Canyoneering Route Description
Fat Man's Misery
(East Fork) - 3B III (IV)
Zion National Park, Utah.
04-06-14, 4 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 10.8 hours)
Time Required - 10 to 11 hours
Distance - 10.5 miles Total, 2.1 miles Technical
Rappels - 2 Rappels, Longest Rappel 30 feet.
Elevation Range - 6000 - 4560 Feet
Shuttle Required -No Vehicle -
Passenger Permit Required - No
Rappelling and anchor gear, Ropes and or pull cords for rappels up
to 30 feet and 20 feet of 1 inch webbing for sling placement. Wet
suits are suggested at all times of year. The lower portion of
the East Fork has some water in a couple spots that can get very
cold.
The East Fork of Fat Man's Misery Canyon is mostly walking
and light scrambling over short drops in scenic canyon with a series of narrow
beautiful sections mixed with open sections of wash walking. About 0.4 miles
before reaching the confluence of the West and East Forks is the start of a
narrow by a cross joint that is about 0.2 miles long and much deeper than the
previous narrow sections. Than narrow section has a few downclimbs and a rappel
before opening up to wash walking about 0.2 miles down to the confluence. After
the confluence of the two forks the route goes down through another deep narrow
section and through a warm springs with a few drops before reaching the East
Fork of the Virgin River at then end of the canyon.
In the east fork there are sections of canyon that can
be waist deep to wade through. Near the end of the East Fork the deep slot
with the rappel can have almost swimmer depth water in a couple spots. Below
the confluence of forks the canyon has one swim that will always be cold no
mater what time of year then passes through a warm springs before getting to
the East Fork of the Virgin River where you will wade your way down canyon
to the climb out. It is a good idea to have a wetsuit along even in warm
weather.
The hike out is long and can get hot in summer. Cold
days are not as enjoyable since there will be water on the route but hot
days can be grueling on the hike out. Moderate to warm days are best.
To get to the Trailhead
From the East Gate of Zion National Park on highway 9 drive
southwest (into the park) 0.9 miles to a turnout on the right
(north) side of the road (tFatMans). The turnout is on the west side of
the drainage that runs down the west side of Checkerboard Mesa.
To leave the Exit Vehicle / Escape Pod
No exit vehicle is needed. This is done as a loop route.
GPS coordinate information listed at the bottom. For information about waypoint naming and map symbols, refer to the
Glossary page.
Click the links for maps of the route.
Map of the entire route.
Map of the technical section and Exit.
The Approach:
From the turn out
(tFatMans) cross to the south side of the road and follow one
of a few use trails leading to the drainage on the west side of
Checkerboard Mesa. Once in the drainage it is easy travel along a
soft sandy bottomed wash. Along with the soft sandy bottom are
areas with close side walls and lots of vegetation. This section is
a very pretty start to the route.
About 0.3 miles from the road you will find the first obstacle. It
is a medium sized boulder wedged between the walls just above the
canyon floor. When you see the boulder back up about 200 feet and
look for a path leading up and around it LUC (left up canyon). A
short distance after dropping back to the canyon floor (about 0.5
miles from the road) the canyon appears to fork (wFatManRP-1).
Follow the left side of the fork to continue the route.
The drainage / canyon starts to get more rock debris along the way
and starts to get steeper. There are a couple of boulder piles
along the way that are relatively easy to climb up and over to
continue up canyon.
A little under 1 mile from the car the drainage will begin to get
steep. Follow a use trail up the steep section to get to the saddle
at the top (wFatManRP-2). The saddle is about 1.1 miles from the
road.
Take some time on the saddle to admire the views. Looking back
toward the road give a great view down on the route you have
followed thus far. Looking over the other side of the saddle (to
the south) you will see a hint of where you will be going next.
Since you may want a break after climbing up to the saddle it is a
good time to look around.
Drop over the other side of the saddle to the south and start down
again. There are a few use trails on the left leading down along
the wash on the other side of the saddle. About 0.2 miles down from
the saddle is a trail leading up out of the wash to the left
(southeast). The point where the trail leaves the wash
(wFatManRP-3) feels more like a trail fork. The wash is flat and
sandy as is the trail you need to follow. You should find a boulder
about 3 or 4 foot in diameter sitting right at the fork (sometimes
has a cairn on it). This boulder has features on it that look like
someone drizzled cake icing in lines all over it.
The trail is now very defined and easy to follow as it wraps around
the south end of Checkerboard Mesa. About 0.4 miles after leaving
the wash there is a short section of slick rock to cross
(wFatManRP-4). While crossing the slick rock look a bit left to
find the continuation of the trail. There may also be an occasional
cairn along the way as well.
While walking along the trail on the south end of Checkerboard Mesa,
take a moment to look around. There are 2 reasons you should do
this. First, it is a beautiful area. Second, what you see here you
should take note of as it will help guide you back on your return
route. If you are oblivious to what is around you on this route it
is possible to get a bit mixed up on the way back.
A short distance after crossing the slick rock section, the trail
will be heading almost due east and you will be able to see the next
drainage ahead of you. If looking on a map, this next drainage runs
south down along the east edge of Checkerboard Mesa and along the
west edge of peak 6525.
When the trail reaches the drainage (wFatManRP-5), cross over the
other side and start up a trail on the other side still heading
east. As the trail continues it will top out after a short section
of slick rock and begin to turn more south east. About 0.1 miles
after crossing the drainage at (wFatManRP-5), the trail will drop
into a small drainage (wFatManRP-6) not shown on a map. Follow down
this drainage (south east) about 400 feet and look for a path
(wFatManRP-8) up and out on the left (east).
The trail continues mostly south east. About 0.2 miles after
leaving the drainage not shown on a map (wFatManRP-7), the trail
will drop down a section of slick rock and cross another major
drainage (wFatManRP-8). This next drainage is shown on maps and is
the drainage that runs south and starts east of peak 6525.
Cross over this next major drainage and start going up the other
side to the south east. Going up and out of the drainage
(wFatManRP-8) will be some sandy trails mixed in with mostly slick
rock. About 600 feet after starting up out of the drainage, you
will find yourself on the top of a ridge that runs south. The top
of this ridge is almost all slick rock.
Continue south down the ridge for about 700 feet. This wide open
feeling slick rock area is where the route forks (jFatMansLoop).
This is where the exit route from Fat Man’s Misery will meet up with
the approach. From here turn left (east) and start over the other
side of the ridge. The other side of the ridge begins as a gentle
slope and starts getting steeper and steeper. There is no
particular spot to go down the other side of the ridge. It is more
like a wide open steep slick rock bowl as you descend down into the
next drainage. The large drainage you are descending to is the
West Fork of Fat
Man’s Misery.
About 0.4 miles from the top of the ridge you will be in the
drainage for West Fork of Fat Man’s Misery (yFatManWestTp).
To go to the East Fork of Fat Man's Misery go down the wash for
about 500 feet to a side ravine on the LDC side running up to the
north roughly perpendicular to the canyon (FatEast01).
Note:
If you were doing Fat Man's Misery West
Fork you would continue down the West Fork of Fat Man's Misery
follow down canyon about 0.45 miles to rap 1.
From the bottom of the
ravine on the LDC side
(FatEast01 ) route find
your way northwest up
the ravine / drainage
staying on the LUC
(north) side going over
a ledges here and there.
If you stay to the left
(north) on the way up
the route will slowly
contour up away from the
drainage bottom. About
100 feet up out of Fat
Man's West a few
intermittent use trails
begin to form.
Note:
There is also a ravine
running up to the north
going parallel to the
pothole section up
canyon. That is not the
ravine you want. The
ravine you want is the
one going north up the
side of the canyon
running roughly
perpendicular to the
canyon.
As a few intermittent use trails begin to form (FatEast02) up out of the
drainage on the LUC
(north) side, continue
northwest up the slope
about 1000 feet to the
crest of a ridge.
From the crest of the
ridge (FatEast03)
continue west down the
other side of the ridge
and go down the hill
side about 0.4 miles and
find a way to scramble
down to the wash /
drainage below. The
terrain is easy travel
down the slope with no
trails or landmarks.
About 200 feet before
getting to the wash
below the route down the
slopes gets to the head
of a small ravine
(FatEast04) just above
the large wash below.
Route find your way
around the head then
down into the ravine and
down it a few hundred
feet to where you can
scramble down into the
wash (yFatManEastTp)
where you are now in the
East Fork of Fat Man's
Misery.
The Canyoneering / Technical Section:
Once in the East
Fork of Fat Man's Misery
(yFatManEastTp) walk
down canyon about 200
feet to the start of a
slot.
From the start of the
slot (FatEast05) it is a
walk through slot with
scenic, undulating,
twisting walls. About
0.28 miles down canyon
the third open spot
passes by a side
drainage on the LDC side
that may go un-noticed
as you pass by.
The almost un-noticed
side drainage
(FatEast06) on the LDC
side is wide coming down
gently sloped slickrock
and almost does not look
like a drainage and may
be easily overlooked.
The canyon continues for
about 0.3 miles to a
slot that has a 250 foot
long corridor in it. In
that 0.3 miles the
canyon is a mix of easy
walk through slots and
open areas with a few
short easy scrambles of
4 to 6 feet mixed in.
From the corridor
(FatEast07) the canyon
continues for about 0.6
miles to a slot that has
a 10 foot downclimb. In
that 0.6 miles the
canyon is a mix of easy
walk through slots and
open areas with a few
short easy scrambles of
4 to 6 feet mixed in.
The 10 foot downclimb
(FatEast08) is
moderately challenging
near the start of a
narrow section. Down
canyon of this drop the
canyon begins to get
deeper feeling and the
frequency of short
downclimbs increases but
remains easy. About 500
feet down canyon is a
cross joint where the
canyon makes a sharp
right turn.
From the cross joint and
right turn (FatEast09)
continuing down from
here is the final 0.2
miles long slot of the
East Fork and is deeper
and darker than the
narrow sections up
canyon. Down from this
cross joint the canyon
remains deep and begins
to have more water that
can get pretty cold.
About 100 feet down
canyon is a downclimb of
about 12 feet to a pool
that could be chest deep
if full. From the bottom
of the downclimb is deep
sculpted narrows with
log jambs overhead and
very pretty.
About 200 feet farther
is a downclimb of about
8 feet then about 700
feet of deep narrow
canyon to rap 1. Just
before getting to rap 1
will be a couple
downclimbs / slides down
sloped slots to water
filled pools that can be
waist to chest deep and
cold.
Rap 1 (dFatEastR1) is
anchored RDC from a
single bolted hanger and
drops about 30 feet to a
large chamber like area
with waist deep water.
Hope you have your wet
suit on here as it can
get very cold. From the
bottom of rap 1 walk a
short distance down
canyon to where it opens
up to wide wash walking
for about 0.2 miles down
to the confluence of the
West and East Forks.
Note:
A few hundred feet down
canyon of rap 1 is a
side ravine on the RDC
(north) side as the wash
makes a left hand bend.
That is not the
confluence with the west
fork. About 350 feet
farther is another large
drainage dropping down
on the RDC side and is
the West Fork of Fat
Man's Misery.
From the Confluence of
the East and West Forks
(jFatManConf) continue
down the wash about 600
feet to rap 2 and the start
of more narrow section
with a drop at the start
of it.
Rap 2 (dFatMainR1) is the first rap in the main canyon below the
confluence. Rap 2 is anchored from a boulder LDC and drops about 30
feet to the canyon floor in the fifth narrow section. About mid way
down the rap is an overhang making the last part of the rap free
hanging. The edge of the overhang is a bit sharp so pay close
attention and try to be careful not to slide the rope along it.
Drop as easily off the overhang as possible.
In the fifth narrows below rap 4 are a few easy down climbs before
coming to a 15 foot slick rock slide. A meat anchor can be provided
for all but the last one down. The last person can slide down while
someone at the bottom helps slow them down before getting to the
ground.
A few hundred feet after rap 2 the canyon opens again but not as
wide as most of the other open areas. It is also very brief before
getting narrow again. The next narrow section is the start of the
sixth and last narrow section before getting to the East Fork of the
Virgin River. At the start of the sixth narrow section
(wFatManRP-13) is a handline to help ease down into a pothole. This
narrow section is where most of the water is on the route. The
potholes that follow are usually full of water. A wet suit is nice
in cooler months but during the hot part of the year the cool water
will feel like a refreshing break from the heat.
After a few pools to cross is one of the best treats on the route, a
grotto with a double arch overhead and a pool at the bottom.
Depending on how much sand has washed in or out of the area the pool
below may be a swimmer or only deep enough to need wading.
Unfortunately the grotto is so dark it is VERY difficult to get good
pictures of it.
To drop into the grotto use a hand line to lower yourself down to
the pool then swim or wade to the other side. Once on the other
side take a moment to look back at the double arch overhead. I find
it amazing that sections of canyon can get so tight and deep that a
flashlight would be nice to have along.
After the grotto, continue down canyon and enjoy a few easy down
climbs along the way. The temperature of the water should begin to
get warmer farther down canyon since a warm spring empties into the
canyon here.
Just before getting to the East Fork of the Virgin River there is a
lot more vegetation and some ferns since the water is constant and
warm. As the narrow section opens you are greeted with a lot of
vegetation. Look for a trail LDC that cuts through the vegetation
and leads to the river.
The river (yFatMansBt) is the end of the technical section and is a
good spot to take a break, enjoy the views and filter water if you
need it for the hike out. This will be the last water on the route.
The Exit:
Continue about 0.3 miles downriver (south then west as it curves).
This is a scenic treat similar to portions of the Zion Narrows.
Look for a route up the right (north) side (jFatManOut). The route
up starts up a short trail but soon involves some 4th class
sections. About 0.2 miles from the river you the climb tops out on
a saddle.
From the saddle (wFatManRP-14), look for cairns leading the way up
the hills to the left. There are a couple spots to scramble up
along this route. Keep an eye out for cairns to help follow the
route. The route continues almost due north. After the trail tops
out briefly about 0.25 miles from the saddle it begins to get easier
to follow with more defined paths.
As a reminder this area is full of trails going to many places. Use
a map or GPS and keep an eye on what direction you are going. This
is also the hot part of the route. Since the route is almost all
uphill for a long way and there is little or no shade it can feel
like you are in a huge frying pan.
About 0.7 miles from the saddle will be a set of almost bee hive
like formations along the side of the trail (wFatManRP-15). From
these beehive formations continue north-northwest and on the west
side of peak 5534. The trail will drop slightly down to another
small valley then back up onto a saddle (wFatManRP-16).
From the saddle (wFatManRP-16) continue north-northwest. Note a
large drainage on the left (west) but resist the urge to drop down
to it.
About 0.35 miles from the saddle the trail will seem to top out on a
slick rock ridge. This is the slick rock ridge you were on earlier
in the day just before dropping down to Fat Man’s Misery. You
should also be able to recognize the south end of Checkerboard Mesa
if you were paying attention on your way in. As the trail tops out
on the ridge, turn more toward the west and start dropping down to
the drainage below. Once in the drainage, retrace your route back
over the next drainage, around the south end of Checkerboard Mesa,
up and over the saddle, down the canyon back to the road.
Downloadable GPX files
available at
BG-Gear Store
(easier than manual entry and a great way to support
Bluugnome).
Waypoint naming convention and map symbol information can be found on the Glossary page.
Elevations are approximate.
BEFORE
manually entering coordinates set your system to WGS84 datum and Lat/Lon hddd.ddddd° coordinate format.
Inconsistent datum's and coordinate formats will result in location errors.
Click to show / expand the list of waypoints below........
| Fat Man's Misery East (1) - Approach |
- tFatMans
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.22593
W -112.88767
Elev: 5,600 Feet
Trailhead for Fat Man's Misery Canyoneering Route. There is a pull out on the north side of the road on the west side of a drainage that crosses under the road.
- wFatManRP-01
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.21964
W -112.88473
Elev: 5,710 Feet
On the way up the canyon appears to have a fork. Turn and go left to continue up the canyon.
- wFatManRP-02
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.21193
W -112.88356
Elev: 6,000 Feet
Saddle at the top of the drainage.
- wFatManRP-03
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.20916
W -112.88254
Elev: 5,850 Feet
A path leading left (southeast) out of the wash about 0.2 miles down from the saddle.
- jFatMansLoop
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.20078
W -112.86820
Elev: 5,620 Feet
Junction where the trail splits to go to the top or bottom of Fat Man's Misery.
- yFatManWestTp
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.20160
W -112.86320
Elev: 5,180 Feet
Top entry for Fat Man's Misery West Fork.
To continue down the West Fork of Fat Man's Misery follow down canyon about 0.45 miles to rap 1.
To go to the East Fork of Fat Man's Misery travel down the wash for about 500 feet to a side ravine on the LDC side running up to the north roughly perpendicular to the canyon.
- FatEast01
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.20068
W -112.86224
Elev: NaN Feet
Bottom of a ravine running up to the northwest. Route find your way northwest up the ravine / drainage staying on the LUC (north) side going over a ledges here and there. If you stay to the left (north) on the way up the route will slowly contour up away from the drainage bottom. About 100 feet up out of Fat Man's West a few intermittent use trails begin to form.
Note:
There is also a ravine running up to the north going parallel to the pothole section up canyon. That is not the ravine you want. The ravine you want is the one going north up the side of the canyon running roughly perpendicular to the canyon.
- FatEast02
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.20306
W -112.86085
Elev: NaN Feet
A few intermittent use trails begin to form up out of the drainage on the LUC (north) side. Continue northwest up the slope about 1000 feet to the crest of a ridge.
- FatEast03
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.20459
W -112.85799
Elev: 5,685 Feet
Route gest to the crest of a ridge. Continue west down the other side of the ridge and go down the hill side about 0.4 miles and find a way to scramble down to the wash / drainage below. The terrain is easy travel down the slope with no trails or landmarks.
- FatEast04
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.20480
W -112.85220
Elev: NaN Feet
Route down the slopes gets to the head of a small ravine just above the large wash below. Route find your way around the head then down into the ravine and down it a few hundred feet to where you can scramble down into the wash.
- yFatManEastTp
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.20356
W -112.85155
Elev: NaN Feet
Top of the East Fork of Fat Mans Misery Canyon. Once down in the wash walk down canyon about 200 feet to the start of a slot.
|
| Fat Man's Misery East (2) - The Canyon |
- yFatManEastTp
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.20356
W -112.85155
Elev: NaN Feet
Top of the East Fork of Fat Mans Misery Canyon. Once down in the wash walk down canyon about 200 feet to the start of a slot.
- FatEast05
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.20313
W -112.85183
Elev: NaN Feet
Start of a narrow walk through slot with scenic, undulating, twisting walls. About 0.28 miles down canyon the third open spot passes by a side drainage on the LDC side that may go un-noticed as you pass by.
- FatEast06
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.19965
W -112.85071
Elev: NaN Feet
Wide open area with a wide shallow side drainage coming in on the LDC side. The drainage is wide coming down gently sloped slickrock and almost does not look like a drainage and may be easily overlooked.
The canyon continues for about 0.3 miles to a slot that has a 250 foot long corridor in it. In that 0.3 miles the canyon is a mix of easy walk through slots and open areas with a few short easy scrambles of 4 to 6 feet mixed in.
- FatEast07
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.19617
W -112.85064
Elev: NaN Feet
Corridor of about 250 feet long shortly into a narrow section of canyon.
The canyon continues for about 0.6 miles to a slot that has a 10 foot downclimb. In that 0.6 miles the canyon is a mix of easy walk through slots and open areas with a few short easy scrambles of 4 to 6 feet mixed in.
- FatEast08
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.18910
W -112.85412
Elev: NaN Feet
Down climb of about 10 feet that is moderately challenging near the start of a narrow section. Down canyon of this drop the canyon begins to get deeper feeling and the frequency of short downclimbs increases but remains easy. About 500 feet down canyon is a cross joint where the canyon makes a sharp right turn.
- FatEast09
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.18796
W -112.85498
Elev: NaN Feet
Cross joint where the canyon makes a sharp right turn. Continuing down from here is the final 0.2 miles long slot of the East Fork and is deeper and darker than the narrow sections up canyon. Down from this cross joint the canyon remains deep and begins to have more water that can get pretty cold.
About 100 feet down canyon is a downclimb of about 12 feet to a pool that could be chest deep if full. From the bottom of the downclimb is deep sculpted narrows with log jambs overhead and very pretty.
About 200 feet farther is a downclimb of about 8 feet then about 700 feet of deep narrow canyon to rap 1. Just before getting to rap 1 will be a couple downclimbs / slides down sloped slots to water filled pools that can be waist to chest deep and cold.
- dFatEastR1
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.18793
W -112.85642
Elev: NaN Feet
Rap 1 - Fat Man's Misery East Fork. Anchored RDC from a single bolted hanger and drops about 30 feet to a large chamber like area with waist deep water. Hope you have your wet suit on here as it can get very cold. From the bottom of rap 1 walk a short distance down canyon to where it opens up to wide wash walking for about 0.2 miles down to the confluence of the West and East Forks.
Note:
A few hundred feet down canyon of rap 1 is a side ravine on the RDC (north) side as the wash makes a left hand bend. That is not the confluence with the west fork. About 350 feet farther is another large drainage dropping down on the RDC side and is the West Fork of Fat Man's Misery.
- jFatManConf
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.18811
W -112.85780
Elev: 4,775 Feet
Confluence of the East and West Forks of Fat Man's Misery Canyon. Continue southwest down the wash about 600 feet to the next rap.
- dFatMainR1
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.18674
W -112.85877
Elev: 4,770 Feet
Rappel 1 in the main fork of Fat Man's Misery below the confluence. Anchored from a boulder LDC and drops about 30 feet with an overhang about mid way down the rap.
- wFatManRP-13
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.18431
W -112.86024
Elev: 4,740 Feet
Start of the sixth narrow section. A hand line is set up to assist with easing down into a pothole.
- yFatMansBt
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.18308
W -112.86065
Elev: 4,569 Feet
Bottom exit of Fat Man's Misery where the route meets the East Fork of the Virgin River.
|
| Fat Man's Misery East (3) - Exit |
- yFatMansBt
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.18308
W -112.86065
Elev: 4,569 Feet
Bottom exit of Fat Man's Misery where the route meets the East Fork of the Virgin River.
- jFatManOut
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.18097
W -112.86247
Elev: 4,560 Feet
A route starts up the north bank of the river and tops out on a saddle about 0.2 miles away. Some 4th class scrambling is required.
- wFatManRP-14
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.18272
W -112.86168
Elev: 4,800 Feet
Saddle on the trail above the Virgin River and the way out. Look for cairns going up and left.
- wFatManRP-15
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.19222
W -112.86274
Elev: 5,388 Feet
A couple of bee hive formations along the trail. From the beehives continue north along the west side of peak 5534.
- wFatManRP-16
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.19522
W -112.86417
Elev: 5,405 Feet
A saddle after crossing a small valley.
- jFatMansLoop
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.20078
W -112.86820
Elev: 5,620 Feet
Junction where the trail splits to go to the top or bottom of Fat Man's Misery.
- wFatManRP-03
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.20916
W -112.88254
Elev: 5,850 Feet
A path leading left (southeast) out of the wash about 0.2 miles down from the saddle.
- wFatManRP-02
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.21193
W -112.88356
Elev: 6,000 Feet
Saddle at the top of the drainage.
- wFatManRP-01
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.21964
W -112.88473
Elev: 5,710 Feet
On the way up the canyon appears to have a fork. Turn and go left to continue up the canyon.
- tFatMans
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.22593
W -112.88767
Elev: 5,600 Feet
Trailhead for Fat Man's Misery Canyoneering Route. There is a pull out on the north side of the road on the west side of a drainage that crosses under the road.
|