Pleiades Canyon, Manti La Sal National Forest, Moab, Utah

After breakfast we headed out to Manti La Sal National Forest outside Moab — a different canyon environment at 9000ft elevation with birch trees and pine, 60-degree air. Patrick met us at the trailhead and joined solo.

Reached the birch line and found the wash to the first drop — around 20ft. Rapped down on 8mm double rope to a cavernous section at the bottom. Rap 2 was a double drop totaling around 60ft. Rap 3 had a nasty lip but manageable at 20ft.

Rap 4: an 80ft water slide drop. Beautiful. We all reached the bottom and pulled the rope — it stuck in chock stones we couldn't see. Flicked in every direction for 10 minutes. Considered climbing the rope. As I was about to commit to the climb, the rope popped free. Relief. Rapped the final drop and made the trailhead in under 4 hours. Then drove to Dragonfly Canyon — and realized I still had Patrick's rope on my bag. Still looking for him to return it.