spinesnaper
05-18-2012, 08:20 PM
My canyoneering partner and I had a bone to pick with Ringtail canyon. Last time we were there we were stopped by the first keeper pot hole.(http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?41218-B-Neon-and-Ringtail-Canyon-Nov-5-and-6-B) We should have potshotted from above. Instead we attempted to work our way out from below-no way. At the shallowest point the water in the pothole came to my chest and it was cold in my 5 mm wetsuit. At the down canyon end of the hole, I could not touch bottom. The lip was at least 4 slippery feet above the water. My partner Jasper submerged for the bottom and never found it and he is 6'3". We tried tossing various objects but everything slid back into the pothole. After an hour of screwing around, it was time to turn tail and reascend our blocked rope. We vowed to return another day.
That day was Sunday May 13. We were joined by Jane Bowman, M.D. and Carol Petrelli who responded to our call for partners on the Yahoo Canyoneering group. We met up with them at the Egypt trail head May 12. We found them at dusk and they had their stove going and cooked up a couple of quesadilla for us which we washed down with a lovely boxed wine. It beat the heck out out the freeze dried food that was going to be on the menu.
RingtailNeonChoprockMay2012
The next morning we poured ourselves down the fence canyon trail with all our gear, quickly set up camp, and sorted gear for our canyons. Ringtail was first up.
The approach to Ringtail is a short scamper up the slick rock just to the south of the mouth of Ringtail canyon. We descended to the technical start. Myself, Jane and Carol rapped in and Jasper down climbed. This canyon was bone dry. When we were in there Nov 2010 the water level was easily 8 feet higher and everything was a swimmer. Quickly we came to the first keeper pothole, now a very different beast. From above we tossed a potshot and Jasper rapped in. This hole yielded to the addition of a pack. The second keeper was defeated with partner assists. Then it was on to the spooky, dark section before the canyon opened up and we found a nice lunch spot. Jane went back to camp and three of us proceeded to Neon.
That afternoon we did the sports route through Neon and ran into Tom Jones and three other canyoneers. They let us play thorough. The canyon was in very dry condition and rapidly we found ourselves rapping into the last (first) pothole. At the far end was the keeper lip. However, a heavy forked tree branch was carefully setup at this lip making a perfect ladder. After climbing out we debated the wisdom of pranking Tom and his party by removing the tree limb but ultimately decided against this course. First we reasoned that the pothole would readily yield to partner assist and secondly, I get my cayoneering ropes from Tom and I did not want him to get any ideas (you know like a 100 ft rope that is actually 93 feet long).
We returned to camp to find that the racoons had gotten into Carol's pack eating all her bars. Before dusk we were also visited by Tom who we plied with margarita.
Monday May 14, it was on to Choprock. We left camp about 8 AM and got as far as Choprock canyon proper before turning around and going back to the Cowboy camp. We ascended the slick rock and worked our way into the canyon to the South of Choprock. From there we gained a mesa and finally arrived to the cliff bands above the route into Choprock. We worked our way down class III bands to the slick rock to find a ramp that led into the bottom of the canyon. From here it was a short trip down canyon to the 60 foot rap into the Riparian section. We suited or partially suited up at this point. At some point, I stopped in the happy section and put on my 3/2 wetsuit over my 2 mm neo pants and rash guard. I also wore 3 mm gloves and 2.5 mm neo socks. Other party members were layered to about the same degree. We stayed warm with these layers. There were plenty of swims even though it was clear that the water was quite low. The grim section lives up to its reputation: too much of every thing you want. There were plenty of down climbs, elevators, squeezes, partner assist pothole, dark swims. I personally was happy to be there in less challenging conditions. All together, we were 12 hours camp to camp. During the day, I notice my brand new Osprey Hornet 32 liter pack was not doing well in canyon. I figured it would take some abuse but it was trashed. I was not sure it was going to hold my gear before the end of the day but it just made it. I think I will be making use of the "All Mighty Warranty."
Returning to camp, we again found that we had been raided by the racoons. This time it was freeze dried dinner, breakfasts, and virtually anything edible out of Jasper's pack. Fortunately I had more than enough food to cover the loss. We chilled down the six pack of Dale's Pale Ales Jasper and I had carried down and relaxed in the fading sun light. Great canyons and great company.
Ken
That day was Sunday May 13. We were joined by Jane Bowman, M.D. and Carol Petrelli who responded to our call for partners on the Yahoo Canyoneering group. We met up with them at the Egypt trail head May 12. We found them at dusk and they had their stove going and cooked up a couple of quesadilla for us which we washed down with a lovely boxed wine. It beat the heck out out the freeze dried food that was going to be on the menu.
RingtailNeonChoprockMay2012
The next morning we poured ourselves down the fence canyon trail with all our gear, quickly set up camp, and sorted gear for our canyons. Ringtail was first up.
The approach to Ringtail is a short scamper up the slick rock just to the south of the mouth of Ringtail canyon. We descended to the technical start. Myself, Jane and Carol rapped in and Jasper down climbed. This canyon was bone dry. When we were in there Nov 2010 the water level was easily 8 feet higher and everything was a swimmer. Quickly we came to the first keeper pothole, now a very different beast. From above we tossed a potshot and Jasper rapped in. This hole yielded to the addition of a pack. The second keeper was defeated with partner assists. Then it was on to the spooky, dark section before the canyon opened up and we found a nice lunch spot. Jane went back to camp and three of us proceeded to Neon.
That afternoon we did the sports route through Neon and ran into Tom Jones and three other canyoneers. They let us play thorough. The canyon was in very dry condition and rapidly we found ourselves rapping into the last (first) pothole. At the far end was the keeper lip. However, a heavy forked tree branch was carefully setup at this lip making a perfect ladder. After climbing out we debated the wisdom of pranking Tom and his party by removing the tree limb but ultimately decided against this course. First we reasoned that the pothole would readily yield to partner assist and secondly, I get my cayoneering ropes from Tom and I did not want him to get any ideas (you know like a 100 ft rope that is actually 93 feet long).
We returned to camp to find that the racoons had gotten into Carol's pack eating all her bars. Before dusk we were also visited by Tom who we plied with margarita.
Monday May 14, it was on to Choprock. We left camp about 8 AM and got as far as Choprock canyon proper before turning around and going back to the Cowboy camp. We ascended the slick rock and worked our way into the canyon to the South of Choprock. From there we gained a mesa and finally arrived to the cliff bands above the route into Choprock. We worked our way down class III bands to the slick rock to find a ramp that led into the bottom of the canyon. From here it was a short trip down canyon to the 60 foot rap into the Riparian section. We suited or partially suited up at this point. At some point, I stopped in the happy section and put on my 3/2 wetsuit over my 2 mm neo pants and rash guard. I also wore 3 mm gloves and 2.5 mm neo socks. Other party members were layered to about the same degree. We stayed warm with these layers. There were plenty of swims even though it was clear that the water was quite low. The grim section lives up to its reputation: too much of every thing you want. There were plenty of down climbs, elevators, squeezes, partner assist pothole, dark swims. I personally was happy to be there in less challenging conditions. All together, we were 12 hours camp to camp. During the day, I notice my brand new Osprey Hornet 32 liter pack was not doing well in canyon. I figured it would take some abuse but it was trashed. I was not sure it was going to hold my gear before the end of the day but it just made it. I think I will be making use of the "All Mighty Warranty."
Returning to camp, we again found that we had been raided by the racoons. This time it was freeze dried dinner, breakfasts, and virtually anything edible out of Jasper's pack. Fortunately I had more than enough food to cover the loss. We chilled down the six pack of Dale's Pale Ales Jasper and I had carried down and relaxed in the fading sun light. Great canyons and great company.
Ken