UBERFest: Capitol Reef 2022

Who wants to go to Utah for some Fall canyoneering?!

To RSVP for this event, go to the Canyoneering California Meetup page:
https://www.meetup.com/canyoneering/events/283015320/

The only fee for this trip is a $80/person non-refundable fee which includes 4 nights of camping at a private campground with showers!  (If you cancel anytime after you sign-up, you forfeit your $80 as a cancellation fee.)  Because canyoneering is inherently dangerous, this event is ONLY open to people with professional canyoneering training, preferably from Uber Adventures, or those with significant canyoneering experience!  (if you’re not sure if your training or experience qualify, give me a shout before you sign-up!)  Because this event is SOCIAL, we will rely on experienced people to allow rookies in their groups while descending some awesome, iconic canyons!  (As usual, we are not guiding any groups or providing any transportation to or from Capitol Reef .. though we will help facilitate introductions and groupings!)

Because canyoneering is inherently dangerous, this event is ONLY open to people who have completed a technical canyoneering course (preferably from Uber Adventures or another ACE curriculum provider) or awesome partners with significant canyoneering experience!  If you’re not sure if your training or experience qualify, give me a shout before you sign-up!

There are several Uber Adventures Technical Canyoneering Courses (ACE-L1) offered between now and this event.  If you want to go to this event, get the training and become a competent participant and valuable team member!

Some of the logistics:

THE GROUP CAMPSITE: I’ve reserved a cluster of private campsites near Capitol Reef National Park for a maximum of 50 people (details will be provided to participants as the event approaches). This campsite has water, fire rings, picnic tables, restrooms and showers!  This campground cannot accommodate MANSION tents unless there are 2-3 people sharing it!

The Group Campsite will also lend itself for all group activities including gathering for ride-sharing, meals, the potluck, games and especially, CAMARADERIE!  Because we will always want to get a super early start for our canyons and morning shuttles, our evenings at the group campsite will end early so people can get their sleep.

The campground also has RV spaces and cabins available. If you want to go that route, contact me directly and I’ll give you the information. Also, if the group campsite fills up or if you want your own campsite, you may be able to reserve one on your own at the same campground. Again, contact me for details. If this is your choice, you’ll be responsible for making (and paying for) your own camping arrangements at the campground.

CARPOOL!  DO IT!  Two-three people to a car would be reasonable when you consider camping gear, coolers, canyoneering gear and shuttling to the canyons.

You are responsible for your own travel, and your own meals – except – we should absolutely DO A POTLUCK on Saturday evening at 7:00pm.  Bring something delicious to share .. this might also be the time for us to have an awesome campfire (wind permitting); so bring some firewood!

CAPITOL REEF NATIONAL PARK: This is a National Park so you will need a National Parks Pass or pay the park entry fee – no exceptions.  Permits are now required for recreational canyoneering in the park.

We are communicating with the Park Rangers to make sure we comply with park rules and regulations. This includes acquiring the required Day-Use permits for technical canyoneering and observing group size limits and numbers in the canyons. As an organization, we cannot exceed the determined number of people in the same canyon or the same route on the same day. DO NOT apply for permits before the event. We will form groups and take care of permits at the campsite. If there is a canyon you want to lead, send me a private message, and we will help distribute people appropriately. We will have sign-up sheets at the group campsite.

CANYONEERING IN THE PARK: For the protection of park resources, canyoneering groups are limited to 12 persons per group in the following technical canyons:

• Cassidy Arch Canyon
• The Wives: 1,2,3,4,5 & 6
• Old School
• Beaver Bay
• Na-Gah
• Arch Nemesis

Canyoneering groups are limited to 8 persons per group in all technical canyons not listed in the 12 person areas.

Capitol Reef is a clean canyoneering area. Minimum impact techniques that do not damage or destroy rock or other park resources are required:

• The installation of new fixed anchors (bolts, pitons, etc.) is prohibited.
• Bolts may be replaced only if an existing bolt is unsafe.
• The use of power drills is prohibited.
• Where it is necessary to leave or replace existing webbing, the webbing should be black or closely match the color of the surrounding rock.
• Protection may not be placed with the use of a hammer except to replace existing belay and rappel anchors and bolts on existing routes, or for emergency self-rescue.
• Physical alteration of rock faces is prohibited, such as chiseling, glue reinforcement of existing holds, trundling rocks, and gluing of new holds.
• It is prohibited to wrap webbing or rope, or rappel off any arch with an opening greater than three feet.

THE CANYONS in this region are terrific – from beginner friendly to long and arduous .. WOOHOO!! There are a variety of options for canyoneering from easy 2-hour canyons to full-day wet advanced canyons with significant challenges! Here’s a link to get you started: http://bluugnome.com/cyn_route/cap-reef/canyon-routes__cap-reef.aspx (nb: measure your ropes; some of the canyons have drops of exactly 200′ and a 200′ rope eventually shrinks to 180′ .. don’t come up short!)

OTHER ACTIVITIES: The park has awesome hikes, petroglyph panels, arches, technical canyoneering, visitor’s center and scenic drives!