Technical Slot Canyon Guide to the Colorado Plateau

by Michael R. Kelsey

This book includes the Blue John Canyon which is featured in the movie 127 Hours, the story about Aron Ralston and his experience.The Colorado Plateau is a large physiographic region covering roughly... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0944510205
• ISBN13: 9780944510209
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Kelsey Publishing (Utah)
• Length: 288 Pages
• Weight: 0.85 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.6" x 6.3" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Kelsey: Simply the Best

I'm grateful that Kelsey made a concerted effort to include some of the more technical hikes over the past 10 years, opening up some of the great canyons on the Colordao Plateau. I've been a user of the evolving editions of his technical guide over the years and have found them to be superb. The call for "boycotts" from others are absolutely ridiculous and are based on anything but the content of the book ... this book judged on content alone is well beyond anything out there. It doesn't take Harvard prose or an environmental bent to open the door to the most challenging canyons on the Colordao Plateau. Kelsey is the original and has more time in these canyons than anyone out there and it shows in his books ... don't let others fool you including those who try to cross sell you "specialized" canyoneering equipment or offer their "expert" guide services, Kelsey is the Father of Colorado Plateau Hiking and truly a living legend. If you can read a map, have a sense of adventure and want to take it to the next level, this book is the one. If you want Boy Scout trips and environmental lectures, go elsewhere where an MIT education might make a difference. Kelsey has dedicated his life to hiking the Colorado Plateau and this newest edition is permeated with his passion for the canyons. All other writers have used Kelsey's books when they started out and have essentially ridden his "coat tails" to success ..... seriously guys, you owe your profession to Kelsey and yet you call for a "boycott" of his books???? - sounds like sour grapes and a self serving "cheap shot." Don't be fooled, take it from an experienced canyoneer, Kelsey is and always will be the King of Hiking on the Colordao Plateau.

The standard against which all other guide books are measured

Michael Kelsey starting writing guide books while Steve Allen and Tom Jones, to name a few, were in diapers. Many of these so called guide book authors have criticized Kelsey's books while riding on his coat tails. Kelsey's books are the gold standard for canyoning in the Colorado Plateau. He has done way more hikes and is way tougher, smarter, and better than all of the ivy league tree huger authors that are not even from the area who are constantly broin it up. Think about it.

What I Expected

The book was in great shape and I received it when I expected. Good experience with this seller.

Another good Kelsey guide book

This book has tons of beta on some of the best canyons around Utah. It gives accurate descriptions on where the canyons are and how to access them. One downside is the lack of GPS coords.

Good with caveats

This book opens up in a clear and descriptive fashion many of the difficult and technical canyons in the colorado plateau. These canyons as described are an underappreciated yet fabulous landscape and I believe represent the very best example of exiting wilderness sport combined with incomparable beauty in the United States. Very helpful when planning trips or deciding which canyon to visit. Of course, as far as technique is concerned, I agree with other readers that his suggestion to use a geological pick hammer to get out of potholes is more than a bit excessive and needlessly destructive. Much better to use small bathooks in existing cracks, do shoulder stands, pack tosses, or to chip small barely noticeable notches with a bolt kit for bathooks if absolutely required. Canyoneering is becoming more popular and I believe Michael should use his considerable influence in this small sport to preserve the fragile areas available and encourage respect for the resource.