french_de
07-19-2010, 04:48 PM
Meadow Canyon, a tributary West Clear Creek, was our next canyon jaunt into the Mogollon Plateau canyons. Meadow Canyon is the appetizer to this full course 12 hour canyoneering loop that puts you into the heart of West Clear Creek. After a brief descent thru a forested, fern covered and boulder and log strewn gully, Meadow relents with 4 nicely spaced rappels. The first one is a picturesque two stage 80 foot rappel. Just after the last rappel, Meadow opens up into the West Clear Creek. Here is where it gets wild. With a right turn up river full of minnows, fish and crawdads, we began a one and one half mile long wade/swim that includes a half dozen long swims, a hanging garden water fall, plenty of cliff jumps, and a rope swing into the long water hallway . This portion of the West Clear Creek is incredible. The water park ends with an 800 foot hike out to the ridge and a long cross country trek back to the cars. Thanks to Todd Martin and his book - Arizona: Technical Canyoneering for the beta on this canyon. Also, thanks to Rich Rudow who I met at the trail head a couple of days before our jaunt and who supplied me with some canyon info.
Doug French
Doug French