britfoot - Oct 30, 2022 1:22 pm Date Climbed: Apr 30, 2007
Dramatic & Remote Summit
Approached via the Descent into the Subway; met a wet-suited canyoneer; up the other side via the Jug-Handle Route. One of the best scrambles of a desert peak. And, after all, it's just a "dry" heat!
scgrant - Jun 9, 2016 10:14 pm Date Climbed: Apr 23, 2016
South Guardian Angel
Awesome hike. Did NGA on the way back. Both far easier than expected from a technical standpoint.
asmrz - May 23, 2016 5:22 pm Date Climbed: Apr 30, 2007
Before the Page was put up
My wife Penelope and I scrambled the peak in April 2007. At that time, Summitpost had no page for it so I'm adding the entry now. We followed Penelope's write-up from earlier trip via the Subway (mid 90s) that she did with the DPS. I thought this was wonderful and worthy trip.
jdmorehouse - May 23, 2016 12:09 pm Date Climbed: May 22, 2016
Back Again
More brush than the first time. Ah, spring! No register on the summit this time.
Lovely day - almost getting too hot already. I'm not really a technical climber, so this was one of my last big to-dos in Zion after Lady, Kinesava, and the Watchman. I found the info from Climber.org very helpful http://climber.org/reports/2008/1672.html#south being a GPS nut. The route seemed to have just enough cairns to confirm we were on the route, but not really enough to direct us. We managed to hit the Left Fork directly across from the jug handle. We weren't entirely comfortable with the class 3/4 next to the jug handle, thinking the lack of handholds at the top would make for a dangerous decent. I tried soloing the class 5 bit next to it to set up a rope for our group but got pretty uncomfortable on the smooth, moss-covered rock. So we went up the 3/4 section without incident and handlined down the class 5, using a tree as an anchor, on the descent. Above the wash we had minimal route-finding issues. The climber.org report mentions a class 4 crux while ascending through orange rock. We found that on the way down but missed it entirely on the way up by exiting one "bowl" when we hit cliffs to the climber's left through some beehived knolls (too large to be called hoodoos, we thought) into another bowl through which we could walk up. Encountered two trail runners on the summit who had made it from Wildcat to the summit in 2 hours. I'm not sure what running is to be done after one leaves the trail, but apparently they found some. We took 4 hours on the ascent, with a good 30+ minutes messing around the jug handle, an hour at the summit, and 4 on the return for a total of 9. We pumped water at the Left Fork on the return which was much needed at the time. With a high of only 75 we were somehow baking out there and chugging water. So a filter is much recommended on this route. No summit register anymore unfortunately, at least not that we could find. A beautiful peak with great views!
Tom Robinson - May 18, 2015 2:21 am Date Climbed: Jul 7, 1976
Southwest Outward Bound 1976
Led a group of Outward Bound students up South Guardian Angel during their training expedition in the Kolob Section and before resupply at Lava Point. A wonderful route, mostly on slick rock and in and around pines and junipers from Kolob Terrace. Under the summit cap were hundreds of ladybugs. Views clear to Grand Canyon, the Dixies, and Nevada, and all over the mountains and canyons of Zion National Park.
Tracy - Nov 2, 2014 12:02 pm Date Climbed: Oct 29, 2014
sidetrip while doing the Subway
This one I hiked on Day #1 of a 2.5-day back country adventures outing with CP. Accompanying us on this hike were Tom, Andy, and Jacob. Beautiful weather for October (even a bit warm at times).
seano - May 5, 2014 8:22 pm Date Climbed: May 5, 2014
Unholy bushwhack
Came straight over from NGA, which involved savage warfare with manzanita and oak-brush, and a bit of backtracking to find the gully that led all the way to the bottom of the Subway. I never found any cairns. No trouble finding the way out from there. Went back out the upper Subway, which was much more pleasant and scenic, and only had one short but repulsive wading section. Trip report.
cab - Apr 1, 2014 1:54 pm Date Climbed: Mar 29, 2014
Northeast Ridge
Followed the cairned route from NGA down across the Subway and back up the other side. When crossing the Subway, we used the Class 3 bypass of the wall just above the jug handle which allowed us to keep the rope in our packs. After climbing SGA, we camped underneath some pine trees and then walked out the next day. We realized we could have dayhiked both peaks together, but weren't sure how long it would take so opted to be conservative and bring overnight gear. Ran into a little rain and snow flurries on the way out, but we were back on flat ground by that time, so not a problem. Great weekend with a great group.
jdmorehouse - Oct 13, 2013 9:20 pm Date Climbed: Oct 12, 2013
SGA
Beautiful weather. We got rousted by the rangers for sleeping off the road afterwards; we were staying to climb NGA on Sunday. So off we moved, and NGA was a spectacular follow up to SGA.
SarahThompson - Sep 5, 2012 11:18 am Date Climbed: Nov 12, 2010
Twice
11/12/10 - Std route
11/24/11 - With UN 6127 & UN 6347
Bob Sihler - Sep 5, 2012 9:31 am Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2012
SGA
Went via the cairned route though probably wouldn't again-- too little adventure that way. It was a very hot day, so it was good that I started before dawn and good that I did NGA back in April instead of saving it for this day.
Bob Burd - Sep 5, 2012 1:42 am Date Climbed: Oct 21, 2011
From Kolab Rd
A bit under 8hrs for both North and South GA. Led by CP, there was no route-finding issues and a most pleasant outing. Trip Report
britfoot - Oct 30, 2022 1:22 pm Date Climbed: Apr 30, 2007
Dramatic & Remote SummitApproached via the Descent into the Subway; met a wet-suited canyoneer; up the other side via the Jug-Handle Route. One of the best scrambles of a desert peak. And, after all, it's just a "dry" heat!
scgrant - Jun 9, 2016 10:14 pm Date Climbed: Apr 23, 2016
South Guardian AngelAwesome hike. Did NGA on the way back. Both far easier than expected from a technical standpoint.
asmrz - May 23, 2016 5:22 pm Date Climbed: Apr 30, 2007
Before the Page was put upMy wife Penelope and I scrambled the peak in April 2007. At that time, Summitpost had no page for it so I'm adding the entry now. We followed Penelope's write-up from earlier trip via the Subway (mid 90s) that she did with the DPS. I thought this was wonderful and worthy trip.
jdmorehouse - May 23, 2016 12:09 pm Date Climbed: May 22, 2016
Back AgainMore brush than the first time. Ah, spring! No register on the summit this time.
awhite28 - Apr 25, 2016 6:11 pm Date Climbed: Apr 24, 2016
Creamsicle!Lovely day - almost getting too hot already. I'm not really a technical climber, so this was one of my last big to-dos in Zion after Lady, Kinesava, and the Watchman. I found the info from Climber.org very helpful http://climber.org/reports/2008/1672.html#south being a GPS nut. The route seemed to have just enough cairns to confirm we were on the route, but not really enough to direct us. We managed to hit the Left Fork directly across from the jug handle. We weren't entirely comfortable with the class 3/4 next to the jug handle, thinking the lack of handholds at the top would make for a dangerous decent. I tried soloing the class 5 bit next to it to set up a rope for our group but got pretty uncomfortable on the smooth, moss-covered rock. So we went up the 3/4 section without incident and handlined down the class 5, using a tree as an anchor, on the descent. Above the wash we had minimal route-finding issues. The climber.org report mentions a class 4 crux while ascending through orange rock. We found that on the way down but missed it entirely on the way up by exiting one "bowl" when we hit cliffs to the climber's left through some beehived knolls (too large to be called hoodoos, we thought) into another bowl through which we could walk up. Encountered two trail runners on the summit who had made it from Wildcat to the summit in 2 hours. I'm not sure what running is to be done after one leaves the trail, but apparently they found some. We took 4 hours on the ascent, with a good 30+ minutes messing around the jug handle, an hour at the summit, and 4 on the return for a total of 9. We pumped water at the Left Fork on the return which was much needed at the time. With a high of only 75 we were somehow baking out there and chugging water. So a filter is much recommended on this route. No summit register anymore unfortunately, at least not that we could find. A beautiful peak with great views!
Tom Robinson - May 18, 2015 2:21 am Date Climbed: Jul 7, 1976
Southwest Outward Bound 1976Led a group of Outward Bound students up South Guardian Angel during their training expedition in the Kolob Section and before resupply at Lava Point. A wonderful route, mostly on slick rock and in and around pines and junipers from Kolob Terrace. Under the summit cap were hundreds of ladybugs. Views clear to Grand Canyon, the Dixies, and Nevada, and all over the mountains and canyons of Zion National Park.
Tracy - Nov 2, 2014 12:02 pm Date Climbed: Oct 29, 2014
sidetrip while doing the SubwayThis one I hiked on Day #1 of a 2.5-day back country adventures outing with CP. Accompanying us on this hike were Tom, Andy, and Jacob. Beautiful weather for October (even a bit warm at times).
seano - May 5, 2014 8:22 pm Date Climbed: May 5, 2014
Unholy bushwhackCame straight over from NGA, which involved savage warfare with manzanita and oak-brush, and a bit of backtracking to find the gully that led all the way to the bottom of the Subway. I never found any cairns. No trouble finding the way out from there. Went back out the upper Subway, which was much more pleasant and scenic, and only had one short but repulsive wading section. Trip report.
cab - Apr 1, 2014 1:54 pm Date Climbed: Mar 29, 2014
Northeast RidgeFollowed the cairned route from NGA down across the Subway and back up the other side. When crossing the Subway, we used the Class 3 bypass of the wall just above the jug handle which allowed us to keep the rope in our packs. After climbing SGA, we camped underneath some pine trees and then walked out the next day. We realized we could have dayhiked both peaks together, but weren't sure how long it would take so opted to be conservative and bring overnight gear. Ran into a little rain and snow flurries on the way out, but we were back on flat ground by that time, so not a problem. Great weekend with a great group.
jdmorehouse - Oct 13, 2013 9:20 pm Date Climbed: Oct 12, 2013
SGABeautiful weather. We got rousted by the rangers for sleeping off the road afterwards; we were staying to climb NGA on Sunday. So off we moved, and NGA was a spectacular follow up to SGA.
SarahThompson - Sep 5, 2012 11:18 am Date Climbed: Nov 12, 2010
Twice11/12/10 - Std route
11/24/11 - With UN 6127 & UN 6347
Bob Sihler - Sep 5, 2012 9:31 am Date Climbed: Jul 26, 2012
SGAWent via the cairned route though probably wouldn't again-- too little adventure that way. It was a very hot day, so it was good that I started before dawn and good that I did NGA back in April instead of saving it for this day.
Bob Burd - Sep 5, 2012 1:42 am Date Climbed: Oct 21, 2011
From Kolab RdA bit under 8hrs for both North and South GA. Led by CP, there was no route-finding issues and a most pleasant outing. Trip Report