
After dropping down from the parking lot, we ascended on this slab. A social trail continued into Gifford Canyon.

Within Gifford Canyon, which we followed for a while.

We left Gifford Canyon and ascended the slickrock slope.

Higher up, just beneath the cliff band above.

A social trail beneath the cliff band.

View back down into Gifford Canyon.

Along the social trail, well-cairned.

Another shot down into Gifford Canyon.

The social trail wraps into the slickrock bowl, which you can start to see on the left there.

View back down into the slickrock bowl as we ascend out of it on its north side. Alternatively, you could traverse to its south side, seen top right, and get out that way.

On the sandy ridge between Destination Peak and Gifford Peak. We will be descending to the canyon below.

Class 2/3 descent from the sandy ridge.

Canyon on the left. We kept to the right at the base of Destination Peak.

Navigating ledges on Class 3 terrain to reach a major ramp.

View back at the descent from the sandy ridge. You can see why it's a bit difficult to navigate or find an "ideal" route.

Above the ramp.

Descending the ramp into the canyon separating Gifford and Destination.

View into the canyon, Luke coming down the ramp.

Short slot section.

Stevensworth Peak, a bump, visible ahead. Hepworth Wash is in just ahead.

Within Hepworth Wash.

Grasses toward the end of our journey through Hepworth Wash. We headed left up another drainage.

Bridge Mountain ahead.

Within the drainage as we ascend to the canyon separating G2 and Bridge Mountain.

Within the canyon.

Steep slope ahead to the saddle.

View back from the saddle. Hepworth Wash visible in the distance.

To G2 first. We skirted the slickrock.

View back toward the saddle, and Bridge Mountain.

At the base of G2.

View back. Class 2/3 terrain if you navigate well.

Class 4 crux ahead.

The crux.

View back down the crux.

Steep and loose terrain past the crux.

Final bit to the summit.

Sandy and loose and sometimes brushy.

Summit of G2.

G2 summit, view toward Bridge Mountain. East Temple visible on the right.

G2 summit, view toward Destination Peak, Gifford Peak, Hepworth Peak, Roof Peak. Stevensworth Peak in the center.

Close-up toward the canyon separating Destination and Gifford, where we came from.

View toward The Watchman and Whale Peak.


On our way back, a shot toward Bridge Mountain. The start of the route is on the left in this photo, just left of the saddle.

Luke in the first Class 4 section.

View down the first Class 4 section.

Luke emerging from the first Class 4 section, a shot back toward G2 (top right).

Second Class 4 section, just past the first. A short ledge leads into a nook. Then a chimney leads out.

Top of the second Class 4 section. The bush on the right is covering the Class 4 chimney we came out of.

Onward up Bridge Mountain. Fun Class 2/3 on pleasant terrain. Steep, sometimes a little loose.

More progress.

View back down toward the saddle.

Wide shot back the way we came. G2 visible top center. The Watchman in the distance on the right.

We got to a headwall and headed left.

Wrapping around to the southwest side of Bridge Mountain, Springdale visible below.

We located this Class 4 option to get over the cliff band. Left is more exposed, right less so, but more difficult.

Luke taking the exposed Class 4 option.

Luke nearing the top of the Class 4 section. I came up on the left in this photo, which was harder, but less exposed.

Bridge Mountain summit ahead!

Bridge Mountain summit, view toward West Temple and Springdale.

Bridge Mountain summit, view toward East Temple. Zion Canyon on the left.

Bridge Mountain summit, view toward Destination Peak, Gifford Peak, etc.

Bridge Mountain summit, view to the east side of Zion National Park.

After backtracking and returning to the sandy ridge separating Destination Peak and Gifford Peak, we took a detour to reach this minor summit, Destination Point.

Destination Point, view east.

Destination Point, view toward Bridge Mountain.

Destination Point, view south along the ridgeline we'd take in order to rejoin our ascent route.

View back up toward Destination Point (right). Destination Peak visible left.

A shot as we descend into the gorgeous slickrock bowl.
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