mmac
05-25-2009, 02:25 PM
I've been lurking a bunch since canyoneering season is dawning on us, but last Sunday we actually made it out to a canyon just south of Flagstaff (where we live) that's pretty nice. Our last trip in early August was a lot of fun except for the hike out... We got mildly lost and severely rained on. See our previous trip report for details. (http://www.bogley.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=13157) This time we had an extra person (and vehicle for the necessary car shuttle) so we were able to do the shorter, and turns out, much nicer exit through Pump House wash into Oak Creek Canyon at the bottom of the switchbacks on Highway 89A North of Sedona.
Anyway, here's the gang at the car off of I17: Maria, Joel, and me (Mike).
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_30983098.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_30993099.jpg
Downclimbing into the beginning of the canyon
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31013101.jpg
Easy traverse around the first big pools
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31073107.jpg
Obligatory shot of Maria eating (this one's for you Mom/John)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31143114.jpg
I just got a new polarizing filter for my camera - look at that sky!
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31203119.jpg
Joel's impression of a wet-suited-bigfoot
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31213120.jpg
Me inspecting the anchor/setting up for our first rappel
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31263125.jpg
Joel was wearing regular tennis shoes, so I gave him a belay over to the anchor. The approach is pretty steep and very sandy :(
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31293128.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31323131.jpg
View from the top of rap 1 (20ft?)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31343133.jpg
The exit of the first technical section... Between the rap and the end of the pool is very wet and not very camera friendly.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31373136.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31403139.jpg
Under my arm is a new camera bag that I was testing out... For the most part I'm happy with it. It's supposed to be weatherproof, which it is - but if it gets submerged for long periods of time it leaks a bit. Here's a link to their PDF catalog - page 8, left hand side. (http://www.pacoutdoor.com/splash_pdfs/POE_4.pdf)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31433142.jpg
The canyon is just a hike for the most part, but it narrows quite frequently into these hallways that can get extremely cold.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31493148.jpg
Joel made a friend
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31513150.jpg
We stopped for lunch above the second (45ft) rappel.
And because we always get a hard time for eating well on the trail, here's Joel enjoying a home made mini pumpkin pie...
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31643163.jpg
Maria, looking as awesome as she feels :naughty:
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31673166.jpg
The rediculously cold hallway from the end (it's a 40ft swimmer and about 10
Anyway, here's the gang at the car off of I17: Maria, Joel, and me (Mike).
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_30983098.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_30993099.jpg
Downclimbing into the beginning of the canyon
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31013101.jpg
Easy traverse around the first big pools
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31073107.jpg
Obligatory shot of Maria eating (this one's for you Mom/John)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31143114.jpg
I just got a new polarizing filter for my camera - look at that sky!
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31203119.jpg
Joel's impression of a wet-suited-bigfoot
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31213120.jpg
Me inspecting the anchor/setting up for our first rappel
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31263125.jpg
Joel was wearing regular tennis shoes, so I gave him a belay over to the anchor. The approach is pretty steep and very sandy :(
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31293128.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31323131.jpg
View from the top of rap 1 (20ft?)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31343133.jpg
The exit of the first technical section... Between the rap and the end of the pool is very wet and not very camera friendly.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31373136.jpg
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31403139.jpg
Under my arm is a new camera bag that I was testing out... For the most part I'm happy with it. It's supposed to be weatherproof, which it is - but if it gets submerged for long periods of time it leaks a bit. Here's a link to their PDF catalog - page 8, left hand side. (http://www.pacoutdoor.com/splash_pdfs/POE_4.pdf)
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31433142.jpg
The canyon is just a hike for the most part, but it narrows quite frequently into these hallways that can get extremely cold.
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31493148.jpg
Joel made a friend
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31513150.jpg
We stopped for lunch above the second (45ft) rappel.
And because we always get a hard time for eating well on the trail, here's Joel enjoying a home made mini pumpkin pie...
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31643163.jpg
Maria, looking as awesome as she feels :naughty:
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e44/Akatihsa3400/James%20Canyon%20May%202009/_MG_31673166.jpg
The rediculously cold hallway from the end (it's a 40ft swimmer and about 10