Mountaineer
02-13-2013, 09:32 PM
We left Cache Valley in a blizzard. Snow was past our knees, and still coming down. Would this be a turn around trip?
63441
Tyler, a friend, and I left about 5 am on Saturday morning. The forecast called for snow and rain in Utah, but the trip had been planned for a few months. We were set. Rain or shine, here we come.
We wanted to do Chambers and Larry, with White Roost as another option. If we got there and the weather was really bad, we would retreat back to Hanksville and maybe find something close by.
Once we got to the Roost, the weather was clear. Roads were passable, and the hike down to the head of the canyon was a piece of cake.
63439
Easy to get to. But wow, it starts out narrow! An exception on this day, we went in with no gear based on other reports. Well, some pads, headlamps, and a bit of webbing. In hindsight, even in this canyon I believe a helmet would still fit. Add it.
Efficiency was our priority. This is one canyon I was grateful to have a beta on prior.
63440
We started stemming almost immediately, and continued to squeeze tightly through. This canyon is tight. And then...I was stuck. I couldn't move in any direction. My rib-cage was compressed, and I was having a tough time breathing. Yikes!
Tyler, still skinner than I :haha: , moved his foot under mine. Just enought to gain a few more inches. Yes! I was free.
Whew. We then continued on to the subway section. Very cool!
63436
63437
63438
After that, we downclimbed around the boulder. It was a little tricky, as it wanted to "throw" you to the right; down toward a deep crevasse. Just stay a bit to the left, and it is a simple slide to a rock.
Then, the crux. The next section is really, really tight. No way could we fit through here. So, we helped each other climb up narrow slick walls to some ledges some 20' above. :stud:
Some more stemming, and then...shoot! We had to go back down. The walls were too wide again. Then again, some more squeezing, unavoidable ankle deep water :cold:, then another climb UP. This one was a lot easier, as it had deformities in the rock that allowed some good holds. And then too soon, we popped out.
63442
Had a blast. Great canyon!
63441
Tyler, a friend, and I left about 5 am on Saturday morning. The forecast called for snow and rain in Utah, but the trip had been planned for a few months. We were set. Rain or shine, here we come.
We wanted to do Chambers and Larry, with White Roost as another option. If we got there and the weather was really bad, we would retreat back to Hanksville and maybe find something close by.
Once we got to the Roost, the weather was clear. Roads were passable, and the hike down to the head of the canyon was a piece of cake.
63439
Easy to get to. But wow, it starts out narrow! An exception on this day, we went in with no gear based on other reports. Well, some pads, headlamps, and a bit of webbing. In hindsight, even in this canyon I believe a helmet would still fit. Add it.
Efficiency was our priority. This is one canyon I was grateful to have a beta on prior.
63440
We started stemming almost immediately, and continued to squeeze tightly through. This canyon is tight. And then...I was stuck. I couldn't move in any direction. My rib-cage was compressed, and I was having a tough time breathing. Yikes!
Tyler, still skinner than I :haha: , moved his foot under mine. Just enought to gain a few more inches. Yes! I was free.
Whew. We then continued on to the subway section. Very cool!
63436
63437
63438
After that, we downclimbed around the boulder. It was a little tricky, as it wanted to "throw" you to the right; down toward a deep crevasse. Just stay a bit to the left, and it is a simple slide to a rock.
Then, the crux. The next section is really, really tight. No way could we fit through here. So, we helped each other climb up narrow slick walls to some ledges some 20' above. :stud:
Some more stemming, and then...shoot! We had to go back down. The walls were too wide again. Then again, some more squeezing, unavoidable ankle deep water :cold:, then another climb UP. This one was a lot easier, as it had deformities in the rock that allowed some good holds. And then too soon, we popped out.
63442
Had a blast. Great canyon!