When I retired at the age of 62 in 2012 I had spent the previous 10 summers as the High Adventure Director at a Boy Scout High Adventure Base in southern Utah. My camp week often involved leading 4 or 5 groups on 4 or 5 days of hiking in Zion National Park. Over 1000 scouts were involved. The first 3 groups of photos show the area of concentration with close to a 50/50 split between the Narrows hike (#5 on National Geographic list of top American Adventures) and Angels Landing. Canyon Overlook was a quick activity with the best view for the least effort. I also discovered a beautiful secluded swimming spot, the beach of which is in the photo on my home page. Everyone loved it and no one was ever there when we used it those 10 summers. It will be the subject of a future blog post.

The remaining wilderness activities are favorites with the Salisbury School Summer Camp the most extensive program featuring hikes of Old Rag combined with climbing, rappelling, and great fun in Shenandoah creeks and waterfalls. All climbs and rappels were conducted using a top anchor point with a two person *belay* team. I would tie certified ropes and equipment to a tree trunk. With the climber never above their secure anchor falls are merely slips and position can be easily regained without pressure on the climber or equipment.

Zion Narrows Hike

A group of people standing in the water near rocks.
A group of people standing in front of a waterfall.
A group of people walking through the water
A group of people in the water near some rocks.
A group of people in the water near rocks.
A group of people standing on top of a rock.
A person sitting on top of a mountain.
A group of people standing in front of a mountain.
A rock climber is climbing up the side of a mountain.
A man is climbing up the side of a mountain
A man in cowboy hat and backpack climbing up the side of a mountain.
A group of people standing on top of a mountain.
A group of people sitting on top of a mountain.
Two people sitting on the ground in front of a cave.

Angels Landing

"The summit looks like the top of the world. The views up and down Zion Canyon look onto an almost mythical landscape, with the river far below winding into the misty distance. The route to Angels Landing is rightly regarded as one of the most remarkable trails in the whole national park system."

-National Park Service Literature 

Canyon Overlook

A group of people sitting on top of a rock.
1998 Canyon Overlook - Emerson 12, Sally 10, Carlton 6
A picture of the canyon overlook in the park.
A large mountain range with snow on it's sides.
A view of trees and mountains from the ground.
A view of the mountains from atop a mountain.
A group of people standing on top of a mountain.
A page of an old document with some writing on it
A group of people standing around a fire.

Mt Potosi "Sky Island" Summit Campsite

The culmination of the Camp Potosi High Adventure Program.
The summit’s 360-degree vistas include the entire Las Vegas valley.

Bridge Mountain

“Bridge Mountain (7,003ft.) is the highest peak in the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area. It is an enormous block of white rock sitting above a maze of dramatic red and white canyons, forming the eastern edge of a great escarpment. The scenery is spectacular and from a distance the mountain appears unscalably vertical. In fact, the climb is Class 3 and can be safely accomplished without protection. The climb brings you to a lovely natural bridge that gives the mountain its name. The climb is fun and exhilarating and it provides breathtaking views of the maze of canyons around the mountain, of the flatland to the east with Las Vegas in plain view, and of the higher mountains to the northwest. This hike is a classic, one of the best in the southwest.”
Christopher E. Brennan
Adventure Hikes and Canyoneering in the Southwest

Two pictures of a desert landscape with mountains in the background.
A black and white photo of some rocks
A black and white photo of mountains in the distance.
A large rock formation with trees in the middle of it.
A black and white photo of people on top of a mountain.
A page of the newspaper with information about recreation.

Sally at the "raintree"

A tree with a large trunk in the middle of it

Salisbury School Summer Camp

A letter from the salisbury school to the president of the school.
A man and woman swimming in the water.
A man and woman in the water near a waterfall.
Salisbury School asst. headmaster and son supervise a camper entering Cedar Run Creek.
A man is climbing up the side of a rock wall.
A man and woman swimming in the water.
A group of people sitting on top of a rock.
Two people on a rope jumping off of a cliff.
A man is climbing up the side of a cliff.
A man with hiking poles standing on top of a hill.
Three boys are standing in the rocks and one is laying down.
A person in the water with their arms outstretched.
A person is riding down the water slide.
A man hanging from a rope on the side of a rock wall.
Two children sitting on a ledge at the top of a mountain.
A person is climbing up the side of an electrical pole.
A person swimming in the water near rocks.
A man swimming in the ocean with his head above water.
A group of people climbing up the side of a tree.
A man standing on the side of a tree.
A young boy in red helmet climbing up the side of a wall.
A close up of the side of a pole
A man holding onto ropes while standing on top of a cliff.
A person laying on the ground in front of some trees
Three people swimming in a river with rocks
A person in the woods with a camera.
A woman sitting on the ground with a dog.
A man climbing up the side of a rock wall.
A man is balancing on a log in the woods.
Two people on a rope bridge in the woods.

COPE/ shenandoah Adventure Programs

Pictures from groups and organizations