ajroadtrips
07-10-2007, 08:04 AM
Was in the Swell last weekend, and did Eardley.
Interestingly, all of the pools/streams were crystal clear?!?! A first for the Swell in my experience. The clarity allowed Jumping Jim to jump most of the drops. I had expected very stagnant and pungent pools, but not so.
I am assuming the lack of rain has allowed all of the sand to silt out of the pools? Perhaps the heat keeps the bacteria and decaying matter from forming? I am not sure of the cause, but it was nice to see and greatly changed the character of the canyon. Aside from the heat, it is a nice time to do Eardley. I found clear pools much more enjoyable than the usual brown water that you can't see into.
A video of Jumpin Jim in action is up at (Don't try that at home!) -
http://www.outdoorzen.org/site/misc/eardleyvideo.html
Later,
Non-Jumpin Deserthiker
Interestingly, all of the pools/streams were crystal clear?!?! A first for the Swell in my experience. The clarity allowed Jumping Jim to jump most of the drops. I had expected very stagnant and pungent pools, but not so.
I am assuming the lack of rain has allowed all of the sand to silt out of the pools? Perhaps the heat keeps the bacteria and decaying matter from forming? I am not sure of the cause, but it was nice to see and greatly changed the character of the canyon. Aside from the heat, it is a nice time to do Eardley. I found clear pools much more enjoyable than the usual brown water that you can't see into.
A video of Jumpin Jim in action is up at (Don't try that at home!) -
http://www.outdoorzen.org/site/misc/eardleyvideo.html
Later,
Non-Jumpin Deserthiker