SOUTH GUARDIAN ANGEL (con't) The schedule indicated Paul Lipsohn and George Hubbard as leaders, and it was to be this eminent peak on which Paul and Fred Bode had long planned to celebrate the completing of the DPS list. So all the participants were disappointed and saddened in that Paul Lipsohn had to cancel himself for impelling personal reasons. George Hubbard was advanced to the leader role, supported by Roy Ward as assistant. Thus the celebration honors fell solely to the remarkable and beloved by all, Fred Bode, who ably surmounted all obstacles and basked in the glorious fall weather that prevailed. He had thus climbed all 81 peaks on the DPS list, a noteworthy feat for a man 70 some years young. Because of the technical difficulties, this trip requires a well-qualified leader, with a skilled mountaineer cadre, plus climbing accoutrements. On Saturday this able team scouted the up canyon trouble spots and coped with these by rigging climbing ropes and installing log bridges. Such preparation assured a safe, speedy and efficient canyon escape for the Sunday's climb. A physical description of Zion National Park is important to this essay. Zion National Park (148 sq mi, 114 mi N*S by 11 mi E_W) is located in SW Utah and was declared a national park in 1919. The spectacular north-south Zion Canyon (branch of the Virgin River) cuts off the east one-third of the park. The Great Western Canyon with its several tributaries drains the west half of the park. The Right Fork and Left Fork are the tributaries, with South Guardian Angel located between the two. The Left Fork was the river of our interest as it cuts across the northwest part of the park. The Kolob Plateau Road skirts the west edge of the park. It intersects Highway 15 at the town of Virgin at an elevation of about 3500'. In travelling northward on this road one is continually climbing until the road leaves the north boundary of the park at 7600'. This north corner of the park is known as the Kolob Plateau, and it provides an excellent vantage point to view the skyline panorama of high peaks. From here, North Guardian Angel and South Guardian Angel, are prominent in the foreground. Both being of white sandstone and conical, they appear as an elegant matched set guarding the surrounding countryside. Far to the east is a second matched set, West Temple and East Temple. These are easily identified as being capped off with a turret, the turret representing the more recent geological era of Carmel Limestone, and is more resistant to erosion than the Navajo Sandstone of which the Guardian Angels are composed. The paragraphs here following provide guide type information: From Las Vegas drive to St George, Utah on Interstate 15. A few miles east of St George pick up State 15, which is the entrance to Zion Park. Follow this for about 20 miles looking for the hard to find town of Virgin. At Virgin turn left on a blacktop marked "Kolob Plateau". Proceed northerly about 10 miles looking for an obscure dirt road junction which joins on the left. Proceed on the black top another half mile and turn into an ample parking lot on the right. Park here and befit yourself for the long hike. There is another roadhead, which provides a better more direct route into the canyon. It is found by going another 4 mi north on the same road and then doubling back into Lee Valley, but this route involves locked gates, so is discounted for this essay. The general area, where the cars are parked, is a lava field. It extends in a north-south direction and is an extension of the plateau that prevails to west and north. To the east is a precipitous defile containing the Left Fork. The roadhead would provide an overlook point, except for the enshrouding low pine woods. The immediate objective was to descend into the river canyon. One can not proceed directly eastward because of a sheer vertical 140' drop-off. The party hikes northeasterly approaching a red craggy promontory. At the juncture of the red sandstone with the black lava a steep canyon or couloir runs down to the river 500' below. This is an easy hiking plunge, although

Page Index	Prev	Page 6	Next	Issue Index