When Michelle asked what I wanted to Father's Day, I told her I wanted to go do a canyon. I also decided it was time to introduce Addison to canyoneering, and Baptist Draw, the canyon I did last year with Bri, Mason, Ryan, and Kaylyn would the perfect - a series of three rappels, each getting a little longer; some problem-solving but nothing outrageous; a gorgeous slot that will leave him wanting more. Michelle was supportive of both, and the only remaining problem was how to get to the trailhead since it's down a long dirt road in the Swell. I recruited a father-son duo in our neighborhood, since we're friends and they have a pickup, I borrowed a couple extra harnesses from our local Scout troop, and it was on. We got up early Saturday, June 18, and drove the four hours down to the trail, and then spent most of the day in the canyon. It was bone-dry this time, which made for a hot hike out, but it went nearly flawlessly. Nearly, because on the first rappel, Kade accidental...

Perhaps as penance for earlier canyoneering trips when underestimating and poor planning gave my parents way too many gray hairs from worry, I now tend to over-plan and over-prepare for canyons. I spend weeks reading everything I can find about it online, I trace the route on Google Earth over and over, I check the weather forecast for the four closest towns as though it's a tenet of my religion. And then I hope it pays off and makes for a smooth, incident-free experience. I'd been eyeing Bluejohn Canyon for awhile as the next on the bucket list. It has beautiful narrows, some fun little problems to solve, is super remote so you should have to the place to yourself. Plus, if you do the entire canyon, you end up at the Horseshoe Canyon Unit of Canyonlands National Park, with its famous Great Gallery rock art. The fine print: Bluejohn is also famous as the canyon where Aron Ralston got stuck and cut his arm off. I read his book again beforehand and decided I'm not a big fan...