arnellfam
08-05-2012, 12:41 PM
I took my buddy, two of his kids and two of mine (all 12-14yo first-canyon noobs) down Benson Creek\Hidden Haven yesterday. Up at 5am, on the road at 6am. Hit the trail at 7am. The canyon was 5 hours car-to-car including a gnarly 1+ hour climb up a 45+ degree angle mountainside (I much prefer that entry to the longer, round-about entry to the east). Home before 1pm.
Perfect temperatures. Lots of flow in the creek from the recent rains. We all got pretty soaked, especially waist down. Felt great although I did see some of the kids shivering a bit. Four rappels, the first being 105ft (brave kids) and the other three between 25 and 40 ft. each. Rappelling down waterfalls with my kids and friends. Good times!
57364
Top of the first rappel, 105ft.
57365
My buddy went down first, only his third rappel ever. I set him up on a ATC-XP in high friction mode with an autoblock. Too much friction. He had a hard time getting down the rope.
5736657367
13yo Brandon's first ever rappel.
57368
My 14yo daughter bravely awaits her first canyon rappel. She had done a couple of 30ft rappels of a wall once, but that was it.
57369
57370
My 12yo son getting ready for his first rappel. He loved it!
57372
57373
Brian leads the second rappel (two stages)
57374
Second rappel.
57375
Second rappel.
57376
Second rappel.
57377
Second rappel.
57378
Second rappel.
57379
Third rappel.
57380
Brian's daughter coming down the third rappel.
57381
My 12yo son coming down the third rappel.
57382
Gathering rope at the bottom of the third rappel.
57383
Brian heads down the final rappel.
57384
Me and my kids at the top of the fourth/last rappel.
57385
Brian's 14yo daughter on the final rappel.
57386
My 14yo daughter on the final rappel.
57387
Brian's son on the final rappel.
57388
Brian with his kids, 14 and 13yo.
57389
Me and my buddy, Brian.
57390
Me with two of my kids, 12 and 14yo, at the bottom of the final rappel, having finished their first canyon.
57391
One of the best things about Benson Creek is the short (15 min), level, beautiful hike out back to the car afterwards.
57392
Group photo back at the car
Perfect temperatures. Lots of flow in the creek from the recent rains. We all got pretty soaked, especially waist down. Felt great although I did see some of the kids shivering a bit. Four rappels, the first being 105ft (brave kids) and the other three between 25 and 40 ft. each. Rappelling down waterfalls with my kids and friends. Good times!
57364
Top of the first rappel, 105ft.
57365
My buddy went down first, only his third rappel ever. I set him up on a ATC-XP in high friction mode with an autoblock. Too much friction. He had a hard time getting down the rope.
5736657367
13yo Brandon's first ever rappel.
57368
My 14yo daughter bravely awaits her first canyon rappel. She had done a couple of 30ft rappels of a wall once, but that was it.
57369
57370
My 12yo son getting ready for his first rappel. He loved it!
57372
57373
Brian leads the second rappel (two stages)
57374
Second rappel.
57375
Second rappel.
57376
Second rappel.
57377
Second rappel.
57378
Second rappel.
57379
Third rappel.
57380
Brian's daughter coming down the third rappel.
57381
My 12yo son coming down the third rappel.
57382
Gathering rope at the bottom of the third rappel.
57383
Brian heads down the final rappel.
57384
Me and my kids at the top of the fourth/last rappel.
57385
Brian's 14yo daughter on the final rappel.
57386
My 14yo daughter on the final rappel.
57387
Brian's son on the final rappel.
57388
Brian with his kids, 14 and 13yo.
57389
Me and my buddy, Brian.
57390
Me with two of my kids, 12 and 14yo, at the bottom of the final rappel, having finished their first canyon.
57391
One of the best things about Benson Creek is the short (15 min), level, beautiful hike out back to the car afterwards.
57392
Group photo back at the car