Jungle, on the Aquarius Plateau  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  10,400' Lat, Long:  37.7487, -111.7422 Map Page Views:  58,881. Good page? (7 likes)    Administrators:  Andrew Gram, Perin Blanchard, grk10vq, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Roy Suggett on Jul 20, 2009 Make this area a Favorite What's New  Printer View Add Area  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

North faces in the Jungle are exceptionally colorf...

Description 

This is sharply-broken volcanic rock from the late Tertiary (Rhyolite) forming two bands of cliffs, the south or left of the road areas (Upper Jungle and Upper Canopy) and the north or right of the road areas (The Lower Jungle, Distant Drum, and Planet of the Apes). There are many excellent, long cracks to be developed. There is also a lot potential for bolted sport routes. As of Oct. 2012, there are 82 routes ranging from 6s to 13s with at least one route at every grade in that range.

This is an alpine setting (10,400 ft.) and one of the highest (drive up to) crags in the country. Thunder storms can come and go quickly especially in late July and August. The north band of cliffs have two towers, Authors and Jared Diamond, that can provide shelter from the storm. Lighting strikes on the upper reaches of the cliffs can bring rocks down. The closest hospital is in Panguitch 50 minutes distant. The Tropic First Responders have been briefed on the area and a 911 call can be made from the parking areas. Give them the area and route you need help on to speed (1.5 hr.s) the stokes stretcher to you.

Camping can be had in a civilized manner, "pool and restaurant," at a KOA in Cannonville (1 hour, 10 minutes) or at Ruby's Inn (50 minutes). Otherwise, this area is USFS controlled and there is a primitive campground near Pine Lake or many off-road options right near the crag are available (see topo below).

Food can best be purchased at Ruby's Inn: there's a grocery store, and - BONUS - a full range buffet in the restaurant.

Spirits are hard to come by in the "Empire of Utah"... There is a full State liquor store in Panguitch (1 hour, 30 minutes), or a limited State liquor store at Ruby's. Beer here is "near beer" so come prepared, stock up before you cross the state line.

OTHER THINGS TO DO: Just down the road 1.9 miles is a 4 mile jeep trail that finishes as one mile of single track and a non-technical but great views mountain bike ride...about 10 miles in and out. Very nice! Also, father down and behind Pine Lake is the Hinderson Canyon ride that will take you to the town of Tropic. About 10 miles of single track to dirt road that lasts for about 5 miles. A super trail in the upper section! This can be shuttled to skip the road. The fishing at Pine Lake is not bad but higher up, above the Jungle, are many small lakes thick with trout (mostly Brook, though a splattering of other species can also be caught).

NOTABLE FLORA AND FAUNA: Subalpine Firs and Bristlecone Pines (a.k.a. Foxtail Pines locally) as well as Black Bears, Mountain Lions, Mule Deer, Elk, Marmots, Pikas, Black Rosy Finches, Magnificent Hummingbirds, Blue (Dusky) Grouse, Swifts, many species of Owls, most of the raptors, including the Bald Eagle, Golden Eagle, California Condor and the Peregrine Falcon to name but a few.

ROCK QUALITY: There are some really great quality rock sections to this crag and some loose parts, as well. Be advised of the possibility of rock fall from high up. Blocks have weathered away from the main material (temperatures can and do regularly range between 90 degrees F. and -60 degrees F.) and precariously await their transition from potential to kinetic energy.

Interestingly, there is a debate regarding the exact origin of the material we climb. Some believe the crags were formed by volcanic ash dropping out of the sky over a long period of time; a caldera many miles away being the source of the activity. Others suggest the volcanism to be local and that this is a lava flow or perhaps an old plug.

Cutting a cross-section and using a microscope to examine the pattern and composition of crystals has yet to be done. Examining the best visual display of geology on site can be done in the Lower Jungle on the north-facing route called "Kunckle Draggers Needed." There's at least 6 to 7 layers exposed and there is a paper, if not a thesis or dissertation here.

The term Rhyolite is used as a generic term which includes many more precise igneous definitions. A visual/hand lens inspection seems to reveal abundant biotite, quaretz, sanadine, and amphibole. Perhaps a better term to describe the crag would be rhyo-dacite. In any event, there is good climbing to be had.

ROUTES: Due to the nature of the rock, bolt placements may not always coincide with your views. Judicious placements have been set, with safety being the primary concern. What may appear to be a perfect, sheer face, may actually bear a hollow, brittle base. Among the many things that are considered while setting, the "hammer-hollow" test has been determined as the most measurable way to rule out poor rock quality. While climbing please understand that routes may not follow a direct path and anchors may be placed prior to the top of a crag, all of which keeps everybody safer.

WEATHER: Thunder storms can be a problem but the rock dries out fast... not so much the road. If windy head deep into the "Lower Jungle" or even further into the "Distant Drum Area" and you can climb in calm albeit with the trees screaming above. There is more shade in the morning in the "Upper Jungle" though by 11:00 am or so it grows hot... move into the north facing routes in the "Lower Jungle" or "Distant Drum Area" where many fine routes can be found in shade or soon to become shady. This area is the the most protected from the sun. The fall season may be the most pristine time to climb here and can last late into October and in 2012 we were climbing in early November.

Getting There 

Take UT Highway 12 toward Bryce Canyon National Park; at BCNP junction, turn northeast onto Highway 22 (toward Antimony); turn southeast onto Forest Service road 132 toward Pine Lake for 5.2 miles; continue past first exit toward Pine Lake and look for left turn to Powell Point; continue on this road (132) for 5.9 miles until Powell Point jeep trail on right(143); Go PAST this jeep trail, setting odometer again and travel 1.9 miles, again, passing Powell Point jeep trail and PAST THE UPPER JUNGLE SCREE FIELD (looks like a single-car pullout on a hairpin turn) to the "Lower Jungle" et al. parking areas on right, or around the corner and up the road 100 meters to the "Upper Jungle" and "Upper Canopy" parking area where the approach trail leads DOWN to the climbs base trail (well marked). Short approaches can be found at these to parking areas to: 1) Lower Jungle and Distant Drum Areas from the northern/lower parking location and 2) from the southern/upper parking area to the Upper Jungle and Upper Canopy areas. Although the more northerly areas, i.e. the northern part of the Distant Drum Area, and to be sure, the Planet of the Apes Area have shorter approaches from above on the plateau (see topos and descriptions within each area).

Satellite topo of the area Submitted By: Roy Suggett on May 27, 2012

The Classics

Featured Route For Jungle, on the Aquarius Plateau

Dr. Zaius 5.10c  UT : Jungle, on the Aquarius Pla... : The Planet of the Apes

"I have always known about man. From the evidence, I believe his wisdom must walk hand and hand with his idiocy." Dr. Zaius-Dr. Zaius offers great crack climbing up a tough and tricky face. Well protected, this is an awesome, exciting route with plenty of options for gear. Worth its weight in gold, this line would have a line anywhere else. Unreal!!Begin in a steep, hand size crack and work up passing a small roof. Continue on the face, following a crack to a ledge th...[more]   Browse More Classics in UT

Photos of Jungle, on the Aquarius Plateau Slideshow

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Waiting to be developed. Many first ascents to be ...	Looking out over storm-filled red rock from the pr...	Vista from primitive campsite.
Girl- and dog- friend friendly.	BETA PHOTO: Another primitive campsite	More possible development.
Road conditions in the Fall.	Bonus material!	BETA PHOTO: Good roads are the norm though thunderstorms can c...
A small portion of the the Upper Jungle	Roping up, Upper Jungle	Fall is a great time to climb in the Jungle.
Old Man Rosco- Relaxing in the Jungle.	Upper Jungle from Pine Lake	The Lower Jungle.
Enjoying our time in the Jungle while on work rele...	The shadow people LOVED visiting Powell Point on t...