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Thread: Early Ouray Outing - Middle Oak
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08-05-2013, 06:57 PM #1
Early Ouray Outing - Middle Oak
Middle Oak Creek July 31, 2013
A lower than average snowpack and an early season melt put some of the canyons around Ouray, Colorado into prime condition for July canyoning although heavy rains at the beginning of our week almost turned an early Ouray into an ornery Ouray. The rain let up for a couple of days with water levels dropping significantly, allowing us to safely enter Middle Oak creek.
Our intention was to combine Middle and Lower into a one day project but by mid-afternoon as we approached the end of Middle Oak the dark clouds were moving in and we lost our sun. We hopped out at the trail that divides middle from lower.
Middle Oak by itself is a blast. It is one waterfall after another with plenty of wet down climbs. One does get wet doing this canyon. We rebuilt several anchors and we used a 210 foot doubled rope for the 80 foot waterfall.
Thanks to Michael Dallin for all the beta in his book Ouray Canyoning
Thanks to my Canyoneering partners Sandra, Dave, Monica, Kurt, Kari for a fantastic time.
My video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jg3Whkr28HMLast edited by french_de; 12-26-2014 at 11:27 AM. Reason: fixed text lost during migration
Don't believe everything you think.
-Borrowed from a bumper sticker I believe
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Post Thanks / Like - 3 Likes
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08-05-2013 06:57 PM # ADS
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08-05-2013, 07:37 PM #2
Very nice!
For class C, as a practice do you rig contingency anchors every time?
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08-06-2013, 05:30 AM #3
Excellent! I always love the Ouray trip reports.
--Cliff
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08-06-2013, 07:55 AM #4
Another Doug French classic TR. Always a good read and more pics than most TRs.
Thanks!
One of these years, Ill make it I swear...●Canyoneering 'Canyon Conditions' @ www.candition.com
●Hiking Treks (my younger brother's website): hiking guides @ www.thetrekplanner.com
"He who walks on the edge...will eventually fall."
"There are two ways to die in the desert - dehydration and drowning." -overhearing a Park Ranger at Capitol Reef N.P.
"...the first law of gear-dynamics: gear is like a gas - it will expand to fit the available space." -Wortman, Outside magazine.
"SEND IT, BRO!!"
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08-06-2013, 08:46 AM #5
Well, we did not...perhaps we should have. One thing to note is that a lot of water hitting you from 80 feet hurts. The advice to wear baseball caps to help keep the water off your face was really good advice. Ouray canyons are at 10,000 ft., be ready for the hike up.
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08-06-2013, 08:48 AM #6Don't believe everything you think.
-Borrowed from a bumper sticker I believe
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08-06-2013, 09:22 AM #7
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08-06-2013, 09:23 AM #8
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08-06-2013, 10:18 AM #9
Nice report Doug! Great photos!
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08-06-2013, 10:33 AM #10
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08-08-2013, 05:33 PM #11
Yes, this is definitely a good idea on class C canyons. Mr Murphy likes to visit at the most inopportune times. You are under the gun much more when you are getting pounded by water. It's a good idea if the person manning the top knows how to quickly prepare and lower the person on rappel. Many times, you don't need to lower all the way to the ground; just enough to get to a safe place to correct whatever the problem was. (For example, the moving water wraps the rope around someones foot, and the plastic straps on the 5.10 canyoneers bind the rope and don't let you shake it off. This stuff does happen...)
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