Cathedral in the Desert 2021
The Cathedral in the Desert is a beautiful rock alcove that is held in awe by people who have seen it. It is located below Grand Staircase - Escalante National Monument in Southern Utah. Clear Creek Canyon empties into the Escalante River. As you walk up Clear Creek from its confluence with the Escalante , you encounter a chamber with high overhanging sandstone walls. A 60-foot waterfall pours into the chamber from above. The waterfall and the amphitheater containing it has been covered up by Lake Powell since the Glen Canyon Dam was completed in 1963. As Lake Powell filled up, the Cathedral and other similar places in Glen Canyon disappeared. However, the severe drought in the Southwest over the past 20 years has caused the lake to drop significantly from its high point of 3,700 feet revealing the Cathedral and other wonders.
In 2005, when the surface of the lake dropped to 3,550 feet, a group of visited the Cathedral. Our approach was by land which involved descending Clear Creek Canyon from above. We descended the short ½ mile canyon which required 5 rappels. The ropes were left in place and then climbed back up again at the end of the visit by using jumars; devices that allow you to climb safely back up a rope. The part of Clear Creek Canyon just above the waterfall is comparable to the amphitheater in scenery and beauty. The amphitheater and the waterfall can be easily reached by boat. However boaters are stopped by the sheer walls and the waterfall.
Fast forward to Oct 18, 2021 when the lake has dropped even lower. A group of us drove to near the end of the Hole-in-the-Rock road to repeat my 2005 trip. We did a 1 night backpack this time and camped west of the first rappel. We checked out the first rappel on the first day. On the second day, we did the 5 rappels, left the ropes in place, and spent the day in what I think is one of the most beautiful settings in the American West. We then climbed back out again as before and returned to the trailhead.
The 2021 trip was organized by Hal Tompkins who does an annual October trip to the Southwest for canyoneering and exploration. Other members of the group were Craig Taylor, Carol Drummond, Jeff Fisher, Dave Passmorere, Helga Zimmerer, Terry Erickson, Joan Marshall, Jim Welch, and myself. The following photos are all from the 2021.
For people who are interested, an article about The Cathedral in the Desert was published in the New Yorker in August 2021.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/16/the-lost-canyon-under-lake-powell
Read MoreIn 2005, when the surface of the lake dropped to 3,550 feet, a group of visited the Cathedral. Our approach was by land which involved descending Clear Creek Canyon from above. We descended the short ½ mile canyon which required 5 rappels. The ropes were left in place and then climbed back up again at the end of the visit by using jumars; devices that allow you to climb safely back up a rope. The part of Clear Creek Canyon just above the waterfall is comparable to the amphitheater in scenery and beauty. The amphitheater and the waterfall can be easily reached by boat. However boaters are stopped by the sheer walls and the waterfall.
Fast forward to Oct 18, 2021 when the lake has dropped even lower. A group of us drove to near the end of the Hole-in-the-Rock road to repeat my 2005 trip. We did a 1 night backpack this time and camped west of the first rappel. We checked out the first rappel on the first day. On the second day, we did the 5 rappels, left the ropes in place, and spent the day in what I think is one of the most beautiful settings in the American West. We then climbed back out again as before and returned to the trailhead.
The 2021 trip was organized by Hal Tompkins who does an annual October trip to the Southwest for canyoneering and exploration. Other members of the group were Craig Taylor, Carol Drummond, Jeff Fisher, Dave Passmorere, Helga Zimmerer, Terry Erickson, Joan Marshall, Jim Welch, and myself. The following photos are all from the 2021.
For people who are interested, an article about The Cathedral in the Desert was published in the New Yorker in August 2021.
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2021/08/16/the-lost-canyon-under-lake-powell
