Maple Canyon first time!

Looks like I'm going to Maple Canyon next week! Flying to SLC, driving down. Meeting some nice folks who already have camping lined up. Anything to know beforehand?

It looks like there's a guidebook. Any "local" shop I can buy from down there? I'd rather support a local climbing business, if I can.

I assume it will be toasty, and maybe tstorms, but that's true anywhere I'd go around here, too! 

I don't know exact times, except for flights, but I may have time to kill on 7/29, in SLC area before an evening flight, if anyone wants to meet somewhere. Gym, early dinner, both?? 

Best, Helen

Helen,
Swing by IME in Salt Lake City to purchase one of the two guide books.  Awesome shop guys at IME.
Maple is awesome, great camping.  The area can flash flood in the event of heavy rain.  It sits at 7000 feet so may have reasonable temps.  I typically pack a puffy even in the heat of the summer (just in case temps drop). 

Feel free to PM.

Not a Maple expert by any means, but we did stop there for a couple of days this spring.
Couldn't find a local gear shop, so buy whatever you need in SLC, including a guidebook.
That being said, you could probably get away with just using MP, although it'd be helpful to have an overview map of the different areas.
PM me if you want some shots from a very old guidebook.
You can find shade.
Even easy routes can be pretty steep. This is good or bad depending on what you like.
There's a certain monotony to the routes, but I grew to really enjoy the climbing.
Flies can be annoying.
The campground in Manti Temple Hill Campground will let you buy a shower.
Have fun!

@SM Ryan, flash flood the camping area, or ? Is "IME" the name, or initials for whatever? 7000 is great, it'll cool off at night! It looked very similar to COR temps, coming up, so I'm fine with that.

@Mark, I'm a fan of paper books. Beat up, marked up....I dunno. Just better, somehow. In terms of "steep", I was given crap on here once for thinking my local stuff is vertical. Sheesh. To me, if you are in the air on the way down, that's not "slab" in practice. Nothing in Boise is low angle for more than a few feet,where acolumn fell over at the start. My first ever true friction slab was a month ago, at COR. Also my first truly "easy" climbing. 

Thanks, guys! I'll be meeting an MPer! That, is the best part, now. Meeting my family!

Best, Helen

IMed you about a guidebook.  Flash floods are quite rare, and affect the Box Canyon area, not the campground or other areas.  Right now worrying about flash floods is right up there with worrying about being trampled by unicorns.
What days are you there?  I may be able to drop a guidebook off at your campsite.
Maple is fun!  It's the learn to love slopers program.

Old lady H wrote: Is "IME" the name, or initials for whatever?

International Mountain Equipment - they don't have much of a website but they know their stuff.

I've only been to Maple Canyon once but it is loads of fun! What date are you flying in? July 24th is a big Utah holiday and it may be crowded then.

What happened 7/24? LDS historical date, maybe? I confess, I'm not up on Utah history, but know a tiny bit of LDS stuff in passing. I fly in 7/25, in the morning. Crowds are....or aren't. It's just what you get. So far, Smith last fall was the only over the top, Black Friday at the mall crowds I've run into. My partner and I literally did the approach by starlight....and had people lining up behind us shortly after we got there. City of Rocks, in prime season, this year, people bailed because they saw thunderstorm in the forecast. We had our area to ourselves! Last week, hot temps in the forecast and the place was empty. And lovely climbing weather. You just go, and learn how to make it work, IME. That said, I don't recommend Hells Canyon, Idaho in August in a record heat wave. It was​​​​ a memorable trip, though! :-)

What are the approaches like? I'm camping, but that's about all I know.

Slopers? Oh boy....

Best, Helen

Pioneer Day celebrates the entry of Brigham Young and the first group of Mormon pioneers into the Salt Lake Valley on July 24, 1847.

Not being Mormon, I celebrate "Pie 'n Beer Day" on 7/24.

Approaches can be as short as 5 minutes on an easy trail at Maple Canyon, but then I've only been there once so by no means an expert.

Helen

Jean and I have been there a couple of dozen times over the years. I sent you an email with some recommendations. It is like climbing in a gym but outdoors.

Give me a call discuss some of the areas and climbs that you would like.

John

Mike Kaserman wrote: IMed you about a guidebook.  Flash floods are quite rare, and affect the Box Canyon area, not the campground or other areas.  Right now worrying about flash floods is right up there with worrying about being trampled by unicorns.
What days are you there?  I may be able to drop a guidebook off at your campsite.
Maple is fun!  It's the learn to love slopers program.

Hi Mike - I will be joining Helen in Maple (my first time there also). I see a couple different guidebooks available for the area (Knezek/Knight and Pegg/Hechtel, both from 2012) - any suggestions on which is preferred or if there are others I should be looking for? I also love paper books. 

Very excited to finally meet OLH in person and share a rope!

Erika

Mike - haha.  Well I guess I have seen an unicorn event at least four times.  
I have seen flash floods in four  different years iin July and August.  There is a monsoon pattern that sets up in the summer which can push as far north as Maple some years which results in late afternoon showers.  There  was a huge flash flood in 2014 that did major damage to the campground road and the Pipe dream trail.  Canyon ball sized rocks washed off from the top of the cliffs.  We have footage of the event.  

Helen / Erika-  Feel free to PM for info on crags/routes. I have been on many 5.8-5.9 that are vertical or slab.  Recommend Darren’s book which includes all climbs. Dave Pegg’s book is not a comprehensive guide. 

ErikaNW wrote:

Hi Mike - I will be joining Helen in Maple (my first time there also). I see a couple different guidebooks available for the area (Knezek/Knight and Pegg/Hechtel, both from 2012) - any suggestions on which is preferred or if there are others I should be looking for? I also love paper books. 

Very excited to finally meet OLH in person and share a rope!

Erika

Erika

I recently purchased the Knezek/Knight book. It is a very nice book. All of the pictures are digital.

Each climb is named in bold, then the rating, stars and how many draws are needed. The draws include both the bolts and anchors. The book lists other area besides Maple Canyon. There are over 600 climbs listed in the book. It also gives the history, ethics, camping, food, etc.

Before purchasing the book, we just used MP to get us where we wanted to go.

John

Hey peeps? I'm in Idaho. Flash floods are a reality here also, even if it's a unicorn sorta thing. Problem is, once the unicorns get outta the barn, they wreak havoc. Boise rebuilt parts of the downtown for flood channels a few years ago, in case of the unicorn event in our foothills. After all, we rope up for unicorns, really. :-)

John, I forwarded all your info to Erika, thanks so much! I should be able to grab anything she would like me to bring from SLC. Ill just buy both guides, support the people who put the effort into it. Sooooo many people have been so kind to me, I am very happy to be generous back, now that I can do that.

It's pretty exciting to meet people! Because of my circumstances, I was very, very closed in. So much so, that I didn't even realize how constricted I was. This is the first time to rent a car, and the first trip on my own. First flight anywhere in 20+ years. No more saying no.

Climbing, and climbers, saved my life, even to the point of giving Dave hope toward the end. I am humbled by the friendships and extremely grateful for all of you.

And STOKED to meet Erika!!

Okay, easy routes that aren't X rated is also kinda exciting too 

I actually do need to mow the lawn, now, lol! Figure out how to pack my 30L for a TRIP! Get the bills paid....

Best, Helen

You will either love or hate Maple (I personally love it)-Camping is great-Everything walking distance

Check out The Birthday Cortidor -Except when sun is highest, there is always a shady side (routes on MP)

One of my favorite climbs is Key Lime Sky on the O2 wall -It eats up more than a 60m, though, due to its wandering nature

Enjoy pulling cobbles

Cheers

Jackii

This thread is way too productive....Have fun H!

Thanks! And thanks to those who sent emails, too. I know I'll enjoy it, I get to meet people!

This is also the first fly/drive trip, so I'm shaking down the pack for a plane thing. Proud to say I got all my camping and climbing stuff in a 32L! That will go carry-on, and a book bag size will have helmet and some clothes. And a gift or two from Idaho!

Best, Helen

Old lady H wrote: This is also the first fly/drive trip, so I'm shaking down the pack for a plane thing. Proud to say I got all my camping and climbing stuff in a 32L! That will go carry-on,...

Will that fit as carry-on? The max size is typically 22"x14"x9".

Pretty neat, huh? The rulers are a 12" and an 18". It's close to the going under a seat size, but the book bag will be that bit. 

Once the camping crap is out, it will very easily carry all my climbing stuff, plus a rope, water, treats, whatever Erika and Jim give me to haul. It's just an empty box, with a zip on three sides, so it opens out. I saw one being used locally, asked, and got to try it on, so I knew it would fit, and do what I wanted. Popped for this size and next size up, but the 33 is my crag pack now!

Thanks much, sir! I have absolutely zero idea how the climbing will go on those cobbles, but I'm very confident the trip will be super fun!

Best, Helen

Old lady H wrote: I have absolutely zero idea how the climbing will go on those cobbles,...

You will be faced with a dozen choices of holds. On
every.
single.
move!

Marc801 C wrote: You will be faced with a dozen choices of holds. On
every.
single.
move!

Wow! :-)

Also, I don't think you really need to buy both guide books to "support the local community."
IIRC, the Knezek book is from a local. 
If you have extra cash and want to contribute, I'm sure there's an LCO.