Sandstone Addiction
06-01-2012, 07:46 PM
It had been a few weeks since we did U-Turn and knew it was time to try our luck at a real slot canyon. Leprechaun Canyon was highly recommended and so we decided that would be the one. After reading and watching the result of navigational errors, we carefully plotted the waypoints on the Map60csx so we wouldn't be the next epic story.
We left Salem around 6:30am and enjoyed a beautiful drive across the desert in the morning light. We arrived at the mouth of Leprechaun at about 10:30am. Not quite as early as I'd planned, but still early enough.
We had a early lunch and were on our way towards Santhrax Campground and our approach hike.
54761
Brandon (9) in the optional micro slot at the head of Right Fork.
54762
Justin (11) rappelling into the canyon.
54763
Trevor (5) having a great time.
54764
We decided to rap the next one too. We're still working on our downclimbing skills!
54765
Nancy, my wife, and Trevor tandem rapping.
54766
My brother-in-law, Doug (sporting his brand new BD helmet, BTW) enjoying the narrow slot.
54767
If you look close, Justin has stacked ATC's on double strand. Let's just say that he had pa-lenty of friction. But that was what he felt comfortable with and so that is how he did it.
54768
Brandon having a great time as well.
54769
Doug enjoying a beautiful section of slot.
54736
54737
54738
Yea, you're right, Trevor has his helmet on backwards :haha:
54739
Me, hoping it doesn't get much tighter than that...
54741
A little reprieve.
54742
More of the good stuff.
54743
A few shallow pot holes to play in.
54744
After a brief open section the canyon soon slots up again for the final tight section.
54745
54746
54747
Nancy and her brother enjoying a convoluted section.
54748
Very beautiful, the canyon is too. :nod:
54750
Another mild Mae West section. Kids just cruise through.
54751
Checking the anchor for the last rap. Webbing was in decent shape, but someone had set it up with a rolled aluminum ring that was starting to show significant wear. So we added one of CAMP's finest quick links and felt that it was now safe. As a matter of fact, the three previous rap stations were set up this way too, but the rings didn't look worn--shoulda added a quick link on them as well...
54752
54753
Being noobs and all, we didn't realize that this last drop was a fairly easy downclimb, so we rapped it.
Brandon dropping into the deep dark bottom of Leprechaun.
54754
(side note: by this time, Justin had decided that stacked ATC's might be a bit too slow and successfully rapped the last rap comfortably with only one)
Shoulda lowered Trevor. Tandem rapping became problematic as the walls curved around and tried to pin him against the wall with my runner. Was never a dangerous situation, only a bit uncomfortable.
54755
Just past the problem spot.
54756
Took a peek up Belfast Blvd. Very dark, very narrow and very awesome.
54757
The kids went up a little ways.
54758
Doug giving it a shot.
54760
Amazing canyon.
54759
Have no idea how this attached image below got here or how to remove it...:ne_nau:
We left Salem around 6:30am and enjoyed a beautiful drive across the desert in the morning light. We arrived at the mouth of Leprechaun at about 10:30am. Not quite as early as I'd planned, but still early enough.
We had a early lunch and were on our way towards Santhrax Campground and our approach hike.
54761
Brandon (9) in the optional micro slot at the head of Right Fork.
54762
Justin (11) rappelling into the canyon.
54763
Trevor (5) having a great time.
54764
We decided to rap the next one too. We're still working on our downclimbing skills!
54765
Nancy, my wife, and Trevor tandem rapping.
54766
My brother-in-law, Doug (sporting his brand new BD helmet, BTW) enjoying the narrow slot.
54767
If you look close, Justin has stacked ATC's on double strand. Let's just say that he had pa-lenty of friction. But that was what he felt comfortable with and so that is how he did it.
54768
Brandon having a great time as well.
54769
Doug enjoying a beautiful section of slot.
54736
54737
54738
Yea, you're right, Trevor has his helmet on backwards :haha:
54739
Me, hoping it doesn't get much tighter than that...
54741
A little reprieve.
54742
More of the good stuff.
54743
A few shallow pot holes to play in.
54744
After a brief open section the canyon soon slots up again for the final tight section.
54745
54746
54747
Nancy and her brother enjoying a convoluted section.
54748
Very beautiful, the canyon is too. :nod:
54750
Another mild Mae West section. Kids just cruise through.
54751
Checking the anchor for the last rap. Webbing was in decent shape, but someone had set it up with a rolled aluminum ring that was starting to show significant wear. So we added one of CAMP's finest quick links and felt that it was now safe. As a matter of fact, the three previous rap stations were set up this way too, but the rings didn't look worn--shoulda added a quick link on them as well...
54752
54753
Being noobs and all, we didn't realize that this last drop was a fairly easy downclimb, so we rapped it.
Brandon dropping into the deep dark bottom of Leprechaun.
54754
(side note: by this time, Justin had decided that stacked ATC's might be a bit too slow and successfully rapped the last rap comfortably with only one)
Shoulda lowered Trevor. Tandem rapping became problematic as the walls curved around and tried to pin him against the wall with my runner. Was never a dangerous situation, only a bit uncomfortable.
54755
Just past the problem spot.
54756
Took a peek up Belfast Blvd. Very dark, very narrow and very awesome.
54757
The kids went up a little ways.
54758
Doug giving it a shot.
54760
Amazing canyon.
54759
Have no idea how this attached image below got here or how to remove it...:ne_nau: