Toes are good for more than just making jam.

[Biner]

My wife and I were descending Keyhole in July after some major rains. We came to a small drop of about 8' into a deep pool. It was too much for Christy to downclimb so I set myself up as her anchor and she rapped down into some frigid water and attempted a floating disconnect. This was only our second canyon and she had not mastered this process so, you guessed it, she dropped her business. As I was stowing the rope I heard "OH SHIT! I dropped it" I immediately started thinking of ways to complete the canyon with only one rap device. I downclimbed into the water that was up to my chin and decided to put my toes to the test. I removed my boot and sock and started searching around the bottom of the pool with my pigs. After coming up empty footed for several minutes I finally felt the ATC and Biner at the bottom of the abyss. I retrieved the gear and we finished the canyon (after practicing removing the rope while leaving the rap device safe and sound on the biner).

[rockgremlin]

Wow! That's talent!!

Keyhole water is probably the coldest canyon water I've ever experienced. :cold:

What is it about Zion canyons and FRIGID water?

[shaggy125]

Nice job finding her rap device, I wonder how many rap devices could be found in the bottom of some of the deepest trade route pools. A lost rap device really isn't a huge deal if you know how to handle it. Maybe you already know all this but just in case I'd suggest taking a course or inviting people who have more experience on your next trip and ask them to teach you how to use a munter hitch on a caribiner to rap with in case you need to. Also setting the rope length to the edge of the pool then rapping single line eliminates the need to do a floating disconnect altogether, just rap right off the end of the rope and swim away (in a strong flowing class C canyon you could drown while trying to disconnect your rap device in a strong current). Can't see the bottom to set the rope length? There are tricks for that too. Good skills to have to make a possible epic into not a big deal.

Eric.