Looking for partners for Sand Wash, Bull Valley Gorge, Orderville & Fat Man's Parunaweep

Hi , I live in the UK, but have hiked around Utah on about 20 vacations, but my usual companions can’t go this October, so I can’t decide whether to fly out alone, so I wondered if anyone would be interested in linking up for some remote hikes and canyoneering.

The main places I want to go probably around the 1st two weeks of October are Orderville Canyon, Bull Valley Gorge (here )http://www.americansouthwest.net/slot_canyons/bull_valley_gorge/canyon.html, Sand Wash loop (also called Red Cave near Kanab) herehttp://www.americansouthwest.net/slot_canyons/sand_wash/red-cave.html and the West Fork slot of Fat Man’s Misery, then exiting via the Barracks/Parunaweep.

There are other places on my “B-list” further east towards Page like exploring slickrock areas like Lower Resrvoir on the Vermillion Cliffs Nat Mon via the sandy roads (not Coyote Buttes or Whitepocket which I’ve been to unless its a shortish visit), the slots of middle sections of Waterholes Canyon.

Once catch as you all seem experienced canyoneers is the only problem for the canyoneering bits is although I’ve rapelled I’m really a beginner as others set everything up for me - but I plan to do ZAC’s one-day course at the start of my vacation (maybe any beginners would like to join me) which I'm told should be sufficient for these beginner canyons with just the odd short chockstone descent, but I’d still not be keen to go alone to canyons where probably there will be no one else all day. So I wondered if any of you canyoneers would like to come along, OR I do know a canyoneering outfitter/guide who will go and extra people reduces costs & his partner also shuttles from the Parunaweep/French Canyon exit all the way back to his/client vehicles just outside Zion NP
Many thanks, Ross

Hit me up on CS, will probably be able to host you, give direction/advice, and maybe take you out with us.

https://www.couchsurfing.com/people/james-marvin

Hi James. Thanks, that's very kind of you. I've not used CS before, but I've "friended" you on there and will get in touch if I confirm my trip. A friend now says he may be able to come along to Utah - will know in the next week - so I'm waiting on him, my work, flights. Any of the above canyons of particular interest to you?

Thanks James. Is it better to contact you through here, email, or CS, or PMs somewhere ?

Can we take it that you're definitely happy for myself and a friend to stay at yours on Sept 29 after our drive from Vegas (be there about 8pm but that's very rough as Vegas immigration can take ages), as if yes, l won't reserve a Springdale motel. The 30th I think we will get a Springdale motel as after our all day ZAC course we will need to get equipment/permits/food before a 5.15am wake-up the next day. (if yes, what's your address please?). Will get you an Orderville permit if you want to come Oct 1

Secondly, we've got a definite date we plan to go down Bull Valley Gorge on Oct 5 if no rain is forecast, and it would be great if you or your friends could come.
We've heard it can just be one or 2 short rope-assisted downclimbs/rappels, but the canyon can change as it gets big floods and others say big trapped trees and chockstones could provide some nasty surprises. Although my friend has reasonable rappeling experience, although from some years ago, I will only have done it a few times, so it would be good to have someone confident in case of unexpected nasty surprises. (I'm less worried though about the rappels than the climbing, and getting stuck between a nasty climb up a huge chockstone and a rap behind us).

I've heard it can be dry, probably is muddy, and could have some cold wades and possibly even a short cold swim

Lastly I don't really want to hike all 15 miles down Bull Valley, and up Sheep Creek round to Willis Creek, which I've seen, & I've read people have exited up to Bull Valley's rim to return to cars after about 2 miles and after about 4 miles but I don't know if these exits are just tough scrambles rather than exposed climbs. But, planning for the worst, just in case we couldn't find them, I guess an early start is needed just in case we'd have to hike round to Willis. As it would be quite a long drive from La Verkin, if you were coming you may want to camp or stay in Kanab like us the night before.