Blue Moon Canyon - Weehawken Creek - Ouray, CO

[ewestesen]

Dad and I started getting into some canyons around Ouray back in 2009, but I didn't make it home to Colorado at all last year. It was so good to be back in Colorado and canyoneering with my Dad! We did Weehawken Creek today, AKA Blue Moon Canyon.

We had a really great time, and had the canyon almost completely to ourselves. Lot's of nice cold water and cool gray rock. We also made a new canyoneering friend, Jill, who we met through the Ouray Canyoneering Rendezvous. Greg has done a fantastic job of organizing and entertaining everyone.

I couldn't have asked for a better day.

On the first waterfall, the rope was going across what looked like a sharp edge of rock. So I was lowering very slowly, maybe an inch or two every few seconds, to keep from rubbing the same place on the rope (btw, is there a cool name for that technique? I hear about it all the time, and I don't what to call it...). It turned out the rock wasn't as sharp as we thought... but I wondered if anyone who has been in the Ouray area canyons has done this much. There have been several core shots in Lower Oak and on the last rap in Cascade. Maybe it would be a good idea to do more often?

[hank moon]

...I was lowering very slowly, maybe an inch or two every few seconds, to keep from rubbing the same place on the rope (btw, is there a cool name for that technique? I hear about it all the time, and I don't what to call it...).

Recently, folks are calling it "creeping"

Nice shots! Can't wait to get down there myself.

[deagol]

would a rope protector work instead ?

[ewestesen]

Creeping! I was creeping in Ouray, like a senior around the dorms. Ha!

Rope protectors- great if the sharp rock is at the top. Often the sharp rocks are mid-rappel. Rope placement is helpful too, but on some raps it's hard not to pendulum a bit.

[accadacca]

Excellent report with GREAT pictures.

[heliski2]

Looks like a sweet canyon. Is the amount of water flow typical for July / August?

[ratagonia]

Looks like a sweet canyon. Is the amount of water flow typical for July / August?

This has been an exceptionally low-water, low-snowpack year. So this year's season started very early in Ouray; normally, the season does not start until August.

Tom

[ewestesen]

Thanks!

And no cheap shots at my 1980's, two-tone wetsuit yet! Wow, it's a good day!