Cirrus2000
10-20-2009, 03:29 PM
This canyon kicked it up a notch for me, on my latest Utah canyon trip. Eric and Matt dragged me through this on Sunday - my 7th consecutive day of canyoneering/hiking. I'd like to say it wore me out because I hadn't rested in a while, but it probably would have worn me out anyway...
The canyon was a quick approach (after a long dirt road drive) and had 4 distinct narrows sections. Section 1 and 2 were easy, with some fun downclimbs. Section 3 was where a bit of the business started, as the canyon got pretty narrow, with some stemming involved.
I was bridging a section (the others said I was pretty gutsy bridging that bit, but it didn't feel it - seemed pretty secure to me) when I suddenly had a nasty headache come on. Doesn't happen often, and I can usually feel it coming when it does, but this took me by surprise. I think the exertion and heat exacerbated the situation. I had to stop for a moment then find the nearest possible way down, and rest and drink a bit before I could go on. I was fine for the rest of the canyon.
The 4th narrows were da bidness. There were a couple of nasty, nasty potholes, with the foulest water I've ever smelled - or swam in. This was followed by some stemming through seriously skinny narrows for just a little ways - but it sure seemed to go on forever! Finally, a last downclimb (I took a rap off of Eric) and we were out. A very short slog to the exit, and we were up and out. A bit of a slog along to the rim, and we were at the cars.
A stop in Green River at Ray's (after I got pulled over on I-70 - but got off with a warning) was a perfect cap to the day!
All of my photos are here:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/cirrus2000/TrachyotomyOct182009#
Some highlights:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/StzUqoXvfBI/AAAAAAAARNM/sk-eSf_hAp4/s640/IMGP3312.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/StzUr8AvEVI/AAAAAAAARNo/O06zisG7mG4/s512/IMGP3317.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/StzUsM5RtjI/AAAAAAAARNw/PPTBzfPXk-8/s640/IMGP3318.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/StzUt4-2y-I/AAAAAAAAROU/jR4QoWzOUR0/s512/IMGP3323.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/StzUue4VB6I/AAAAAAAAROc/z6CzLYodFZ4/s640/IMGP3324.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/StzUugNWViI/AAAAAAAAROk/H-8Rqz-KTkI/s640/IMGP3325.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/StzUwexlY0I/AAAAAAAARPE/11tGaCTJdQg/s640/IMGP3331.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/StzUxgxlVAI/AAAAAAAARPc/FpweTR5p4AM/s640/IMGP3334.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/StzUyFVv2AI/AAAAAAAARPk/hfRZRRLvJhA/s640/IMGP3335.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/StzU1T_T0sI/AAAAAAAARQI/iw3MCBy2i9E/s640/IMGP3343.JPG
The canyon was a quick approach (after a long dirt road drive) and had 4 distinct narrows sections. Section 1 and 2 were easy, with some fun downclimbs. Section 3 was where a bit of the business started, as the canyon got pretty narrow, with some stemming involved.
I was bridging a section (the others said I was pretty gutsy bridging that bit, but it didn't feel it - seemed pretty secure to me) when I suddenly had a nasty headache come on. Doesn't happen often, and I can usually feel it coming when it does, but this took me by surprise. I think the exertion and heat exacerbated the situation. I had to stop for a moment then find the nearest possible way down, and rest and drink a bit before I could go on. I was fine for the rest of the canyon.
The 4th narrows were da bidness. There were a couple of nasty, nasty potholes, with the foulest water I've ever smelled - or swam in. This was followed by some stemming through seriously skinny narrows for just a little ways - but it sure seemed to go on forever! Finally, a last downclimb (I took a rap off of Eric) and we were out. A very short slog to the exit, and we were up and out. A bit of a slog along to the rim, and we were at the cars.
A stop in Green River at Ray's (after I got pulled over on I-70 - but got off with a warning) was a perfect cap to the day!
All of my photos are here:
http://picasaweb.google.ca/cirrus2000/TrachyotomyOct182009#
Some highlights:
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/StzUqoXvfBI/AAAAAAAARNM/sk-eSf_hAp4/s640/IMGP3312.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/StzUr8AvEVI/AAAAAAAARNo/O06zisG7mG4/s512/IMGP3317.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/StzUsM5RtjI/AAAAAAAARNw/PPTBzfPXk-8/s640/IMGP3318.JPG
http://lh6.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/StzUt4-2y-I/AAAAAAAAROU/jR4QoWzOUR0/s512/IMGP3323.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/StzUue4VB6I/AAAAAAAAROc/z6CzLYodFZ4/s640/IMGP3324.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/StzUugNWViI/AAAAAAAAROk/H-8Rqz-KTkI/s640/IMGP3325.JPG
http://lh3.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/StzUwexlY0I/AAAAAAAARPE/11tGaCTJdQg/s640/IMGP3331.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/StzUxgxlVAI/AAAAAAAARPc/FpweTR5p4AM/s640/IMGP3334.JPG
http://lh4.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/StzUyFVv2AI/AAAAAAAARPk/hfRZRRLvJhA/s640/IMGP3335.JPG
http://lh5.ggpht.com/_O_8PLe3Zn6g/StzU1T_T0sI/AAAAAAAARQI/iw3MCBy2i9E/s640/IMGP3343.JPG