a hole in the ground!
We assured the rest of the group that the route goes and rappelled the 90 feet into the hole. Once in the underground “hole”, it opens up into a huge underground chamber with big holes in the ceiling. We relaxed an took photos of the amazing place before exiting the chamber and climbing down the boulders to the desert flats.
From there, it was a cross-country hike across the flats and to another slot canyon which we followed back to the trailhead. It was a great route and since it is fairly short, left plenty of time for the drive home.
October 16 2011
In the morning, Scott (a different one), Brad, Kessler and I checked out a “new route” at White Roost Canyon. After seeing that we didn’t have enough time to reverse the “new route” and complete the standard route, we headed off to Goblin Valley to check out a slot canyon I had found there earlier in the year.
Kessler, Shaylee, Kimberly, Brad, Scott and I climbed up to some bluffs, climbed an un-named butte for a good look around and made our way over to the slot canyon. After following the slot canyon a ways, we got a big surprise.
The reason the route was so good is that the slot canyon just disappears into a hole in the ground (we didn't expect anything like this). It didn't drop into a crack or a narrow slot, but just a hole. It was kind of intimidating to just look into a deep and dark black hole in the ground since we couldn't see what was down there or if you can get out of it. We lowered a pack down to see if it would hit the bottom with our ropes.
After rappelling 90 feet into the black hole in the ground it opens up into a giant underground chamber. It's maybe 300 feet long and 100 feet wide and high. You don't need a headlamp since there are huge holes in the ceiling (with beams of light spilling in). It's one of the coolest features I've ever seen in a canyon (I hope this isn't spoiling the surprise and giving too much away).
Brad rapped down first (taking ascenders in case the route didn't continue and above we had made sure we could reverse the route if needs be) and shouted up that he would check out "down canyon" and see what there was. After a little while he shouted up for us (anyone who wanted to) to go ahead come down. We were going to send the kids back (with their mom and with me assisting them on the upclimbs), but they really wanted to go down, so we let them (especially since Brad said that after the chamber we could continue down canyon to get out). We completed the entire route in four hours.
utahjimk - May 2, 2018 12:05 pm Date Climbed: Nov 16, 2017
the Chamberentered the Chamber to see the skylight clearly - no farther
Foxy Long Bottoms - Nov 30, 2015 11:31 am Date Climbed: Nov 26, 2015
QuickieNice rap into a cool chamber before the sun went down.
Shaylee - Jan 31, 2013 10:09 am Date Climbed: Oct 11, 2011
BasiliskSeptember 23 2012
February 17 2012
November 13 2011
October 16 2011
Kessler - Jan 31, 2013 10:08 am Date Climbed: Oct 16, 2011
BasiliskSeptember 23 2012
February 17 2012
November 13 2011
October 16 2011
Scott - Jan 30, 2013 5:16 pm Date Climbed: Oct 16, 2011
Chamber of the BasiliskJanuary 28 2018
After getting a flat tire fixed in Hanksville, Shaylee, Keith, and I did the canyoneering route through the Chamber of the Basilisk/Goblins Lair. As usual, it was great.
September 23 2012
With two friends, Shaylee, Kessler, Kimberly and I went for a trip through the Chamber of the Basilisk. It was fine, as always, but Shaylee wasn’t in the mood to go this time.
February 17 2012
Since this is the kids’ favorite canyon, they wanted to do it again. Kessler, Shaylee, Kimberly and I met up with Bruce in Green River before heading for Goblin Valley. We made a now routine descent of the Chamber of Basilisk, exploring one other cave along the way.
November 13 2011
The weather was looking very cloudy, but the route through the Chamber of the Basilisk doesn’t have high flash flood danger, so we chose to do the route anyway. Only a little precipitation fell on the drive to the trailhead; the route itself was dry.
This is the kid’s favorite canyon and they were eager to show everyone else the canyon. Twelve other people joined us, which was a good crowd, but since the route is all hard packed dirt and sand, it is well suited for a group.
Since we had done this canyon previously, we knew the route well and we were able to go directly to the starting point. We climbed into the canyon to where it slotted up. The thing that makes the Chamber of the Basilisk so unique is that the slot canyon disappears into a hole in the ground!
We assured the rest of the group that the route goes and rappelled the 90 feet into the hole. Once in the underground “hole”, it opens up into a huge underground chamber with big holes in the ceiling. We relaxed an took photos of the amazing place before exiting the chamber and climbing down the boulders to the desert flats.
From there, it was a cross-country hike across the flats and to another slot canyon which we followed back to the trailhead. It was a great route and since it is fairly short, left plenty of time for the drive home.
October 16 2011
In the morning, Scott (a different one), Brad, Kessler and I checked out a “new route” at White Roost Canyon. After seeing that we didn’t have enough time to reverse the “new route” and complete the standard route, we headed off to Goblin Valley to check out a slot canyon I had found there earlier in the year.
Kessler, Shaylee, Kimberly, Brad, Scott and I climbed up to some bluffs, climbed an un-named butte for a good look around and made our way over to the slot canyon. After following the slot canyon a ways, we got a big surprise.
The reason the route was so good is that the slot canyon just disappears into a hole in the ground (we didn't expect anything like this). It didn't drop into a crack or a narrow slot, but just a hole. It was kind of intimidating to just look into a deep and dark black hole in the ground since we couldn't see what was down there or if you can get out of it. We lowered a pack down to see if it would hit the bottom with our ropes.
After rappelling 90 feet into the black hole in the ground it opens up into a giant underground chamber. It's maybe 300 feet long and 100 feet wide and high. You don't need a headlamp since there are huge holes in the ceiling (with beams of light spilling in). It's one of the coolest features I've ever seen in a canyon (I hope this isn't spoiling the surprise and giving too much away).
Brad rapped down first (taking ascenders in case the route didn't continue and above we had made sure we could reverse the route if needs be) and shouted up that he would check out "down canyon" and see what there was. After a little while he shouted up for us (anyone who wanted to) to go ahead come down. We were going to send the kids back (with their mom and with me assisting them on the upclimbs), but they really wanted to go down, so we let them (especially since Brad said that after the chamber we could continue down canyon to get out). We completed the entire route in four hours.