lisa
06-01-2009, 04:59 PM
Blue skies, large lizards, and a very convoluted slickrock hike began our day in Woody Canyon. We suited up for lots of water, anticipating a full-to-the-brim Woody pothole splash...and we got it. It had rained heavily for days and the canyons were full of fresh water. Awesome conditions. But doesn't Memorial Day weekend usually bring inclement weather as so many of us head to the wilderness with high expectations? White canyon even flowed a couple feet deep at Soldier Crossing that evening, a rare sight at a crossing which is usually dry.
Woody gave us many fine downclimbs into potholes, some we stay in control and some we sploosh down. It's so much fun, the sun is warm and the water is very comfortable. The first pothole is, for me, the most difficult because I'm still getting the hang of the "beached whale" maneuver...a technique that will be utilized repeatedly in this canyon. Imagine swimming in deep water and then hauling yourself up a couple feet out of the water onto a ledge, inching your way up the sloping rock with each bob. This is the "beached whale".
We learn about assisting each other out of the potholes and sequencing people just right so everyone is in a spot to help someone else. This was my first canyon with so many potholes, and I learned a lot.
http://River.zenfolio.com/img/v6/p1024206911-5.jpg
The crux of the canyon that day was a 15 foot rappel into an oblong pothole, with a keeper pothole next to it. We rappelled off Dave into the oblong pothole, and then he rappelled off two potshots (25 pound bags of sand) quickly without weighting the anchor too much. The keeper pothole was perfectly round with steep, 4 foot tall rock walls. Juniper berries and other debris bobbed at the surface, obscuring its depth. When Penny and I slipped in, our feet dangled in deep water. Erik and Dave stemmed over us and found another pothole on the other side. Erik floated in the next pothole to provide an anchor for Penny and I to escape from the small round keeper. Dave stayed on the small ledge dividing the two potholes and set up ascenders. Penny and I climbed up and out. I rappelled into the next pothole, and was suddenly doing my first floating disconnect in deep water. It went ok due to my ability to float.
The next pool was awkward to exit, and I clamored for a small v-shaped opening a foot above water level with my legs squirming in deep water. I wiggled up the rock, trying to beach myself. My feet kicked frantically in the water while Penny tried to avoid the wild splashing of the great Shamu tail. The vortex of water that formed behind me kept Penny from escaping too far. Eventually with help I pulled myself up onto the ledge.
http://River.zenfolio.com/img/v2/p739975022-5.jpg
Dave and Penny celebrated when they saw the last big keeper pothole. We slipped in and the warm, chocolatey water oozed into our wetsuits. Penny and I floated for a bit in the comfortable water with sunlight beaming down on us.
http://River.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p950029009-5.jpg
Water lapped up to the brim of the pothole that day, so it was no big deal to climb out. The last part of the canyon was beautiful and twisted with fabulous light. The last rappel of about 10 feet dropped into a shallow pool which is usually dry. Yellow light beamed through the canyon, reflecting off the water.
http://River.zenfolio.com/img/v0/p1021011297-4.jpg
Dave kept saying how different the canyon is with so much water. He had wanted to see it like this, and he was thrilled. Lots of water and great company made this a great "first pothole" canyon for me.
http://River.zenfolio.com/img/v2/p594933298-5.jpg
Woody gave us many fine downclimbs into potholes, some we stay in control and some we sploosh down. It's so much fun, the sun is warm and the water is very comfortable. The first pothole is, for me, the most difficult because I'm still getting the hang of the "beached whale" maneuver...a technique that will be utilized repeatedly in this canyon. Imagine swimming in deep water and then hauling yourself up a couple feet out of the water onto a ledge, inching your way up the sloping rock with each bob. This is the "beached whale".
We learn about assisting each other out of the potholes and sequencing people just right so everyone is in a spot to help someone else. This was my first canyon with so many potholes, and I learned a lot.
http://River.zenfolio.com/img/v6/p1024206911-5.jpg
The crux of the canyon that day was a 15 foot rappel into an oblong pothole, with a keeper pothole next to it. We rappelled off Dave into the oblong pothole, and then he rappelled off two potshots (25 pound bags of sand) quickly without weighting the anchor too much. The keeper pothole was perfectly round with steep, 4 foot tall rock walls. Juniper berries and other debris bobbed at the surface, obscuring its depth. When Penny and I slipped in, our feet dangled in deep water. Erik and Dave stemmed over us and found another pothole on the other side. Erik floated in the next pothole to provide an anchor for Penny and I to escape from the small round keeper. Dave stayed on the small ledge dividing the two potholes and set up ascenders. Penny and I climbed up and out. I rappelled into the next pothole, and was suddenly doing my first floating disconnect in deep water. It went ok due to my ability to float.
The next pool was awkward to exit, and I clamored for a small v-shaped opening a foot above water level with my legs squirming in deep water. I wiggled up the rock, trying to beach myself. My feet kicked frantically in the water while Penny tried to avoid the wild splashing of the great Shamu tail. The vortex of water that formed behind me kept Penny from escaping too far. Eventually with help I pulled myself up onto the ledge.
http://River.zenfolio.com/img/v2/p739975022-5.jpg
Dave and Penny celebrated when they saw the last big keeper pothole. We slipped in and the warm, chocolatey water oozed into our wetsuits. Penny and I floated for a bit in the comfortable water with sunlight beaming down on us.
http://River.zenfolio.com/img/v4/p950029009-5.jpg
Water lapped up to the brim of the pothole that day, so it was no big deal to climb out. The last part of the canyon was beautiful and twisted with fabulous light. The last rappel of about 10 feet dropped into a shallow pool which is usually dry. Yellow light beamed through the canyon, reflecting off the water.
http://River.zenfolio.com/img/v0/p1021011297-4.jpg
Dave kept saying how different the canyon is with so much water. He had wanted to see it like this, and he was thrilled. Lots of water and great company made this a great "first pothole" canyon for me.
http://River.zenfolio.com/img/v2/p594933298-5.jpg