Erik B
07-03-2014, 01:00 PM
After three years of exclusively canyoneering in Utah I finally branched out hit Box Canyon (Squamish, B.C.) in my backyard. Last month while on a trip in Zion I was fortunate enough to suddenly *and finally* find myself plugged into the canyoneering community (after three years of doing my own thing) and with the contacts to make yesterday happen. Thank you so much new friends!
Squamish is a small town an hour North of Vancouver, British Columbia. It has long been a VERY popular climbing destination due to its world renowned granite. Low and behold...there are canyons there too! Two years ago group from Vancouver discovered this little gem and documented their first descent in a flick titled "Down The Line". Thanks fellas! To add to the spice-factor of the day, the approach to this canyon requires crossing of the DECEIVINGLY fast Squamish River. A few minutes of furious paddling and we were across and on trail.
To the business:
I had been eying this canyon for some time. I've been a bit intimidating by the premise of "C"-class canyons and all the prerequisite specialty skills that comes with it. Yesterday I was fortunate enough to tag along with one of the area's gurus.
One FASCINATING characteristic of this canyon is the interplay between different types of rock. The drainage itself marks the seem between deposits of basalt and granite and as one descends through the canyon observations of the starkly contrasting rock deposition are striking! Very cool! The other highlight characteristic of this canyon was the smooth, sculpted granite that more resembled the soft sandstone slots of Utah rather than the resilient harder stones of this area. I spent all day pondering how long the process took to carve this gem.
Lots of lessons learned....
Lesson 1 of the day: Don't toss your rope bag into a turbulent pool of water. I watched the whole thing float away...under some logs...and out of view. I nearly lost it, however, was fortunate enough to run across the bag, and all 200 ft of canyonfire precariously snagged in the next pool before the next drop. Sigh...
Lesson 2: Although easiest to avoid rappelling in the raging torrent, sometimes one has to put their head down and just roll with it.
Lesson 3: "C" Class canyons are VERY VERY slippery. Especially with the moss of the Northwest!!!!!
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Squamish is a small town an hour North of Vancouver, British Columbia. It has long been a VERY popular climbing destination due to its world renowned granite. Low and behold...there are canyons there too! Two years ago group from Vancouver discovered this little gem and documented their first descent in a flick titled "Down The Line". Thanks fellas! To add to the spice-factor of the day, the approach to this canyon requires crossing of the DECEIVINGLY fast Squamish River. A few minutes of furious paddling and we were across and on trail.
To the business:
I had been eying this canyon for some time. I've been a bit intimidating by the premise of "C"-class canyons and all the prerequisite specialty skills that comes with it. Yesterday I was fortunate enough to tag along with one of the area's gurus.
One FASCINATING characteristic of this canyon is the interplay between different types of rock. The drainage itself marks the seem between deposits of basalt and granite and as one descends through the canyon observations of the starkly contrasting rock deposition are striking! Very cool! The other highlight characteristic of this canyon was the smooth, sculpted granite that more resembled the soft sandstone slots of Utah rather than the resilient harder stones of this area. I spent all day pondering how long the process took to carve this gem.
Lots of lessons learned....
Lesson 1 of the day: Don't toss your rope bag into a turbulent pool of water. I watched the whole thing float away...under some logs...and out of view. I nearly lost it, however, was fortunate enough to run across the bag, and all 200 ft of canyonfire precariously snagged in the next pool before the next drop. Sigh...
Lesson 2: Although easiest to avoid rappelling in the raging torrent, sometimes one has to put their head down and just roll with it.
Lesson 3: "C" Class canyons are VERY VERY slippery. Especially with the moss of the Northwest!!!!!
75122
75123
75124
75125
75126
75127
75128
75129
75130
75131
75132
75133