Although I've only met Courtney once I can forewarn others that when he is up and about he may likely parade in strange headgear. Again I'm only basing this on a one day encounter, but after summiting G2 that dude donned a helmut with horns nearly two feet long. Clashed a bit with the tie dye shirt, but rambunctious nonetheless.

Zachary, if you're flying into Vegas enroute to Zion you may want to consider a short stop at Valley of Fire or nearby Buffington Pockets or perhaps Whitney Pockets south of Mesquite on Gold Butte Rd. These places offer scrambling opportunities and also literally a warm up to the higher elevations of Zion.

And when you get to Zion, east side as other(s) have mention would be worth exploring such as a loop hike that could include selecting from a menu of the Jughandle Arch, Aires Butte, Center of the Universe, Petro Canyon and return to start via Rt 9 or Clear Creek.

I'm guessing that you don't really want a solid snow pack for the approach to NGA, and you are unlikely to find one in May/June. The approach is up the N side of the peak, and the walk isn't very long.

Better than postholing in the Northern Sierra? Or is there no snow left in Zion from mid May on? We almost hiked to the top from the class 4 side, I'd say maybe another 400-500 feet to go, so I know some of the terrain. Might even find the old trail, again.

I'd love to bag Signal in the Pine Nuts, too, then Delano as well. If someone would meet me, that would be so nice. Lots of high peaks north of Zion, it'd make for my summer vacation.

And Z, you can look at my photos on my PTP website> Desert Peaks>Muddy Peak... Feb. 2002>Bitter Spring road for photos of the Bitter Spring BLM Byway, to decide if you'd like to see those as well. A nice road tour if you don't mind rougher dirt/gravel road and driving slowly, if you do not have a SUV or Jeep. That's all on the way to VoF from Vegas.

1000Pks wrote:I'd love to bag Signal in the Pine Nuts, too, then Delano as well. If someone would meet me, that would be so nice. Lots of high peaks north of Zion, it'd make for my summer vacation.

Signal likely will have snow in the valley in late May and June. With the snow so far this year, Delano may have road closures up through June.

Signal likely will have snow in the valley in late May and June. With the snow so far this year, Delano may have road closures up through June.

Really! I know Charleston will have lots of snow, but the others are in a wetter area as far as precip, too? Pardon my lack of experience off season in Utah.

Well, then, that makes my going there in spring less likely. So, it looks like fall, if I can afford any of it then.

Andinistaloco wrote:

cp0915 wrote:

1000Pks wrote:Fees are an incentive for the guide to show up. I wouldn't want to drive my 2,000 miles to find you slept in...

Ask Rick Kent or MoapaPk or Day Hiker or Andinistaloco or Matthew Holliman or Dow Williams or SarahThompson or ... about me "sleeping in" on mountain days.

Cp speaks the truth. I still have nightmares about that dude shaking me at 1:45 am... "dude, come on, it's time to get going." Arrrrrrrrrrrrrrgh!

Dude, you're forgetting the best part! We were supposed to wake up at 12:30 but I fell back to sleep. I re-woke at 1:45 and told you we were late!

erial wrote:Although I've only met Courtney once I can forewarn others that when he is up and about he may likely parade in strange headgear. Again I'm only basing this on a one day encounter, but after summiting G2 that dude donned a helmut with horns nearly two feet long. Clashed a bit with the tie dye shirt, but rambunctious nonetheless.

This must be my friend Jeff! Regarding that crazy "helmet," I returned last year to find where we'd stashed it. But it was gone! Or I couldn't find it, at least.

And when you get to Zion, east side as other(s) have mention would be worth exploring such as a loop hike that could include selecting from a menu of the Jughandle Arch, Aires Butte, Center of the Universe, Petro Canyon and return to start via Rt 9 or Clear Creek.

This is a fantastic suggestion. Must do! Check out Many Pools too. All these things, except Jughandle Arch, are touched upon in my book. Jughandle Arch is immediately northeast of Aires Butte, on the rim above Keyhole Canyon. Oh, and South Ariel Peak is a reasonable scramble from The Center of the Universe. Getting to the Center of the U from the west (Petroglyph Canyon) is spicier than one would guess. Not a big deal, but look around for a good way before heading right up those steep slabs. They can be deceptively steep.

MoapaPk wrote:

1000Pks wrote:I'd love to bag Signal in the Pine Nuts, too, then Delano as well. If someone would meet me, that would be so nice. Lots of high peaks north of Zion, it'd make for my summer vacation.

Signal likely will have snow in the valley in late May and June. With the snow so far this year, Delano may have road closures up through June.

There are two general approaches to Signal. Two years back, in a relatively dry year, Signal had snow in the valley after one topped out on the south side, in late May. It was just enough to wallow through. In 2005, the road up to Delano was still snow-covered for the last mile in July; however, that road goes quite high (near 10k' to start). The snow we saw was just pleasant, enough to give the mountains some character.

Indeed. The Tushars is a fantastic place when it has some snow. Beautiful, gentle rolling mountains.

As for Signal, I went up there in June a few years back and the upper mountain was still buried under several feet of snow.

erial wrote:Although I've only met Courtney once I can forewarn others that when he is up and about he may likely parade in strange headgear. Again I'm only basing this on a one day encounter, but after summiting G2 that dude donned a helmut with horns nearly two feet long. Clashed a bit with the tie dye shirt, but rambunctious nonetheless..

Lets just say Courtney has never had much help getting dressed in the morning and leave it at that!

Wow, tough crowd. But a brutally honest one.



I'd bet that fool on the right has a hole the size of a golf ball in the sole of at least one of his shoes, and 3 inches of cheek showing out the ass of his shorts. If it wasn't for the faded tie-dye shirt tucked into his shorts, from the front he seems almost normal.

That's the photo. I couldn't figure how to upload. Glad you did.
Definitely a crowning day.

cp0915 wrote:Wow, tough crowd. But a brutally honest one.



I'd bet that fool on the right has a hole the size of a golf ball in the sole of at least one of his shoes, and 3 inches of cheek showing out the ass of his shorts. If it wasn't for the faded tie-dye shirt tucked into his shorts, from the front he seems almost normal.

MoapaPk wrote:

Is that Courtney's shoe? Does not surprise me. Bo and I were hiking out with him one day and he showed me his rap device and wanted to know if it was time to buy a new one....wore down to a knifes edge, we made him throw it in the trash barrel at the trail head! In all fairness, the amount of sand Courtney would run through his rap device would qualify him for field testing no question.

Sure is my shoe, Dow. Interested observers should enlarge both of Moapa's photos for maximum effect.

MoapaPk wrote:There are two general approaches to Signal. Two years back, in a relatively dry year, Signal had snow in the valley after one topped out on the south side, in late May. It was just enough to wallow through. In 2005, the road up to Delano was still snow-covered for the last mile in July; however, that road goes quite high (near 10k' to start). The snow we saw was just pleasant, enough to give the mountains some character.

Actually, that Signal trip was June 8/2008. The snow was substantial but pretty firm:
http://www.lvmc.org/webpages/newsletter ... 6/sig7.jpg

When I went in late August 2005, there was just one place with a pile of snow.