Archive 2020 · Fat Man's Misery

gordon l
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Fat Man's Misery

Along with Parunuweap Canyon Post here at FM landscape forum I also wanted to post Fat Man's Misery! Not many landscape photographs of Fat Man's Misery are shared as it is difficult to reach.
Fat Man's Misery is a technical slot that empties into Parunuweap and the lowest section is what I explored from the bottom-up approach (non-technical there). This is a beautiful warm spring and a beautiful site.

#1 Chockstone in lower Fat Man's Misery canyon. The "trail" goes under this massive stone in a pretty tight space. The big bonus here is that the water is slightly warm. I'd guess it was 85-90°. It was definitely warmer than the Virgin River by about 5-10°.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Photo-of-the-Month/Photo-of-the-Month-1/i-wcFv2s3/0/0b58b847/X2/Chockstone%20Too%20Fat-X2.jpg

#2 The flowing springwater over the canyon terminus: Fat Man's Misery Spring water.
The depth here was a little much for my largest tripod. I did my best in a very tight and deep space.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Utah/Zion/i-s9C8xd9/0/865c66b6/X2/Fat%20Man%27s%20Misery%20Springwater-X2.jpg

#3 Waterslide? Yes!
https://photos.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Utah/Zion/i-tXs27mR/0/603b62bb/X2/Fat%20Man%27s%20Misery%20Warm%20Spring-X2.jpg

#4 Fat Man's Misery pool and entrance: lovely greens and an inviting warm bath! The waterslide drops into this pool.
https://photos.smugmug.com/Landscapes/Utah/Zion/i-FBKHh69/0/f60db504/X2/Parunuweap-8047-X2.jpg

Jan 22, 2020 at 08:09 PM

OregonSun
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Fat Man's Misery

So cool to see these out of the way slots Gordon! Looks like so much fun to explore. First two are my favorites.

Heron

Jan 22, 2020 at 10:22 PM

stanparker
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Fat Man's Misery

Congrats, Gordon. So very few people go there, and fewer still take beautiful photos. Well done.

Jan 23, 2020 at 05:52 AM

gordon l
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Fat Man's Misery

OregonSun wrote:
So cool to see these out of the way slots Gordon! Looks like so much fun to explore. First two are my favorites.

Heron

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stanparker wrote:
Congrats, Gordon. So very few people go there, and fewer still take beautiful photos. Well done.

Thanks Stan and Heron! I hope these photos can be found by some intrepid explorer to follow in my footsteps. It is a wonderful planet we live on!

Jan 23, 2020 at 12:37 PM

The Rat
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Fat Man's Misery

Gorgeous! I'd love to check it out someday. You mention getting there in a non-technical way from the bottom up, how far of a hike is that?

Jan 23, 2020 at 12:46 PM

philtax
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Fat Man's Misery

Thanks for sharing the images and the story. It looks like quite a trek but worth it!
Phil

Jan 23, 2020 at 01:54 PM

gordon l
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Fat Man's Misery

The Rat wrote:
Gorgeous! I'd love to check it out someday. You mention getting there in a non-technical way from the bottom up, how far of a hike is that?

Hi and thank you,

Getting up the bottom of the canyon is pretty easy if you wade through the green pool in the last picture and then scramble up the waterslide. It's do-able. The pictured area in this series is what I found there: a narrow wet slot canyon with ferns and chockstones and clear green waters.

Getting to the green pool in the first place is the challenge. I went down a non-trail into French Canyon to reach Parunuweap. Others come from Checkerboard Mesa. Other trails come from Mount Carmel area. Each has its' merits and difficulties.

--Gordon

Jan 24, 2020 at 01:44 AM

The Rat
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Fat Man's Misery

gordon l wrote:
Hi and thank you,

Getting up the bottom of the canyon is pretty easy if you wade through the green pool in the last picture and then scramble up the waterslide. It's do-able. The pictured area in this series is what I found there: a narrow wet slot canyon with ferns and chockstones and clear green waters.

Getting to the green pool in the first place is the challenge. I went down a non-trail into French Canyon to reach Parunuweap. Others come from Checkerboard Mesa. Other trails come from Mount Carmel area. Each has its' merits and difficulties.

--Gordon

Thanks, sounds fun! I haven't done any off trail like that in Utah other than the Cosmic Ashtray a few years back, but I really enjoyed getting out and knocking the rust off the land nav skills.

Jan 24, 2020 at 10:16 AM

Keith Flood
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Fat Man's Misery

Great images and a great unique location!

Jan 24, 2020 at 11:49 AM

kmunroe
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Fat Man's Misery

very nice set Gordon

Jan 28, 2020 at 04:23 AM


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