Canyoneering

Just realized this week that I've never posted anything about canyoneering.  I still have family and friends who have no idea what this is.  So, here's some pics for fun.  These are from the summer of 2012.  Words below pics describe the picture above them.

David's portable kitchen.  We've never camped in tents.  We just roll out a tarp and sleep under the stars.  That was wierd for me at first, but now I love it.  Less work and more natural.

From close to far: brother Joe, his son Calob, brother John, friend/guide David.  Most slots involve a bit of a hike first.

Inclines don't seem like much, but they're exhausting with pack, rope, etc.

Let the fun begin.  Joe in his pretty shorts.  Best to use clothes you don't mind throwing away.

Flash floods bring annually changing variety to many routes.  It's fun to crawl through and drop down from.  I'd hate to be there when it was coming through.  This is why I may plan to go canyoneering every summer, but am willing to change locations and even cancel the trip after arriving if need be.  Better to go in future years than risk injury or death to stick to an agenda.

John in his full body wet suit getting ready to drop in a bowl of water.  When we go earlier the water is "fresher" but colder.  When we go later, the water is more tolerable and at lower levels, but sometimes raunchy.  

Climbing out of a bowl.  John tried so hard to keep his bag out of the water, only to lose his footing and go fully under.  Pretty bath water eh?  This is why David recommends using bottled water instead of Camelbak's.  That way, what you put your lips on is cleaner.

Sometimes there are long repels with terrain a little more complicated and slippery than a straight cliff.  Sometimes you land in water, sometimes on loose sharp rocks, sometimes on easy land.

Looking up into the sky from a slot we're kiking through.

Teamwork helps when dropping small areas.  Calob, the teen, was in shorts until we hit the next spot of water.  It was over 90 F on the ground above, but it was nicely cooled down here.  The water was frigid...Calob was glad he brought his wet suit as his dad, Joe, demanded.

Why headlamps are critical.

Sometimes the slots are pretty tight.

Sometimes they're just awkward and really twist your ankles, so we just slow down and take it safe.

Ok, so it looks too nasty to go through.  Amazing what you'll do when you have no other option.  In retrospect, it's not really that bad...just don't swallow!

Here we are coming out the other end.  Sometimes it seems like if you don't know it's there, then you'll just pass on by.  Slot canyons like these are a unique experience to explore, and a beauty all of their own.  I've yet to explore anything quite like them.  

David's website, http://www.canyonslimit.com/ and others like it are helpful.