Where: North Wash, Utah
When: November 2009
Who: Sarah & Dominic Meiser and Aron Ralston
More photos:
Showing posts with label CO Plateau (North Wash). Show all posts
Showing posts with label CO Plateau (North Wash). Show all posts
Hogwarts (My 3rd Time!)
Shenanigans & Main Leprechaun
Where: North Wash, Utah
When: November 2009
Who: Ram, Steve Levin, Sarah & Dominic Meiser, Aron Ralston, Dan Ransom, Matt Brechta, Roger Briggs, and Landon from Salt Lake (Shenanigans) / Sarah & Dominic Meiser, Aron Ralston, Landon from Salt Lake, and Chuck from Salt Lake (Main Lep)
Although I'd descended the very tight main fork of Leprechaun several years earlier and found it to be delightful (though DB got stuck!), I'd repeatedly put off the area classic Shenanigans because it was said to be so tight that anyone over 180 pounds would not fit through. After a hard-working summer in the mountains, and a fall that was nearly as active, my weight was trimmed to precisely 180 pounds! I was ready (sort of)!
Turns out, Shenanigans was a delight. With some help from Ram and others, I squeezed through with surprisingly little effort (other than the psychological kind). I'd love to go back and do it again...but first, we headed off for another Main Leprechaun run!
More photos:
Constrychnine
Where: Poison Springs, Utah
When: March 2009
Partners: DB, Andy Mac & Mark Beauchamp
Although not everyone agrees, I think Constrychnine (the East Fork of the South Fork of Poison Creek) is the best of the South Fork canyons. To add an element of surprise and mystery to our 'poisonous' experience, we decided to do the canyon without any beta (or any idea what it offered whatsoever). All the better this go-around!
With a short, overhung initial rappel, Mark set up another anchor for the next rappel below it. This rappel, the 2nd, was beautiful.
Just a bit down-canyon of the first two rappels, the canyon widened somewhat and the bottom dropped out dramatically! Sweet! A huge chasm spilled into darkness below us. So we sent Mark down first...!
As it turned out, the big rappel was "only" 140 feet or so. And it was a stunning slide down a rope!
A bit down-canyon of the big drop, the slot made an abrupt right turn and the bottom dropped out again. Peering down, we saw a dark, overhung cave offering a stunning near-vertical drop of about 70 feet to its bottom. Awesome!
But before we knew it, this short canyon came to its end at a short rappel leading to a short walk toward the confluence with Slideanide.
The East Fork of Shillelagh
Where: North Wash, Utah
When: March 2009
Partners: Andy Mac & Mark Beauchamp
Although Andy and I weren't expecting much out of the East Fork of Shillelagh (and Mark didn't know any better), we needed to finish it off. You see, a year and a half earlier, we'd backed off beta-less when we'd come to the head with only a short rope and looked down into the intimidating abyss that marks the opening drop into the canyon. Indeed intimidated, we'd taken our short rope and descended the West Fork instead. This time, we brought more rope...
As it turned out, the sequence wasn't nearly as bad as it looked from the top. Two quick rappels, the second one quite beautiful, and we easily scrambled through the remainder of the canyon.
Merry Piglet
Where: North Wash, Utah
When: March 2009
Partners: DB, Andy Mac & Mark Beauchamp
Merry Piglet's another fine, short canyon recently beta'd by Wyoming Dave. And in my opinion, it's the best of the North Wash mini slots.
With a touch of climbing (5.6) on the approach, some may not find the canyon trivial. But once through the initial rock difficulties, the slot displays itself as a wonderful place of joy.
But, of course, these Mini Slots must come to an end, so we all-too-soon dumped out of the tight drainage, walked a bit of open wash, and then made the final, short rappel to the boulders above the highway.
Morocco Canyon
Where: North Wash, Utah
When: March 2009
Partners: Andy Mac & Mark Beauchamp
Morocco Canyon is a "new" canyon recently beta'd by Wyoming Dave. Short, but great fun, it's a worthwhile objective for a late afternoon.
Thanks Dave! A great time out!
Taking (In) Arscenic
Where: Poison Springs, Utah
When: March 2009
Partners: DB, Andy Mac & Mark Beauchamp
Nearby Slideanide was so much fun that we decided to immediately over to its neighbor, Arscenic (aka the West Fork of the South Fork of Poison Creek). After a short walk in a shallow canyon, the floor dropped out! Sweet!
Below the first drop, the canyon mellowed out but featured some pretty slots and enjoyable downclimbs. A good canyon.
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