utidcapaco
04-10-2006, 11:32 AM
After some schedule conflicts and changes, we headed out early on Thursday, April 6. Both parties drove through blizzards (in northern Utah, New Mexico, and Colorado) to arrive in a cloudy and cool Green River. We had a late lunch of cheeseburgers and fries at Ray’s, followed by a very windy drive down to Hidden Splendor. Despite the wind, we decided to camp near the top of Ramp Canyon rather than down near the air strip. We debated fixing a rope at the crux of Ramp, but my two younger and single (read: braver climbers) brothers hiked down to test the climb. One made it down and up unassisted and figured he could do it again the next day, so we didn’t fix a rope.
Fortunately, we awoke to crystal-clear skies on Friday morning. The approach to Quandary and the descent to the bypass were gorgeous. We were wet to near waist level, so a couple of us braved two more potholes to look into the “abyss” at killer pothole #1. The water level was approximately 6'-8' below the lower (down-canyon) lip of the pothole. The webbing on the anchors was last year’s, and we ever-so-briefly entertained the idea of doing what we guessed to be the first Quandary Direct descent of 2006. But, being all intermediates, we decided to stick with Plan A and do the Bypass. The views are magnificent up there. We had lunch then headed up to Ramp Canyon. I think the temperature was in the high 60s, just perfect. In Ramp, the first three members of our group (six total) got stalled halfway up the twin-tiered dryfall when the trip leader (me) had one of those “duh” moments and decided to glance at the Climb-Utah.com guide stuffed in his pocket. Needless to say, the rest of us went around. Three six -foot-plus guys were just giving up on shoulder/hand stands and pack tosses when we arrived from above to hoist them up. The climb up the crux went without incident. When we got back to camp, I biked over to the Quandary trailhead to retrieve our vehicle. I returned to hear the bad news that someone had forgotten propane, but that’s another story. Overall, the pools in Quandary (including the first one we could see in the Direct route) varied between approximately half full and full.
Saturday morning also started clear and cool, but as expected, slightly warmer than Friday. We ran into Reedus’ group while dropping off our shuttle near the airstrip. They looked hardy and up to the task of The Squeeze. The sky started to cloud up a bit and a slight breeze began to stir as we exited Wayne’s Wriggle. Not exactly what we wanted to see as we tried to mentally psych up for an hour or two of being in the soup of Miner’s Hollow/Knotted Rope. We stayed dry past the first two potholes by using the pole vault method (more of a “pole circumnavigate”) and what I call the “centrifugal run.” Then we got serious and donned our farmer johns. There was plenty of “plumbing” to help us through the tight spots, especially for some of the more “waistline-challenged,” me included. When we popped out the other end, the sun had thankfully returned for good. After lunch and getting warmed up, three of the group stayed in wetsuits to play around in the sunny slickrock valley. The rest of us just skirted around those remaining potholes. According to Kelsey, there are 38 or so. All in all, the route was less challenging than we expected, probably because all potholes in Miner’s Hollow/Knotted Rope were completely full, although VERY cold. Lots of wading and swimming, and much more fun than expected! The slog up Muddy Creek was long, but excellent, as usual. The cold water was sure good for old feet and knees. I had done The Squeeze a couple of falls earlier with an experienced guide, and I didn’t envy Reedus’ longer route. We made it out ahead of them, so I’m glad to hear they made it back safe and sound.
I’ll try to post some photos here in the near future, but sadly, we didn’t get pics of the best part of Miner’s Hollow. We were too chilly to root around in drybags while standing in the frigid water. Next time (if there is a next time), I’ll take a disposable, waterproof camera. Also, I was wondering what you more-experienced canyoneers think of all the pipe in Miner’s Hollow? If it wasn’t so cool and cloudy at the time, I’d have almost felt like I was cheating. As it was, I was sort of glad to have it. I can guess what the purists think, but I suspect many on this forum fall somewhere in between. Thoughts? I'll test a poll with this topic.
Anyway, it was a fantastic trip. The timing of the weather was perfect. Now if I can only catch some of this epic spring runoff on the rivers. . .
Fortunately, we awoke to crystal-clear skies on Friday morning. The approach to Quandary and the descent to the bypass were gorgeous. We were wet to near waist level, so a couple of us braved two more potholes to look into the “abyss” at killer pothole #1. The water level was approximately 6'-8' below the lower (down-canyon) lip of the pothole. The webbing on the anchors was last year’s, and we ever-so-briefly entertained the idea of doing what we guessed to be the first Quandary Direct descent of 2006. But, being all intermediates, we decided to stick with Plan A and do the Bypass. The views are magnificent up there. We had lunch then headed up to Ramp Canyon. I think the temperature was in the high 60s, just perfect. In Ramp, the first three members of our group (six total) got stalled halfway up the twin-tiered dryfall when the trip leader (me) had one of those “duh” moments and decided to glance at the Climb-Utah.com guide stuffed in his pocket. Needless to say, the rest of us went around. Three six -foot-plus guys were just giving up on shoulder/hand stands and pack tosses when we arrived from above to hoist them up. The climb up the crux went without incident. When we got back to camp, I biked over to the Quandary trailhead to retrieve our vehicle. I returned to hear the bad news that someone had forgotten propane, but that’s another story. Overall, the pools in Quandary (including the first one we could see in the Direct route) varied between approximately half full and full.
Saturday morning also started clear and cool, but as expected, slightly warmer than Friday. We ran into Reedus’ group while dropping off our shuttle near the airstrip. They looked hardy and up to the task of The Squeeze. The sky started to cloud up a bit and a slight breeze began to stir as we exited Wayne’s Wriggle. Not exactly what we wanted to see as we tried to mentally psych up for an hour or two of being in the soup of Miner’s Hollow/Knotted Rope. We stayed dry past the first two potholes by using the pole vault method (more of a “pole circumnavigate”) and what I call the “centrifugal run.” Then we got serious and donned our farmer johns. There was plenty of “plumbing” to help us through the tight spots, especially for some of the more “waistline-challenged,” me included. When we popped out the other end, the sun had thankfully returned for good. After lunch and getting warmed up, three of the group stayed in wetsuits to play around in the sunny slickrock valley. The rest of us just skirted around those remaining potholes. According to Kelsey, there are 38 or so. All in all, the route was less challenging than we expected, probably because all potholes in Miner’s Hollow/Knotted Rope were completely full, although VERY cold. Lots of wading and swimming, and much more fun than expected! The slog up Muddy Creek was long, but excellent, as usual. The cold water was sure good for old feet and knees. I had done The Squeeze a couple of falls earlier with an experienced guide, and I didn’t envy Reedus’ longer route. We made it out ahead of them, so I’m glad to hear they made it back safe and sound.
I’ll try to post some photos here in the near future, but sadly, we didn’t get pics of the best part of Miner’s Hollow. We were too chilly to root around in drybags while standing in the frigid water. Next time (if there is a next time), I’ll take a disposable, waterproof camera. Also, I was wondering what you more-experienced canyoneers think of all the pipe in Miner’s Hollow? If it wasn’t so cool and cloudy at the time, I’d have almost felt like I was cheating. As it was, I was sort of glad to have it. I can guess what the purists think, but I suspect many on this forum fall somewhere in between. Thoughts? I'll test a poll with this topic.
Anyway, it was a fantastic trip. The timing of the weather was perfect. Now if I can only catch some of this epic spring runoff on the rivers. . .