Neon

[rockgremlin]

We descended on Escalante last weekend with high hopes to knock off the Neon/Chop combo. Thursday evening we backpacked in to the confluence of Fence canyon and the Escalante river. Friday we got an early start and dropped into Neon a little further north from the usual drop-in. (a little short of half way). Neon is tippy-top full of water right now. I think we must have did as much swimming as walking. Many, many swimming and/or wading sections. A 4/3 wetsuit kept me toasty. The keeper pothole at the end of the canyon is full of water.

We shot a bunch of video and photos -- will post later, stay tuned.

[stefan]

sweet :2thumbs:

looking forward to it

[canyonsrcool]

Would the canyon still be full of water say . .on the 11th of October? Or does the water drop really fast?

[rockgremlin]

Would the canyon still be full of water say . .on the 11th of October? Or does the water drop really fast?

The temps are cooler these days. Getting into the 50's at night, and only into the 80's during the day, so evaporation rates are dropping off. We bailed on Choprock the following day (broke my heart to do so) because it threatened rain. We rimwalked along the top of Choprock and it was just as full as Neon, and flowing in the middle section. The monsoonal showers aren't quite done in this neck of the woods, and if anything, there might be as much or more water on the 11th than there was when we did it. Nevertheless, go prepared for the worst (as always).

[stefan]

hi tristan,

here's an answer to your question from a fellow named Ram who posted this over on the canyons group awhile ago after my friend nat and i had been through neon after a major flood and still flowing:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/canyons/message/33231



It is not uncommon to find Neon
with more water than Chop for a few days after a flood. Neon has long
corridors that hold long swimmers and Neon floods more easily than
Chop (Chop has the riparian as an absorbant and Neon is surrounded by
more slickrock), but usually with 3 days, much of Neons water sinks
into the sand, while Chop holds much of what it gets, silt dropping
off and water temps dropping. Under normal conditions and the vast
majority of the time, Chop has more water.




so it really depends on what happens right before you get there. rain can be an issue in october. we had a major flood down there right around the time that you're going.

[rockgremlin]

Some pics...

[Canyonbug]

Nice pics, thanks for posting. Sorry about Chop, but the great thing is the canyon will be there next time you want to try.