Benson Creek\Hidden Haven (So. UT) - August 5, 2012

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!
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Top of the first rappel, 105ft.

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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.
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13yo Brandon's first ever rappel.

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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.

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My 12yo son getting ready for his first rappel. He loved it!

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Brian leads the second rappel (two stages)

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Second rappel.

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Second rappel.

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Second rappel.

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Second rappel.

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Second rappel.

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Third rappel.

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Brian's daughter coming down the third rappel.

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My 12yo son coming down the third rappel.

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Gathering rope at the bottom of the third rappel.

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Brian heads down the final rappel.

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Me and my kids at the top of the fourth/last rappel.

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Brian's 14yo daughter on the final rappel.

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My 14yo daughter on the final rappel.

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Brian's son on the final rappel.

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Brian with his kids, 14 and 13yo.

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Me and my buddy, Brian.

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Me with two of my kids, 12 and 14yo, at the bottom of the final rappel, having finished their first canyon.

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One of the best things about Benson Creek is the short (15 min), level, beautiful hike out back to the car afterwards.

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Group photo back at the car

Excellent TR! :2thumbs: Great pics.

The youngsters are very brave indeed and looks like they had a good time. Thanks for sharing.

Curious though, on the first rappel, you set your buddy up with an ATC-XP in high friction mode--how was this rigged?

Hi Dave,

Thanks for the kind words! The ATC-XP was rigged in standard high-friction mode on a single 9mm strand. The auto block to his harness leg loop was done with 6mm cord and just proved too tight to allow the kind of bouncing-down-the-wall descent he would have liked. This is only the third canyon I've led and he's a relative noob himself and so with him not having a belay (my second rope wasn't quite long enough to rig a belay from the top), I insisted on the use of the auto block (http://climbing.about.com/od/climbin...eAutoblock.htm).

Does that answer your question?

Gary

Awesome! Thanks for sharing! Looks like a lot of fun with all that flow!

very cool. :2thumbs:

Looks like fun and when the kids can go it's even better. Thanks for the TR and pictures.

Hey - Great to see that you are taking your kids out for some quality family time in the wilderness - we need more families enjoying the outdoors these days, just one thing...if those are the harnesses I think they are (BD Alpine Bods), the buckle at the waist should be doubled back to ensure that it won't loosen accidentally at an inopportune time. I apologize if I'm incorrectly identifying the harness and that your style of harness doesn't need to double back (my petzl doesn't), but I thought it's worth saying since it's equipment for some very valuable cargo. Thanks for the post -

Great to see you and the family braving the elements and challenges. Thanks for sharing.