Let’s be honest here. Being 5′1′′ with a stocky build and being considered a size LARGE in Japan, I have short Asian woman syndrome. I use the great outdoors as my personal therapy; to unwind from that long work week, to collect my thoughts, to reflect and think about current and upcoming challenges in life. Although I have the physical strength, my height often hinders me in making that sketchy upclimb/dino move, safety landing on my feet without busting my ankle, or bridging across that bigger–than–life pothole. On the flip side, I can fit in some places where the average six–foot male cannot. So the story commences . . .

It’s 7:00 AM on a Saturday morning. The sun had just risen over Escalante, its rays dancing off the red sandstone. The warmth is welcoming. Today’s goal: Mumbai. My interest for descending this canyon ignited after I had read a trip report detailing Ram and Aaron’s first (and epic) descent. I was uncertain of my ability but, not so much my endurance (I am not the speediest of people but can last for hours), but my height impairment. I am with a strong team who happen to be much more experienced than I: the quick and agile Mike Schasch, Big John who towers over me at 6′7′′, climber / ZAC guide Robby, and of course, the ‘infamous’ Gnome. He was kind enough to ask John if I could tag along for the ride, and I hope it’s not because I am the ‘girlfriend’ of ‘The Gnome.’ Fast forward to the present. We are through sorting group gear.

Robby asks, “What is the longest rap guys?”

Eyes shift, shrugs ensued, followed by a nonchalant, “120 feet SHOULD be enough.” And off we go, five miles into the vast, cow dung covered desert before us.

After a few hours of straightforward overland travel, we arrive at our destination. Mumbai canyon looms ahead, a menacing dark slot snaked perfectly around towering sandstone walls. We hike down into midcanyon and drop our gear. Schasch runs up canyon and examines the exit point of the upper half. He determines the safest point to drop down in order to avoid being belled out into the Bombay section. This drop in point is marked by a rock. A quick snack and we venture along the rim up to the top of the slot in order to begin the canyon. Easy down climb in, and the canyon appears to get physical instantaneously. No time to get nervous. Stem, stem, stem, scrape, scrape, scrape, higher and higher we go, until you find yourself 60 feet off–the–deck. Voila, we have entered the X section. I stop and admire the view below. The canyon below looks like an abyss with an endless drop to the floor. Schasch, Robby and John are up in front, Gnome and I are in the back. With every twist and bend a childlike curiosity begins to develop.

The first obstacle is a silo. Schasch, up ahead, communicates that it should be simple for me. I am intimidated by the penalty points involved and, although I have crossed silos in the past, this one seems intimidating. I request a belay from the Gnome and he puts me on rope while wedged into the canyon; knowing full well that if I happen to fall he will risk his own life by possibly taking a whipper. I galumph across it with ease, my reach posing no issues. A sigh of relief. Now being fully aware of my capability and how far I can reach, I determine that it was a mental mind fuck and trudge on. Before we know it, we are back on the sandy ground devouring our lunches.

Cloudy skies had decided to threaten us so we hustled out of the midsection in order to tackle the lower half of the canyon. After a rappel down a sculpted tube, we are greeted with a pothole full of murky green water.

“Damnit! We don’t want to get wet!”

Diener volunteers to be the sacrificial lamb. The water is only waist deep (on him). After fabricating a tensioned traverse and some fancy footwork, the rest of us make it across bone dry. What you do to avoid water! The lower section welcomes us with some high stemming, sandy-at-times-choosey-walls, and some decent places to wedge yourself in for the occasional breather. We move toward another silo. Robby goes high. Schasch points out the line he used. I replicate his actions and cross safely. Mr. Gnome notices a pink golf ball lodged between the canyon walls and revels at how it even got there! Another obstacle greets us. With my newfound awareness, I decide to go low and worm my way back up 15 feet. Watching the six–foot Gnome stride over the silo with ease I realize I had to exert more effort but at least I did what worked for me.

After some grunt work, we finally reach the elusive Bombay section. Robby provides a meat anchor for Schasch and he rappels down into obscurity. “Holy f**k!” and some other words of excitement escape his lips. From below he then locates the proper route to down climb through the area. Once the down climb was completed, we are greeted with an exquisite scene. As we stop for a moment to admire the extraordinary view, we realize we were actually stemming over a length of a tunnel with many of these crazy Bombays! Photographs did not do this landscape justice.

We stroll through a pool, over a sandbar and enter the final angulated section. The magnificence of the mossy green walls and curvy sandstone were truly awe inspiring. Larger footholds were accessible and the crew went up and over a few spicy areas where a simple fall would be agonizing. John pulled me across a large exposed pothole. A voice echoes from down canyon.

“Uh, I don’t know if we have enough rope guys.”

Schasch is at the last rappel, looking down on what used to be Lake Powell. A sand bar cluttered with debris and logs greets us from below. A questionable arch is pretty much the only option. We back it up and rig the Smooth Operator. The 120–foot rope is tossed and silence ensues ...

*Smack!*

Cheering erupts. One by one we rappel down and feel the elation of touching the muddy floor. The slog out of the stunning Fiftymile creek was captivating for a few miles; then the constant hiking over boulders, sand, mud and water initiate the thoughts of ‘Turn it off!’

With tired legs and sore bodies, we reach camp before sunset. We break open the chips and celebratory red wine as we reflect upon this memorable day. Thanks to all involved!

Until the next adventure ...

It ALL originated in 2015 when the Gnome and I were weathered out of an Arizona canyon trip – the hair brained idea of descending E5 on 4th of July weekend and as a result, we ended up hot, bothered, and almost catching on fire!

I vocalized my desire to descend all of the Egypt’s and how my goal would be to build my skill level up to E4.

Luke responded, “Well you better find other people to do that with because I am not going in there ever again ... Adam Anderson kissed the ground ... it is a lot of work for a not–so–great canyon ... ”

More recently, Ram, the man known for skillfully archiving canyons in his mind like a detailed photograph… “Awkward, horrible movement… physically intensive for a not so beautiful place ...”

How the heck am I going to sucker some companions for a trip down E4?!?!

… and finally the day has come!

I managed to compile a talented crew of audacious canyoneers who were more then willing (enthusiastic even!) with the idea of checking out E4 for my 37th birthday weekend. A leisurely after–sunrise start was had due to the late night campfire ‘party’ consisting of delicious s’mores and John Diener’s delightful peach pie. The warm rays melted the frost off of the camp as I gainfully relished in having a giant piece of pie for breakfast. The Gnome had assured us the night before that he remembered E4 as pleasant, physically taxing half–day romp with no silos.

Cressman and the Gnome took off in order to drive all the way to Hole in the Rock that day and Rachel drove back to Springdale after DDI reinjured an existing injury. Mark B. was, “on the fence”.

The final team consisted of Cassy Brown, John Diener, Mark B. and I. I was admittedly slightly sore from our adventure in DDI the day prior. Mark had decided at the last minute that he was in for round two due to the psychological damage that this canyon had left him with during X–Fest last fall.

We were all in high spirits as we skipped down the boulder pile onto the orange hues of slick rock into the drainage below. The canyon initiated us with some water obstacles, which were stealthly avoided due to the ninja skills of our taller team members. Then the winding canyon walls proceeded to become more sculpted as the floor started creeping away from us… and then appeared a silo section. What the f^%$? I wasn’t psychologically prepared for this I thought to myself! After cursing the Gnome’s name a few hundred times, we maneuvered our way deliberately through the angulated walls with calculated precision; one mistake and you could find yourself tumbling 40–50 feet into the dark abyss below.

Soon after, I found myself at a particularly spooky oval shaped opening. It would be challenging for me at my height (5′1′′) to starfish through it due to an awkward transition. Cassy managed to scamper through the silo using a back to feet movement. I requested a belay from John.

“This is mental,” I repeat to myself.

I start slithering my butt through the silo and discover that I am using my tippy toes.

“Why the f^&*% do I even do this s#$# for fun?! Was this canyon going to finally gobble me up?”

John tensions the rope as I pull myself up and reposition myself to feel more secure. PHEW! That was close.

We are forced onto the ground for a short minute (did not get our hopes up) then up a 35–40 foot up climb which I concluded to be one of the most enjoyable parts of this canyon. After that scrappy grunt fest, the rest was a blur of stemming… more stemming… and more stemming… an abandoned rope was found below. Mark offers to haul it out, with the thought that we were ALMOST finished with the canyon…

ME  •  “This must be the awkward R section that Ram was talking about ...”

MARK  •  “You said that an hour ago and half an hour before that… you will probably say that 4 more times ... ”

The banter, teasing, shit talking, and off–color jokes among the group were constant which kept us going. Laughter mixed with the occasional grunting or sigh echoed and bounced off the canyon walls. When are we getting out of here? In fact, where are we?

“Maybe we should look at the topo map, are we at the first left turn or the second?”

We had definitively reached the point where Mark exited canyon left when he had descended the canyon with Tom Collins. As we grabbed a drink on the slanted patio, we contemplated escaping this canyon. No way! We got this far! It was a unanimous decision to finish the canyon. We were taking this task quite seriously as whoever decided to ‘cheat’ by walking on the slick rock got taunted back into the canyon.

After some beautiful bright green moss sections, ankle deep water, a few bridges and awkward galumphs later, we arrive at the cow pond that the Gnome had drank out of desperation six years prior.

Small high fives and shrieks of joy commenced. A quick 55–minute hike out and we find our selves greeted by Mike and Luke at the rim.

I was born and raised in Saskatchewan; a province known for its rolling flat prairies. I would have never imagined in my lifetime that I would be oh–so privileged to be exposed to vastness of places like Escalante; dancing around the magical depths of canyons like E4.

Would I do this canyon again?! Maybe ask me in a year!

–  Push all EGO aside and ask for help when you feel like you are going to poop your pants (thanks for all of the assistance and for the support, John, Mark and Cassy). YODO!

–  Pizza celebration is mandatory after a WONDERFUL weekend with friends and merits arriving home at 1:30 AM on a work night.

R.I.P. Cassy Brown, it has been a privilege to have experienced these special places & moments with you.

Since that report I am stoked to pronounce that on April 3, 2022, I had officially completed all of the betaed X canyons which was a 40th birthday goal of mine. I originally wanted to descend Long Branch for my big 4–0 but I got to do it on my half birthday instead!

Excited to explore what is beyond ...


Tre–C



Tales of Mumbai:
  Alone Together in Mumbai • Ram & Aaron Ramras
  Return to Mumbai • Ram
  World of X: Mumbai & Egypt 4 • Tre-C

Tales of Egypt 4:
  Fear & Loathing in Egypt 4 • Ken Huls
  Egypt 4 Revisited • Ram
  Five Canyons in a Day • Aaron Smith & Angus Wiessner
  World of X: Mumbai & Egypt 4 • Tre-C

© 2016, 2019, & 2022 Tre-C