Leprechaun Flash Flood

[jwurst]

On Monday, June 1st (a week ago today), a few of us hiked through the main fork of Leprechaun. Okay, "hiked" is a stretch--we heal-toe jammed through. The weather was clear and hot. We came out at about 1:30 PM. We returned to camp and found a tree to sit under to avoid baking in the sun. A little while later we saw clouds moving in. Hmm, some rain sure would feel nice. At about 3:30 it started raining--hard. The cliffs above camp sprouted waterfalls everywhere. We're probably crazy to run into a canyon when it starts flashing, but we just had to see it. We raced over to Leprechaun and ran up the wash. A few of pictures are attached. The system was very localized. I don't think it hit Shillelagh and it might not have hit the upper ends of the Leprechaun forks. Good thing we didn't spend a few hours longer in the canyon.

We spent a week in the area...
Quandary Direct -- fun, but too easy with full potholes.
Main Leprechaun
Adobe Swale -- disappointing
Hog 2 -- love the rappels
East Shillelagh
Arsenic
Morocco
Middle Maidenwater

Generally we found more mud than water in the A canyons, but got our feet wet on most days--sometimes just to wash the mud off.

[Scott Card]

Very cool. I'd have run in there with you had I been there. I am just crazy enough to want to see the power of nature. Had I grown up in the midwest, I can see myself chasing tornados too....

[jumar]

Awesome

[Canyonbug]

Thanks for sharing. It's a nice reminder that Monsoon season is bearing down on us and we need to be careful of where we are at. Localized storms are nice if you can predict them cuz you can still get into some canyons and play before they hit. Great Pics, thanks.