Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Thursday, November 13, 2008
Canyoneering to the Mexican Border
A note about Sycamore Canyon: it may be the least technical canyon I have down yet; it is the most abusing on the body of any outdoor activity I have done. I have climbed Mt. Kilimanjaro and hiked plenty of more strenuous miles before in a day though I wasn't prepared for what 10 plus miles of constant hiking in sand, rocks, boulders, and water would do to my feet and my hips on down. I was never physically exhausted just physically worn down.Sycamore Canyon runs straight into Mexico so if you follow it long enough you will reach the Mexican border. I had read that there is fence protecting the international border and this is something I wanted to see. I wanted to see what is blocking people from crossing into the United States.
It was almost laughable once we arrived. My first view of the fence was that there was a ditch underneath it that allows anybody to easy slide underneath the fence. It is possible that the ditch underneath was man made.
It gets better when I look to my left I see this fence of international protection just lying on the ground. This is the photo shown in the post. Yes, you don't even have to go over or under the fence to get in you just have to step over the fence.
I find it literally fascinating the big official borders with all the officers asking you questions when just a few miles away you can just walk in and not even have to figure a way around a fence. Not that the fence would really stop anybody who wanted to get in just the personal idea that you can bypass the lines at the gate to just walk across yourself.
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Sycamore Canyon Canoneering in Southern Arizona
I chose Sycamore Canyon for one important reason; I didn't want to freeze my butt off. The last canyon much farther north at Christopher Creek was the coldest I had ever been. I take that back summitting Mt. Kilimanjaro was the coldest I have ever been. Yes we could have brought wetsuits to Christopher Creek though it was 80 degrees outsite and Christopher Creek is open to the sun.Sycamore Canyon has constant running water though the canyon is wide enough with a little scambling and climbing most of it can be avoided if you don't want to get wet. This was precisely my goal since it is now November in Arizona and not June any more.
Because you are not getting wet it makes canyoneering Sycamore Canyon mostly a hike. There is one stretch of narrows where we did swim two pools which were freezing to say the least. I did my best Bear Grylls jumping jacks in the sun to warm up. These pools can be avoided with some decent climbing skills though I had a new guy with me that I was going to make sure got wet at least once.
We covered over 10 miles of sand, rock, water, and boulders which is a lot of miles for going through a canyon in one day. I guarentee you will feel your hips after this canyon.Sycamore Canyon is an out and back so you can turn around when ever you want. The scenry doesn't change much past the narrows though I would spend a little more time beyond. For those who want to put in the miles you can keep going all the way to the Mexican border where a fence tells you that you have reached the international line.
I recommend this canyon if you are looking for a winter canyon trip that you don't have to worry about getting cold. By the way we climbed around the two pools we swam on the way out.
Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Zone Training for beginners to maximize workouts
Like Training programs that are based upon maximum heart rate, Anaerobic threshold (AT)-based training zones are relative to varying levels of intensity, each of which serves different training objectives. Each of these zones develops essential physiological functions that contribute to good health and improved fitness, especially the possibility of weight loss. So you should never limit your training to a single metabolic zone, although you may exercise predominantly in one zone for a given time in order to reach specific training objectives.
Except for rank beginners or people with health related limitations, all levels of intensity are appropriate to ensure maximum cardiovascular development and results. How much and how often you work in each zone will depend on your athletic goals and your current level of fitness (continue reading for a more detailed description of the zones and their primary applications).
Let's look at the volume of the different zones that should be performed weekly. As a rule of thumb, 60 to 65 percent of your total workout time should focus on Zones 1 and 2; 30 to 35 percent on Zones 3 and 4; and about 5 percent on Zone 5. But you need not incorporate all zones into a single workout. In fact, you'll get better results from designing a range of different workouts throughout the week - including long, easy ones in Zones 1 and 2, and shorter, tougher ones that occupy more time in Zones 3, 4 and 5.
ZONE 1: Warm-up Heart-rate range: 60 to 70 percent of AT.
Training objectives: Encourage blood flow and burn fat.
What's happening: This is almost a pure aerobic state, which you can maintain almost indefinitely without experiencing any rise in blood lactate.
Feeling: Comfortable to talk and breathe through your nose.
How long: 10-minute warm-up progressing to higher intensity zones for 45 minutes or longer. Depending on your fitness level, you may need to start with a shorter workout and build up to 45 minutes, or do several shorter workouts throughout the day.
Zone 1 basics: This is a good place to launch your fitness program if you are a beginner or returning to exercise after taking off several months or more. It develops basic exercise technique, endurance and an aerobic base. Ideally, if you are new to exercise, or returning to training after a long break, you should stay in Zone 1 for about six weeks before moving up in zones. Zone 1 is also a good place to recover from tougher workouts.
ZONE 2: Aerobic Development
Heart-rate range: 70 to 90 percent of AT.
Training objectives: Build aerobic efficiency and maximize fat burning at a higher caloric rate.
What's happening: A small rise in blood lactate occurs, yet the body can process it without buildup.
Feeling: You can still converse and may have the urge to go faster. Breathing deepens a bit.
How long: 30 minutes (beginner); 90 minutes or longer (advanced).
Zone 2 basics: Before developing your lactate tolerance or increasing your AT, you should fully develop your "aerobic base," and this is a great zone for moving that effort forward. Noticeable improvement in this zone generally takes about six weeks of consistent training. But don't worry: As you become more efficient and fit, you'll be able to work out faster in every zone. For fit people, Zone 2 is also a good place for active recovery.
ZONE 3: Aerobic Endurance Heart-rate range: 90 to 100 percent of AT.
Training objectives: Increase endurance. Here, you push your AT up to higher intensity by training your body to tolerate more lactate in the blood.
What's happening: As intensity increases, not all lactate produced in the cells can be shuttled back into the metabolic cycle. Lactate levels in the blood begin to rise and, with time, fatigue sets in.
Feeling: Breathing becomes noticeable, but not too difficult; conversation is restricted to short sentences.
How long: 20 minutes (beginner); one hour or more (advanced).
Zone 3 basics: Building endurance at your AT through long intervals (four to 10 minutes) at threshold range will help raise your AT and slowly develop your body's tolerance of lactate. This training adaptation also allows your body to burn fat more efficiently. The idea here is to rest between intervals with your heart rate recovering in your aerobic zone and then increase intensity again up to your threshold.
ZONE 4: Anaerobic Endurance Heart-rate range: 100 to 110 percent of AT.
Training objectives: Increase athletic ability by improving lactate tolerance. Here you're pushing AT and VO2 max (your body's highest ability to utilize oxygen), challenging the heart to work longer, and increasing cardiac output (more blood is being pumped with each stroke, thus requiring fewer strokes per minute).
What's happening: Your body switches into primarily using glycogen or carbohydrate to fuel its need for energy, and your blood-lactate levels dramatically increase.
Feeling: Breathing becomes heavy, difficult and uncomfortable. You may also experience "muscle burn" because of lactate buildup.
How long: Five minutes (beginner); 30 minutes (advanced).
Zone 4 basics: Run at an aerobic pace, then speed up or increase resistance until your heart beats at 110 percent of your AT range. Maintain this level for one to four minutes. Reduce the pace until your heart returns slightly below AT, but not completely back to the aerobic zone. Then repeat the interval.
ZONE 5: Speed and Power Heart-rate range: 110 percent of AT to MHR.
Training objectives: Increase athletic ability by improving neurological response, exercise mechanics, speed and muscle power.
What's happening: Your body is burning the last remaining fuel (glycogen) in your muscles and cannot sustain this maximum effort for more than a few seconds without succumbing to exhaustion.
Feeling: Extremely difficult and uncomfortable. You'll feel breathless and may hear pounding in your chest. You'll feel an intense desire to slow or stop.
How long: Typically several seconds.
Zone 5 basics: Your work here consists of sprints and very intense, short intervals (up to one minute). Although you can come in and out of Zone 5 several times during the course of a single workout, spending more than 10 percent of your total workout time in this zone increases your risk of injury. If you've done a significant amount of Zone 5 work, be sure to add recovery time (meaning a day or two of rest or working in Zones 1 and 2) before returning to Zones 4 and 5.
Progress Makes Perfect By using your AT as a marker for aerobic exercise, you can base your training on a highly individualized fitness parameter, without having to guess about percentages of MHR. This lets you take advantage of every exercise session, knowing you are making the most of your time and energy. And as your fitness improves, so will your AT - one of the best indicators of cardiovascular health, fitness and overall vitality.
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Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Indoor Rock Climbing for Fitness: It's Not Extreme Anymore
Once an activity labeled as an "extreme sport", rock climbing has in the last few years become a very popular workout activity as the use of indoor climbing walls in fitness facilities, community centers and health clubs has increased and made the sport much more user friendly. Not only can it be fun and exciting, rock climbing is one of the most effective strength training workouts a person can ever have, providing fitness and strength benefits that are difficult to match with any other single activity. If you want to work out every muscle in your body in the shortest amount of time possible and get quick results in strength, body shape, toning and muscular endurance, there is no better thing to do. It burns a tremendous amount of calories as well, assisting with weight or fat loss. And did I mention that it is fun? Participants sometimes have such a blast that they even forget to feel tired! Around twenty years ago, the very first climbing gyms started appearing around the United States. One of the first was The Vertical Club in Seattle, Washington, and that is where I first took a lesson and learned to climb. My experience walking in there in 1993 was TOTALLY different than a new climber would have walking into the average climbing facility now. Back then, climbing gyms were primarily the domain of serious rock climbers who needed a way to stay in shape during the bad weather months or in between trips to outdoor climbing locations. Climbing as a general fitness activity hadn't arrived yet.
When I entered the facility that day, I was first greeted by a man on crutches who told me he had just broken his ankle in an outdoor climbing fall. He seemed pretty intense. There were several men climbing near the front without shirts on, their bodies seemingly made of nothing but muscle and sinew. One of them was attempting a climbing move just a few feet off the ground right in front of his buddies, who stood no more than arms reach from him, shouting him encouragement and prepared to break his fall if he came off the wall. He was exerting himself fully while trying the move, and I was struck by his effort, while all he had to do was literally put his foot down and he would have been standing directly on the ground.
I felt somewhat intimidated by the atmosphere. The place was definitely filled with people who climbed seriously, and at that time I was definitely someone who did not. I was glad I was there to take an actual lesson because I would have absolutely no idea how to start for myself. My teacher was the owner of the club, and he was very friendly and helpful. It was almost like having my own personal trainer. By the end of the 2 hour lesson I knew my way around the gym and the equipment and knew how to belay another climber and tie myself into the rope for safety. And I had climbed from the bottom of the walls to the top several times successfully. I was officially a climber, albeit a very enthusiastic beginner.
In the present day, a first trip to a climbing facility for a beginner will be a completely different experience. There are many more climbing gyms around, and like I mentioned above, many fitness centers and health clubs have climbing walls now. These climbing gyms and fitness center walls are used much more now by the average fitness enthusiast who is looking for a fun way to workout or have some recreation, and beginner classes abound. The look and feel of the facilities is usually very family friendly. Birthday parties and social events for kids, corporate outing and team building for adults as well as family recreation outings make up a huge percentage of the business for climbing walls nowadays. A first time visitor will be greeted by an enthusiastic staff wearing matching t-shirts and typically watch a safety video that gives an overview of the procedures of the facility. Then in a small group or individually, they are led out to attempt a few climbs before they are cleared to use the place on their own. The extensive orientation I received at The Vertical Club is mostly a thing of the past. The equipment and safety set up is much easier for the average person to learn, which gets them climbing and having fun sooner. This has greatly increased the number of people who participate in climbing and has led to the serious climbers that I saw on my first trip to The Vertical Club frequently being the minority in the gym at any given time.
Getting your exercise while climbing indoors usually involves you making your way from the floor toward the ceiling of the facility using plastic holds for your hands and feet that have the same look and feel as real rock. These are attached to a wall that is textured to resemble a real cliff face. As you make your way to the top, a cable attached to an automatic belay device or a rope attached to your partner and tied to your safety harness that you wear keeps you safe from a fall. Most indoor facilities have walls for roped climbing that go up to about 30 feet in height, though some in the United States go from 60 to 90 feet. Most facilities also have a version of climbing called bouldering where the climber is not roped but never climbs more than 10-15 feet off the ground, protecting against a fall with large gymnastics pads moved around on the floor underneath. Snug fitting climbing shoes with specially made rubber soles are worn for incredible grip against the footholds.
Indoor rock climbing requires exactly the same fitness and muscle strength and enduranace demands as doing it outdoors. And the benefits are awesome! Unlike traditional weight training which involves lifting weight in a controlled movement in a gym or home setting, rock climbing is "strength training with a twist": you as the climber are now the weight going up or down and rather than an arbitrary number of repetitions to be performed to complete a set, the goal of climbing is to get to the top of the wall. It doesn't matter how it is accomplished, either. Climbing doesn't have to look pretty to be effective. The result is a change of focus away from the effort of repetitions to the effort of working toward the immediately achievable goal of reaching the top. This can result in a very empowering feeling of accomplishment for the climber, because each trip up the wall holds a challenge that can be overcome and a goal that is achieved. This is what has been known to be addicting and can lead you to want to do more. And when you want to do more, you will keep doing it. And that is the biggest secret for long term success in fitness: keep doing it! It is amazing what consistency can accomplish.
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Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Bear Grylls in Home State of South Dakota
If you have never been than I highly recommend visiting the western edge of South Dakota. Interestingly, I can get from Phoenix to Vegas faster than I could get from my house in South Dakota to the Black Hills. Most people don't realize how big the states are in the midwest.
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Sunday, September 21, 2008
Christopher Creek Canyon Canyoneering
The canyon is easy to get to with parking on the side of the road and an easy to follow trail that leads to an entrance to the canyon. Because of the ease of access you might find the beginning populated with people. Trust me though only the canyoneers are going farther into the canyon so you will lose people quickly.The main concern about this canyon is the water is cold year around. For us it might have been 80 degrees outside the water temp was in the fifties. It was cold to say the least. I highly recommend a wetsuit to do this canyon or at least a wetsuit top. We didn't have either so it swim as hard as you can and then jump and run in place to warm back up once out. The good thing is you are in and out of the water so you do have the ability to warm up.
The canyon is full of tiny waterfalls to go down and around. A few a slid down which is always fun. Be prepared to go through tons of pools which are typically over your head. I rarely just waded through the water, mostly it was swimming.
There are 3-5 rappels you need to complete depending on your climbing skill level. There are obvious natural anchors and some have fairly new webbing already in place though I won't automatically count on that.Three of the rappels are direct in waterfalls that are extremely slippery. Every person slipped at least once so make sure you go slow and keep your hand locked on the rope during the rappel.
Over all extremely fun canyon with tons of waterfalls and pools to swim.
Thursday, September 11, 2008
Why Core Fitness is Important
If you've listened to the buzz around the fitness world lately or perused the latest workout books, you've probably heard the experts referencing core fitness in some shape or form. Traditionally, strength training has been dominated by exercises focused on isolating the muscles of the arms and legs. In fact, if you look at many of the weight machines that have become popular in modern gyms, you'll notice that they require you to sit or recline while you use them.
While these machines will effectively help you build the muscles that they target, the problem is that, in real life, we don't use our muscles that way. We lift a box from the floor to a shelf, swing a golf club, push our children on the swing set, or climb a rock wall. In fact, the vast majority of the things we do require all of the muscles in our bodies to function together and be coordinated through our mid-sections, or our "core."
While those activities may make the use of core muscles seem very obvious, this area, made up of the muscles of our midsection, are actually responsible for quite a few of the more subtle functions as well, including posture, balance and stability.
A weakened core will often result in poor posture and stability, yet we don't necessarily feel the results of it in areas that show us a direct cause and effect correlation. For example, poor posture, due to a weakened core, might allow our hips to slip out of alignment resulting in knee pain. In fact, quite a few of the chronic muscle and joint pain issues that Americans are suffering with today stem from a weakened core.
It is no wonder, then, that exercise science has taken a dramatic shift in recent years to include the core in strength training regimes. Now, rather than using a machine to first exercise your legs and then your arms, trainers are suggesting that their clients use free weights or bands to combine exercises such as a squat to overhead press. By linking the two, people are forced to transition the exercise movement through their core, and the core muscles in turn help to maintain good posture throughout the exercise. The end result is that we are exercising in a fashion that mimics the movements that we use in everyday life, while creating better posture and increasing our stability and balance.
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Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Bear Grylls is Back in the Canyons of Baja Peninsula
Bear Grylls found the dry river canyons of Northern Mexico, though I think I will keep my adventure to water filled canyons of Arizona. I much enjoy cooling off in a nice canyon pool.
The trick he showed for finding water by digging at the base of rock formations was a good thing to keep in mind if ever in an emergency situation. There looked to be enough water at the base of the one he found where you could hangout and stay hydrated while you waited to be resuced.
My next adventure is heading up to Christopher Creek Canyon outside Payson, AZ. I am hoping to stay away from killing skunks, drinking my own pee, or coming face to face with a diamond back. I have already almost stepped on a diamondback this year so if I don't see another one I will be fine.
Sunday, August 3, 2008
How to Rapell - Used for Canyoneering Canyons
Things You’ll Need:
* Athletic Tapes
* Climbing Gear
* Climbing Harnesses
* Climbing Helmets
* Climbing Ropes
* Climbing Shoes
Step1
Set the rappel anchor. The rappel anchors should be tested before you trust them with your life. You should be securely attached to these anchors with a sling or daisy chain while you proceed through the following steps.
Step2
Prepare the rope for a single rope rappel. Fix one end of the rope to the rappel anchors by tieing a double figure 8 knot into the carabiners at the end of the equalized anchors. Make sure the rope doesn't go over any sharp edges and that the other end of the rope makes it to the ground.
Step3
Attach the rappel device to the rope. Be careful not to drop your device as you are attaching it to the rope. Check the manufacturer's instructions for how to use your particular rappel device.
Step4
Attach your rappel device to your harness. Clip into the rappel device with a locking carabiner. Do not unclip from the anchors (Step 1) until you are sure you are correctly attached to the rappel device, and the rappel device is correctly attached to the rope. After you've tested both the rope and the device, you can unclip your daisy chain from the anchors and proceed with the rappel.
Step5
Get in position. These instructions assume you are right-handed or are comfortable using your right hand in this. Place your left hand around the rope about 6 inches above the rappel device. Your left hand will be between your rappel device and the anchors holding the rope. Consider wearing gloves to protect your hands.
Step6
Grab the rope that hangs down out of the rappel device with your right hand and slide your hand on the rope back to your right hip and wrap the rope slightly around your right hip. Your right hand in this configuration is called your brake hand.
Step7
Rappel downward. Let some of the rope in your right hand slide up through the rappel device. As you do this you will slide down the rope.
Step8
Move past obstructions and overhangs. Make sure not to knock loose any rocks or other debris.
Step9
When you are safely on the ground, release the rope from your rappel device and call "Off rappel" for others who may be waiting.
Friday, August 1, 2008
Canyoneering First Aid
* Contaminated water: Iodine, Water filter.
* Sprained ankle: ACE bandage, tape, trekking pole as cane.
* Abrasion: Band-aid, butterfly dressing, tape, Neosporin, Betadine.
* Blisters: mole-skin, scissors, gauze, clean socks.
* Sliver: tweezers
* Diarrhea: Pepto-Bismol, Imodium, soap to wash hands before preparing food for you non-diarrheal buddies.
* Pain: Tylenol, Ibuprofen, Naproxen, narcotics. (Avoid Aspirin in kids as it may cause Reye's syndrome).
* Insomnia: Benadryl
Big-deals:
-The first rule of a significant rescue is not to make the problem worse than it is. Folks sent out ahead to call Search and Rescue can end up as fatalities when they become lost or exposed, while the injured hunker down and are eventually rescued. Exposing yourself to additional risk in a rescue effort must be weighed against increased hazard to the entire team if further injury occurs.
-All big deals require urgent transport to medical facility. You should know where the closest hospital is and how to get there. If members of the party are sent ahead to call Search and Rescue, pencil and paper are useful to record location of injured people and injuries. Cell phones expedite evacuation, but often have poor reception in canyons/desert. Reflective mirrors are also useful, but few people know how to use one.
* Laceration: Quick Clot(tm) Field dressing, gauze pads, gloves, trauma shears, steri-strips, super-glue/Durabond (use with care-Durabond less irritating to skin than industrial superglue), triangular bandage. Think pressure, lots and lots of pressure.
* Fracture: SAM splint, ACE bandage, Popsicle-stick (finger fracture), tape. Trekking pole for cane. Injuries compromising blood flow or sensation (neurovascular injury) require emergent evacuation and orthopedic evaluation.
* Snake bite: Betadine, soap, gauze, maybe venom extractor (no cowboy cut and suck technique please).
* Hypothermia: dry fleece jacket and hat, emergency blanket/bag for all party members, lightweight stove and bullion/ramen, hard candy, extra energy bar, magnesium strip, and lighter. Fire starting skills. Willingness to accept a forced bivy and warm up rather than push on. Watch for the 'umbles: mumbles, grumbles, tumbles, stumbles, fumbles.
* Flail chest: Lots of tape, rolled up sweater to brace chest.
* Pneumothorax: If you don't know what it is, don't carry the 16 gauge needle to treat it, petroleum gauze and tape to make one-way valve. Monitor vitals, if breathing or pulse gets worse, patient may have tension pneumothorax. This will require emergent evacuation and treatment. Effective diagnosis and treatment in the wilderness is difficult under the best of circumstances.
* Burn: petroleum gauze, more gauze, hydration, pain management.
* Falls: Danger of spinal injury. DO NOT move the patient or the patient's head unless you want to paralyze them for life. If person moved already, they may still have a spinal injury. A first-responder should immobilize the patient's head to prevent unintentional movement.
In any trauma, spinal injury, internal bleeding, respiratory distress, and hypovolemic shock (even if you can't see any wounds) are a real danger. Seek help immediately.
-There are other big-deals dealing with the ABC's (airway, breathing, circulation). You could carry some airway protection device, a guard for mouth-to-mouth, knowledge of CPR/basic life support/advanced life support. However, it is difficult to imagine situations when someone healthy enough to descend a canyon could develop a condition requiring aggressive intervention in the wilderness and benefit from it. You simply aren't equipped in the wilderness to deal with respiratory failure due to tracheal injury, drowning/aspiration, status asthmaticus, or cardiovascular collapse due to arrhythmia, massive myocardial infarction or shock. There are portable cardioversion devices available, but none light enough to justify carrying it in the back-country. A trial of CPR followed by urgent evacuation is really the only solution. Always consider the safety of the rest of the group when starting a rescue effort.
Wilderness Pharmacopeia:
* Pain:
Tylenol, Naproxen, Ibuprofen. Avoid aspirin in kids.
* Wounds:
Triple antibiotic with lidocaine. Betadine.
* GI issues:
Iodine, Water filter, Pepto-Bismol, Imodium, Ex-lax for your buddy's brownies.
* Asthma:
Albuterol inhaler for anyone who has ever had one.
Monday, July 28, 2008
Canyoneering Adventures Video Gallery
Canyoneering Videos
First Water Canyon Narrows
Upper Fish Creek Canyon Moss Pool
Canyoneering Christopher Creek Canyon Video
Canyoning Sycamore Canyon to Mexican Border Video
Canyoning Agua Fria River Canyon Video
Buckskin Gulch Canyoneering Video
Cold Swim - Fish Creek Canyon
Start 25 min. swim - First Water Canyon
Sundance Canyon Video
Rappelling 180 ft Sundance Canyon
Havasu Falls Video
Photo Gallery for Canyoneering Trips
Canyoneering Trip Photosthe Jug Photos
First Water Canyon Photos
Upper Fish Creek Canyon Photos
Christopher Creek Canyoning Photos
Sycamore Canyon Canyoneering Photos
Peters Canyon Canyoneering Photos
Agua Fria River Canyon Canyoneering Photos
Buckskin Gulch Photos
Sundance Canyon Photos
Bear Canyon Photos
Crawdad Canyon Photos
Havasu Falls Photos
Neon Canyon Photos
Egypt 3 Canyon Photos
Upper Fish Creek Canyon Canyoneering Superstition Mountains
Upper Fish Creek Canyon refers to the upper level of the canyon from Fish Creek Bridge on the Apache Trail. The trail is a moderate intensity of boulder route finding, scrambling, some modest climbing, and pools.Most of the pools were pretty still which makes for fun moss water wading through. Some of the pools were up to my chest though most were under knee hight. The pools were a great way to cool off and I would recommend going through this canyon on a hot Arizona day.
What made the trip is finding and jumping into a dark deep pool. A huge rock overhanging kept the sun from hitting the pool and this one was cold. After the short swim it does take a climb to get yourself out. The pool was eerie black because of lack of light.
You can make this a point A to B route for about 8.5 miles though the pools and more fun boulders are all in the first 3 miles from the bridge. We did an out and back. There is no big land mark where you have to turn around though we did after wading through a couple of pools the canyon really opened up and we decided that was the best place to turn around.I highly enjoyed the canyon. We had a first time guy with us and the ease of the canyon made for an enjoyed first time, and it was just hard enough in spots to make it a fun challenge.
Friday, July 11, 2008
Good Solo Hiking Tent for Canyoneering
I take the Iota tent by Sierra Designs. It is a light easy to pack solo backpacking tent that works with my minimal weight I want to carry. Though I do have a bivy sack I prefer to use a single person tent most of time. They may be more weight though I like having the head room which is worth a pound of extra gear. We are not talking 10 pounds just a pound over most typical bivy sacks. The other nice thing about the Iota tent is that it can handle being hit by a storm. I don't go into canyons during storm season, though I do take it with me on other trips. Riding out a storm in a solo tent is far more fun then riding it out in bivy sack.
I like the nice ventalation which keeps the bugs off me and lets me see the sky at night.
Sunday, July 6, 2008
ACA Canyoneering Rating System
The basic format of the ACA Canyon Rating System includes two digits. The first digit is numeric and represents the values described below related to terrain and rope work. The second digit is an alpha character representing the values described below related to water volume and current. Additional values may be added to represent relative risk and time/commitment. Ratings are cumulative. For example: descending a Class 3 canyon will require the skills listed under Class 3, as well as those listed under Classes 1 and 2.
NOTE: Ratings refer to descents in normal conditions, during what is considered the normal season for the canyon. Adverse conditions, such as higher than normal water volume or colder temperatures, will increase the difficulty of the descent.
TERRAIN / TECHNICAL ROPE WORK1 Canyon Hiking
Non-technical; no rope required. May involve some easy scrambling requiring the occasional use of hands for balance and support. See route description for more information.
2 Basic Canyoneering
Scrambling, easy vertical or near vertical climbing and/or down-climbing requiring frequent use of hands. Rope recommended for hand lines, belays, lowering packs and possible emergency use. Exit and/or retreat possible without ascending fixed ropes. See route description for more information.
3 Intermediate Canyoneering
Exposed technical climbing. Down-climbing could be difficult and dangerous; most people will rappel instead. Rope required for belays and single-pitch rappels. Obvious natural or fixed anchors. Retreat up canyon will require ascending fixed ropes. Basic pothole escape techniques (i.e. partner assist, counter-weights) may also be required. See route description for more information.
4 Advanced Canyoneering
Route may involve any combination of the following: 1) difficult and exposed free climbing and/or down-climbing, 2) climbing using direct aid, 3) multi-pitch rappels, 4) complex rope work (i.e. guided rappels, deviations, rebelays), 5) obscure or indistinct natural anchors, 6) advanced problem-solving and anchor-building skills. See route description for more information.
WATER VOLUME / CURRENT
A Normally dry or very little water. Dry falls. Water, if present, can be avoided and/or is very shallow. Shoes may get wet, but no wetsuit or drysuit required.
B Normally has water with no current or light current. Still pools. Falls normally dry or running at a trickle. Expect to do some deep wading and/or swimming. Wetsuit or drysuit may be required depending on water and air temperatures.
C Normally has water with strong current. Waterfalls. Expect to do some deep wading and/or swimming in current. Wetsuit or drysuit may be required depending on water and air temperatures.
NOTE: Water level in any canyon can fluctuate greatly from year-to-year, season-to-season, even day-to-day. If, upon arrival at a canyon, you discover the water volume/current is greater than indicated by the rating, descent will be more difficult than suggested by the route description. It will be necessary to reevaluate your decision to attempt the descent.
RISK / SERIOUSNESS (OPTIONAL)
R Risky
One or more extraordinary risk factors exist that could complicate the descent. Solid technical skills and sound judgment critical. Not recommended for beginners.
X Extreme
Multiple risk factors exist that will complicate the descent. Errors in technique or judgment will likely result in serious injury or death. Descent should only be attempted by expert canyoneers.
NOTE: The presence of an R or an X in a rating suggests that the canyon will involve higher than average risk. The absence of an R or an X does not suggest that there will be no risk. All canyoneering involves risk.
Risk factors include number and frequency of rappels, length of rappels (single- or double-rope) and exposure, anchor availability, anchor quality, route finding, obstacles, problem-solving, terrain encountered between technical sections, flash flood potential, availability of exits and high ground, water temperature, prolonged immersion, and difficulty of evacuation or rescue. Specific factors should be addressed in the route description.
TIME / COMMITMENT (OPTIONAL)
Half Day
I Short. Normally requires only a couple of hours.
II Normally requires a half day.
Full Day
III Normally requires most of a day.
IV Expected to take one long, full day. Get an early start. Bring a head lamp. Plan for possible bivy.
Multi Day
V Expected to take an average one and a half days.
VI Expected to take two or more days.
NOTE: Time estimates are based on average group of 6 people or less. Larger groups and less experienced groups will take longer. An accurate self-assessment of your abilities will be important. For some users, it may be adequate to refer to time in terms of half day, full day or multi day. Others may prefer a more specific estimate and choose to use the Roman Numeral Grade system common in traditional multi-pitch rock climbing.
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