PG Rob
03-16-2012, 10:14 PM
I rarely post Trip Reports, but am doing so in light of current conversations related to the sandtrap and potshots.
Had a great time in No Kidding today with 2 friends, 1 of which had never rappelled before. The canyon starts out with a few fun narrow sections.
52210
It then opens up and there is an escape on LDC (there are actually are several in the canyon). This drop can be bypassed on the left by walking down the ramp LDC. The 2nd drop starts in the pothole that can be seen towards the top of the photo.
52211
We decided to set up the sandtrap rather than bypass the drop. We had to dig out a depression in the sand, and then filled the sandtrap. Thank you Tom (ratagonia) for the idea of using a hose on the pull rope. It seemed to make the pulls easier and helped to avoid rope grooves. Scott took the honor of first man down.
52212
52213
At the 2nd drop, there is another escape, either LDC or RDC. Tom recommended that we set up a 200 ft rope to a horn just up canyon, so we could return and retrieve it, but the pull looked easy enough, so we set up the sandtrap again. We got some rocks and piled sand over them to build a ramp.
52214
This is Shawn's 2nd rappel, ever. Afterwards, the pull was clean.
52215
This is the spot where a sandtrap had been set up by others who got it stuck on the boulder. We looked down canyon from it, and it was an easy downclimb to the next ledge, so we did.
52216
At the next drop (#3), it looked like potshots would work well. We stacked 6 of them about 1/3 full for the bottom 4 and a little more for the top 2. They did not budge!
52217
52218
The pull again was easy. In general potshots are easier to pull than a sandtrap.
52219
The next drop (#4) was from a small ledge that again looked best for potshots. It had a little ramp about the width of a potshot. We stacked 6 again.
52220
52221
52222
The pull again was easy
52223
At the next drop (#5), because of the small depression in the ledge, we decided for potshots again. Again, we stacked 6.
52224
52225
This is the view for me (LAMAR - LAst Man At Risk)
52226
Pull was clean
52227
The next drop was tricky. The location was not well suited for the sandtrap, unless it was set up far back, causing a questionable pull, so we opted again for potshots. Again, we stacked 6. Since the location and geometry weren't the best, we went heavier this time.
52228
52229
Pulling down potshots is great.
52230
At the last drop, we had to ferry sand. We found a nice indentation for the potshots, but were concerned about the pull, since this is the other place that a sandtrap has been stuck. We decided to bring every bag full to the point of setup. We poured most of the sand in a pile in front of the set up location, so when we pulled the potshots they would slide over the sand and jagged edges, rather than get snagged.
52231
52232
52233
52234
After the rappel, the potshots pulled fine. All we had left was to slog up the Kelsey exit and back to the truck. All in all, a fun day in a fun canyon.
Had a great time in No Kidding today with 2 friends, 1 of which had never rappelled before. The canyon starts out with a few fun narrow sections.
52210
It then opens up and there is an escape on LDC (there are actually are several in the canyon). This drop can be bypassed on the left by walking down the ramp LDC. The 2nd drop starts in the pothole that can be seen towards the top of the photo.
52211
We decided to set up the sandtrap rather than bypass the drop. We had to dig out a depression in the sand, and then filled the sandtrap. Thank you Tom (ratagonia) for the idea of using a hose on the pull rope. It seemed to make the pulls easier and helped to avoid rope grooves. Scott took the honor of first man down.
52212
52213
At the 2nd drop, there is another escape, either LDC or RDC. Tom recommended that we set up a 200 ft rope to a horn just up canyon, so we could return and retrieve it, but the pull looked easy enough, so we set up the sandtrap again. We got some rocks and piled sand over them to build a ramp.
52214
This is Shawn's 2nd rappel, ever. Afterwards, the pull was clean.
52215
This is the spot where a sandtrap had been set up by others who got it stuck on the boulder. We looked down canyon from it, and it was an easy downclimb to the next ledge, so we did.
52216
At the next drop (#3), it looked like potshots would work well. We stacked 6 of them about 1/3 full for the bottom 4 and a little more for the top 2. They did not budge!
52217
52218
The pull again was easy. In general potshots are easier to pull than a sandtrap.
52219
The next drop (#4) was from a small ledge that again looked best for potshots. It had a little ramp about the width of a potshot. We stacked 6 again.
52220
52221
52222
The pull again was easy
52223
At the next drop (#5), because of the small depression in the ledge, we decided for potshots again. Again, we stacked 6.
52224
52225
This is the view for me (LAMAR - LAst Man At Risk)
52226
Pull was clean
52227
The next drop was tricky. The location was not well suited for the sandtrap, unless it was set up far back, causing a questionable pull, so we opted again for potshots. Again, we stacked 6. Since the location and geometry weren't the best, we went heavier this time.
52228
52229
Pulling down potshots is great.
52230
At the last drop, we had to ferry sand. We found a nice indentation for the potshots, but were concerned about the pull, since this is the other place that a sandtrap has been stuck. We decided to bring every bag full to the point of setup. We poured most of the sand in a pile in front of the set up location, so when we pulled the potshots they would slide over the sand and jagged edges, rather than get snagged.
52231
52232
52233
52234
After the rappel, the potshots pulled fine. All we had left was to slog up the Kelsey exit and back to the truck. All in all, a fun day in a fun canyon.