No Kidding is a treat for us canyoneers. It is pristine, hardly marked by passage. Anchor options are limited. Focus and attention is needed to safely pass through. This is an advanced canyon. I’m glad this canyon has not been modified, and it should be left that way. Those that are looking for safer canyons and robust anchors should look elsewhere.
Looking from below, on the rim, up to the big drop:
Early Saturday morning, our team of five: Penny, Tyler, Blake, Luke, and I headed out to review if a safe descent would be possible. Lots of people on the Cedar Point road. One group being a kind couple from California who had spent the week doing canyons. After we said our hello, we worked down around the rim, past the big ~100’ or so drop to get a glimpse of what we would find. There was definitely mud, but no water to be seen. We slowly decided that we could commit to at least the first part, and then escape if things got bad.
Now in the drop
Well, it didn’t get too bad… We easily descended through, leaving our rope at the big drop. We encountered quite a bit of mud and again started to challenge our judgment. Passing our last best option to escape, we pressed on. We brought the bolt kit, but would only use it in the direst of emergencies. We had plenty of plans to draw from first.
The canyon ended up being a combination of sand, mud, waist deep water, and areas that were dry with no sand. Each spot required anchoring. As Penny had descended a couple of times prior, she confirmed we were in unique conditions.
We needed to save sand (or use other weight). That added to the anchor difficulty. One particular section had a small, narrow lip with water on the up canyon side. That proved to be our most difficult anchor to set, as we also needed to save our sand at that point. Stacking pot shots on top of each other proved precariously almost ineffective.
After careful sequencing (we mixed it up the best we could, to give everyone the opportunity of different challenges), pot shot and sandtrap anchors, and pothole escapes, we made it safely out. Anchors continually failed, hook placement was limited to none. Be careful in here.
Some observations and post thoughts. Experience from others welcome:
•Having an aqua type anchor solution, potshots, and sandtrap with you seems smart. They each have a role, and can save your butt.
•Filling 6 potshots full of sand seemed to pull OK, at least in our circumstances. Having them only half full would cause the anchor to fail when stacked on a ledge on top of each other.
•Tough to stack more than ~6 potshots on top of each other…
•Hanging potshots over the lip, if possible in an equalized type fashion, is much more effective than laying them on top of each other on a small lip. Care must be taken for the pull (and not to groove the rock). Difficult if you need to save your sand…
•Sandtrap anchors better than potshots. However, the sandtrap did not work very well with a narrow lip and does not work in water. Will not work if you want to save your sand.
•Pull your rappel rope before retrieving your anchor. Good idea to at least get your rope back in case your anchor is stubborn…
Blake and I hustled back to retrieve the rope after we were done. The Kelsey escape was a breeze after this day. All in all, we clocked it about 8 hours. Reconnaissance chewed up a bunch of time, and given the conditions, the beta seemed fair.
Fantastic trip! I would do a canyon anytime with each of you. It was a pleasure.
Mountaineer
Agree with the 10…9…8…
If you had a proven valve/release system that was predictable, you could ponder a 1000, 999, 998…
hank moon
are y’all aware that there are several aguanchor designs “floating around” out there that work well and have been in use for awhile?
http://canyoncollective.com/threads…-works-and-how-it-was-built.17951/#post-71146
Bootboy
I’m aware that they exist but their effectiveness and reliability are reportedly less than satisfactory. I’ve talked to one of the big names working on this and his words were that he isn’t happy with either one of two designs.
I’m not aware of what specific issues remain with existing prototypes, but Im working to address all issues I can foresee at this point.
As far as I’m aware, one of the current setups is an insert for a sand trap. My unit will function as a stand-alone system. It’ll be bulkier to pack, but I believe a purpose built unit is better than a modular system for this particular application.
Stay tuned
Bootboy
The idea of a time dependent anchor makes me nervous. I don’t want my anchor ticking towards its self-destruction function while I’m hanging on it… My idea is totally static and then is emptied with a pull line. I’m not going to get into too much detail here, as I’d like to be the one to crack this concept, but mine will drain in a matter of seconds once you pull.
The trickiest part is getting the geometry right so you can maximize surface area on the rock while also trying to keep the weight high, out of the water where it’s actually effective. You guys will have to see it for yourselves.
Kuenn
Not meaning to butt in on the R&D discovery…but I have to totally agree with Bootboy here. LAMAR and Murphy (law) would not make good bedfellows. Certainly the depth and complexity of the rap would lessen the risk but I can’t think of a worse feeling than to be on-rope knowing your anchor was going to self-destruct in 10, 9, 8….
Mountaineer
Agree with the 10…9…8…
If you had a proven valve/release system that was predictable, you could ponder a 1000, 999, 998…
But even then things could go wrong for the last person, do agree, not ideal.
Pikan
I had a GREAT time Mark, definately willing to have a round two on this or ANY canyon!
Bootboy
We walked past you guys as you were setting up the exit rap. We were the group of 4 that waved as we plodded up the Kelsey exit. Had I known it was you guys, I would have come over for a chat. Looks like you guys had a great time. That’ll most definitely be my next north wash canyon.
Mountaineer
Awesome. Thought you were all really courteous in how you did your hello. Looked like a great group.
Ya, for sure, if we would have known it would have been great to chat for a few minutes.
Blake Merrell
No way! it would have been great to meet you in person! To bad we missed ya
I think you would LOVE this canyon.
Deagol
I would love to be part of a group like this doing this canyon. Very nice report..
Blake Merrell
Awesome Trip Report! Thanks Mark for writing it up I had so much fun running this canyon with you, Tyler and Penny. It was a trip I will always remember! It was good to work with people who know what they are doing!
Ill tell ya though, it sure was interesting be the fat guy who always caused the potshot anchors to fail! I think I need to to lay off the raspberry bread pudding for a while lol. Joking aside, I was very impressed with everyone’s skills. Everyone played a critical role. (mine of course being the packer of the G-pick! I WAS FRAMED!) I can’t get over the fact of how skilled your son is! I loved listening to the Father-son canyon dialogs. Penny of course was amazing. To be tutored by a lady canyoneer of her caliber was an incredible treat! She did an excellent job of letting us — new to the canyon — problem solve and descend the canyon with minimal coaching. talk about an expert shadow leader! Penny ROCKS!
So Mark, the real concern now is: WHEN do we meet up and do another one!?
Mountaineer
I think anchors trials failed for all of us? Trying to build out November plans next, would love to go again.
Bootboy
I’m working on an aqua anchor. Would love to get out and to some R&D with you guys.
Mountaineer
I thought a garbage bag or similar may be worth trying:
1. empty a pack,
2. fill the bag full of water, put it in the pack,
3. poke a small hole or two in the bottom of the garbage bag,
4. leave it over the lip, rappel,
5. hold the rope tight while eating a sandwich,
6. then pull the pack down …
Blake Merrell
very very interesting! I like it. In a pinch i wonder if this would work with drybags? I love the creativity! Has anyone out there ever done this?
Pikan
you might have to bring several bags for multi-use, and I would try to find a way to fill the back while inside the pack so that you don’t compromise it before getting it to the rappel. Also, LAMAR pokes the holes.
Mountaineer
I think you could re-use the garbage bag (by protection in the pack)…
Pikan
I make a good first-man-down-to-test-just-how-good-the-anchor-is guy… just ask Penny!