Still recovering from the ‘shock and awe’ of a big canyon weekend.
Thought that after Imlay other Zion canyons would be lacking. I was WRONG.
Desi and I have had Kolob on our hit list for a while, and at last a great team and a favorable flow rate came together.
We were Darrel, Desi, Carl, Parker, and me. Selfie is still in style!
Parker drove us to an overlook of Kolob Creek to check the flow. He is the Kolob veteran of the group.
“THAT” he said “is three CFS, NIIIIIIIIIICE! And then he said pointing “If the water flows over that shoulder of rock-you have over 5 CFS- Don’t go in!
So we hiked in, and upon reaching the stream bed, found that our 3CFS had diminished.
First Rappel- Carl on rope
Flow rate around One CFS?
Temperature: ########ing FREEZING!
So we got rolling through the canyon, and something weird was going on with me, making dumb technical errors.
Perhaps Jolly Gulch and Englestead (the 2 days before) were too much weekend for a weekend warrior.
Tossing a bag over Carl.
Kolob is spectacular, amazing, and….. deadly!
We had it easy, with low water flow. Having been through in these conditions, nothing could get me to drop in there over 3CFS!
Desi in the ‘water park’
A deep, dark, cold waterpark
This Ain’t Parkers first rodeo…or log
Darrel inspects funky rigging and keeps it rolling up front
Low flow, but Carl still gets hosed kinda
COLD but smiling
Carl on rope
Todd’s Tech Tip: when very slippery- you cannot fall on your arse if you rappel with it
through the technical section and hiking down canyon
A little friend ‘shakes it up’ warning: don’t tread on me!
Last Rap and swim
MIA’d
Parker LOVES the MIA!
Me: no luv MIA
Kolob canyon, 5-28-14
Flow about 1 CFS?
11 hours car to car
I am really grateful to have been part of an amazing team, and to have shared this experience with my incredible wife!
Lessons learned for me:
Never underestimate what fatigue, cold, and BIG DROPS can do to higher brain functions
Being at the back half of a canyon team is less glory and more actual work!
Patience is AT LEAST as great a virtue as speed
Be safe
Best, Todd
Featured Image for Homepage:
Rapterman
Wow–thanks!
Jeremy Freeman
Great TR and photos! I’ve added it to the homepage carousel
mephotoman
My head was cool from going under in one of those ice cold pools!
Rapterman
Bravo Carl!
Your photography puts ours to shame!
Thank you for being such a strong and amazing team-mate with a cool head ‘under fire’!
mephotoman
For more pics of this trip go here https://www.facebook.com/media/set/…205.1073741871.1392212830&type=1&l=e5c30799d9
mephotoman
I too was glad to be part of a great team going through this amazing canyon. Good job with the write up Rapterman!
Rapterman
Thanks Mountaineer.
A WILD, COLD, FUN day.
After a little recovery, we are plotting the next epic
Canyoneering is a strange obsession
Mountaineer
Nice job. LONG, but fun day for sure.