Ouray Canyons - Stoke-O-Broke-O:The Big Deuce

The Big Deuce had a little less stoke, and a whole lot more broke this year in Ouray. Brejcha’s ankle is still jacked up beyond all recognition. I’m fresh off brain surgery. We’re all broke financially. RAM is… well, RAM. And Mike and Randi just plain didn’t show up, giving some lame excuse like they didn’t want to drive that far. The Stoke-O-Meter was pretty low to start. But sweet canyons, hot springs, restaurants, pubs, liquor stores, and crowds of fellow canyoneers got the stoke rising, and Ouray once again showed why it is probably the best alpine canyoning area in the US. Hell, even if you don’t want to do canyons, it’s sweet place to just chill.

My agenda for the trip was pretty mellow, doing Bear Creek, Weehawken, Portland Creek, and Oak Creek. In a quick and efficient group, most of the days were extremely casual, some as small as 1.5 hours, car to car. Of the four canyons I saw, Bear is certainly the best. It’s full of fantastic pools and waterfalls, including the iconic La Capella, perhaps the most photogenic of the falls I saw. Weehawken was very good as well, if not for the long middle slog between the two gorges, it would be up there with Bear. Portland creek was a quick romp with folks as they were trying to get out of town. We saved Oak for last, and it was up there with Bear, certainly in terms of iconic beauty. Though the narrows are not quite as interesting, the waterfalls and multiple rock layers are pretty impressive.

http://www.danransom.com/TripReports...09/Ouray-1.jpg
Bear Creek

http://www.danransom.com/TripReports...09/Ouray-2.jpg
La Cappella

http://www.danransom.com/TripReports...09/Ouray-3.jpg
Weehawken

http://www.danransom.com/TripReports...09/Ouray-4.jpg
Weehawken

http://www.danransom.com/TripReports...09/Ouray-5.jpg
Weehawken

http://www.danransom.com/TripReports...09/Ouray-6.jpg
Portland Creek

http://www.danransom.com/TripReports...09/Ouray-7.jpg
Portland Creek

http://www.danransom.com/TripReports...09/Ouray-8.jpg
Oak

http://www.danransom.com/TripReports...09/Ouray-9.jpg
Oak

http://www.danransom.com/TripReports...9/Ouray-10.jpg
Oak

http://www.danransom.com/TripReports...9/Ouray-11.jpg
Oak

http://www.danransom.com/TripReports...9/Ouray-12.jpg
Oak

http://www.danransom.com/TripReports...9/Ouray-13.jpg
Oak

more photos and TR here - more here - http://www.danransom.com/TripReports/?p=969

Beautiful pictures!

Spectacular photos Dan!!

Rock 'N' Roll! :popcorn:

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Originally Posted by Felicia

Spectacular photos Dan!!

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your son makes a great poser... :lol8:

:2thumbs::2thumbs:
Ken

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CarpeyBiggs

your son makes a great poser... :lol8:

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I'm trying to figure out if that's a compliment or not :facepalm1:

Seeing the pictures, it looks like an awesome trip man!

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Originally Posted by mmac

I'm trying to figure out if that's a compliment or not :facepalm1:

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it's not. i couldn't get you take off that damn gopro... :ne_nau:

Nice pictures Dan

Awesome! :popcorn:

did ya get over to Orvis hot springs? :naughty:

How deep were the pools in La Capella?

I just back from Ouray...the snow levels are very low. Word on the street says Telluride got 6 inches of snow yesterday.


Anybody who hasn't been to Ouray needs to plan a trip. Wow! What a gorgeous place! I want in on the next Ouray canyon trip fo' sho'!

Great photos as always Dan! Check out Corbett if you get the chance too, definitely one of the most beautiful Ouray canyons IMHO! Every one that I've seen has been great fun, well worth doing. Ouray is a great canyon destination!

Wayne