First off, I will admit that I run cold. That being said, yes the 3/2 full was appreciated in upper Neon (Triborough Bridges). We also had Adam, who runs hot, that thought he could have gotten by without it.
Choprock the next day had plenty of swims. I donned the 3/2 as soon as we hit the Riparian, and added a 3mm shorty at the first full swim (close to the Happy section). I still got a bit chilled toward the end. Again, Adam was fine all day in just his 3/2 full. Chop may be very dry compared to normal conditions, but don’t misunderstand. This canyon still has significant swims in dark corridors with very cold water. Be prepared.
Bugs were not a factor, but I am now finding some tiny bites at home. Nothing major. Water level in the Escalante did change from day to day but we always found crossings that were below the waist. It helps to have a trekking pole or a big stick.
Overall, what a place. This was my first trip and I can’t wait to go back there. I would do Choprock twice in one trip easily as it is just that good. Thanks Ram for re-discovering this gem for us all. I see why you’ve done it 30+ times.
Dean
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “TomJones”
Was down Neon way this past weekend. Lots of folks in the Hood. Before, there were many conflicting conditions reports – prompting me to clarify.
Malia, Dean and crew went up in at the Tri-borough Bridges, and found water up there worthy of wet suits. Perhaps they would add to this report.
We rapped in at the “Tree entrance”, which is above the More Fun and Fork Chop entrances. We found very little water in Neon. There was one brief swim before Fork Chop, then one brief swim after Keeper Pothole #2. The rap at the Cathedral landed in waist-deep water.
Unlike most canyons, because of the multiple entrances, the Keepers in Neon are usually discussed from the bottom up. So “The Neon Keeper” is the one right before the Cathedral. It was knee deep at entrance, and has a lot of gravel washed in, so most people can exit with a little help or on their own mantling abilities.
Keeper #2 is between the More Fun and the Sport entrance, and is dry. Yields easily to a partner boost with a pack toss rope to help with getting over the lip. There is also the option of climbing out and rapping off the bolt up there back into the canyon; or stemming over and sliding down; or stemming over and dropping a weighted pack or potshot; or climbing out and over to the bolt, hopping to the other side and walking the bench downcanyon to the moki steps, which avoids the swim.
There were Cedar gnats at the trailhead, and just a few lower down. No significant biting bugs further in, but some kind of leaf-muncher was working the cottonwoods at the mouth of neon, and dropping down upon our camp there, and crawling all over the tents. Fully-sealed tents highly recommended.
The Escalante River was higher than expected, and we had to hunt for (and we found) stream crossings that did not knock us over, but were perhaps up to waist deep. The water seemed higher in the afternoon and evening, but back down by morning. Water quality was particularly murky in the evening – not sure why. A little higher water and I would want to drybag my pack before attempting a crossing.
Webbing at the Cathedral was as usual excessive, but most looked very new. Mike replaced the worn piece at the end. Looks like someone had pulled their rope through it – it was cut through about 1/3 of the way! No ring in place. People had used this an hour before we got there – sc-a-a-a-a-a-a-ary! Don’t do that! Mike extended it to get a good pull / minimize rope grooves and put a big fat rapid link on it.
If’n you head down there, don’t expect to have it to yourself, and do be prepared to play well with others. Thanks.
Tom >
Adam Anderson
It was dry 2 weeks ago.
On Thu, May 17, 2012 at 6:01 PM, Glenn glennmerrill@hotmail.com> wrote:
> **
> Thanks. I assume that Ringtail is very dry as well?
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “TomJones” wrote:
Previous report is only 11 days old, Glenn…
Anyway, was down last weekend, May 12, 13, and 14. Drier still. No > wetsuit needed for Neon, unless you go very high.
Choprock – still wet, still requires a wetsuit.
The Escalante River was down quite a bit, to knee deep rather than > crotch deep.
Tom
>
Glenn
Thanks. I assume that Ringtail is very dry as well?
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “TomJones” wrote:
Previous report is only 11 days old, Glenn…
Anyway, was down last weekend, May 12, 13, and 14. Drier still. No wetsuit needed for Neon, unless you go very high.
Choprock – still wet, still requires a wetsuit.
The Escalante River was down quite a bit, to knee deep rather than crotch deep.
Tom >
TomJones
Previous report is only 11 days old, Glenn…
Anyway, was down last weekend, May 12, 13, and 14. Drier still. No wetsuit needed for Neon, unless you go very high.
Choprock – still wet, still requires a wetsuit.
The Escalante River was down quite a bit, to knee deep rather than crotch deep.
Tom
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “Glenn” wrote:
Anyone been down Neon or Choprock recently? How are the conditions? How much wetsuit would you recommend?
> — In Yahoo Canyons Group, “evergreen_dean” wrote:
First off, I will admit that I run cold. That being said, yes the 3/2 full was appreciated in upper Neon (Triborough Bridges). We also had Adam, who runs hot, that thought he could have gotten by without it.
Choprock the next day had plenty of swims. I donned the 3/2 as soon as we hit the Riparian, and added a 3mm shorty at the first full swim (close to the Happy section). I still got a bit chilled toward the end. Again, Adam was fine all day in just his 3/2 full. Chop may be very dry compared to normal conditions, but don’t misunderstand. This canyon still has significant swims in dark corridors with very cold water. Be prepared.
Bugs were not a factor, but I am now finding some tiny bites at home. Nothing major. Water level in the Escalante did change from day to day but we always found crossings that were below the waist. It helps to have a trekking pole or a big stick.
Overall, what a place. This was my first trip and I can’t wait to go back there. I would do Choprock twice in one trip easily as it is just that good. Thanks Ram for re-discovering this gem for us all. I see why you’ve done it 30+ times.
Dean
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “TomJones” wrote:
Was down Neon way this past weekend. Lots of folks in the Hood. Before, there were many conflicting conditions reports – prompting me to clarify.
Malia, Dean and crew went up in at the Tri-borough Bridges, and found water up there worthy of wet suits. Perhaps they would add to this report.
We rapped in at the “Tree entrance”, which is above the More Fun and Fork Chop entrances. We found very little water in Neon. There was one brief swim before Fork Chop, then one brief swim after Keeper Pothole #2. The rap at the Cathedral landed in waist-deep water.
Unlike most canyons, because of the multiple entrances, the Keepers in Neon are usually discussed from the bottom up. So “The Neon Keeper” is the one right before the Cathedral. It was knee deep at entrance, and has a lot of gravel washed in, so most people can exit with a little help or on their own mantling abilities.
Keeper #2 is between the More Fun and the Sport entrance, and is dry. Yields easily to a partner boost with a pack toss rope to help with getting over the lip. There is also the option of climbing out and rapping off the bolt up there back into the canyon; or stemming over and sliding down; or stemming over and dropping a weighted pack or potshot; or climbing out and over to the bolt, hopping to the other side and walking the bench downcanyon to the moki steps, which avoids the swim.
There were Cedar gnats at the trailhead, and just a few lower down. No significant biting bugs further in, but some kind of leaf-muncher was working the cottonwoods at the mouth of neon, and dropping down upon our camp there, and crawling all over the tents. Fully-sealed tents highly recommended.
The Escalante River was higher than expected, and we had to hunt for (and we found) stream crossings that did not knock us over, but were perhaps up to waist deep. The water seemed higher in the afternoon and evening, but back down by morning. Water quality was particularly murky in the evening – not sure why. A little higher water and I would want to drybag my pack before attempting a crossing.
Webbing at the Cathedral was as usual excessive, but most looked very new. Mike replaced the worn piece at the end. Looks like someone had pulled their rope through it – it was cut through about 1/3 of the way! No ring in place. People had used this an hour before we got there – sc-a-a-a-a-a-a-ary! Don’t do that! Mike extended it to get a good pull / minimize rope grooves and put a big fat rapid link on it.
If’n you head down there, don’t expect to have it to yourself, and do be prepared to play well with others. Thanks.
Tom
Glenn
Anyone been down Neon or Choprock recently? How are the conditions? How much wetsuit would you recommend?
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “evergreen_dean” wrote:
First off, I will admit that I run cold. That being said, yes the 3/2 full was appreciated in upper Neon (Triborough Bridges). We also had Adam, who runs hot, that thought he could have gotten by without it.
Choprock the next day had plenty of swims. I donned the 3/2 as soon as we hit the Riparian, and added a 3mm shorty at the first full swim (close to the Happy section). I still got a bit chilled toward the end. Again, Adam was fine all day in just his 3/2 full. Chop may be very dry compared to normal conditions, but don’t misunderstand. This canyon still has significant swims in dark corridors with very cold water. Be prepared.
Bugs were not a factor, but I am now finding some tiny bites at home. Nothing major. Water level in the Escalante did change from day to day but we always found crossings that were below the waist. It helps to have a trekking pole or a big stick.
Overall, what a place. This was my first trip and I can’t wait to go back there. I would do Choprock twice in one trip easily as it is just that good. Thanks Ram for re-discovering this gem for us all. I see why you’ve done it 30+ times.
Dean
— In Yahoo Canyons Group, “TomJones” wrote:
Was down Neon way this past weekend. Lots of folks in the Hood. Before, there were many conflicting conditions reports – prompting me to clarify.
Malia, Dean and crew went up in at the Tri-borough Bridges, and found water up there worthy of wet suits. Perhaps they would add to this report.
We rapped in at the “Tree entrance”, which is above the More Fun and Fork Chop entrances. We found very little water in Neon. There was one brief swim before Fork Chop, then one brief swim after Keeper Pothole #2. The rap at the Cathedral landed in waist-deep water.
Unlike most canyons, because of the multiple entrances, the Keepers in Neon are usually discussed from the bottom up. So “The Neon Keeper” is the one right before the Cathedral. It was knee deep at entrance, and has a lot of gravel washed in, so most people can exit with a little help or on their own mantling abilities.
Keeper #2 is between the More Fun and the Sport entrance, and is dry. Yields easily to a partner boost with a pack toss rope to help with getting over the lip. There is also the option of climbing out and rapping off the bolt up there back into the canyon; or stemming over and sliding down; or stemming over and dropping a weighted pack or potshot; or climbing out and over to the bolt, hopping to the other side and walking the bench downcanyon to the moki steps, which avoids the swim.
There were Cedar gnats at the trailhead, and just a few lower down. No significant biting bugs further in, but some kind of leaf-muncher was working the cottonwoods at the mouth of neon, and dropping down upon our camp there, and crawling all over the tents. Fully-sealed tents highly recommended.
The Escalante River was higher than expected, and we had to hunt for (and we found) stream crossings that did not knock us over, but were perhaps up to waist deep. The water seemed higher in the afternoon and evening, but back down by morning. Water quality was particularly murky in the evening – not sure why. A little higher water and I would want to drybag my pack before attempting a crossing.
Webbing at the Cathedral was as usual excessive, but most looked very new. Mike replaced the worn piece at the end. Looks like someone had pulled their rope through it – it was cut through about 1/3 of the way! No ring in place. People had used this an hour before we got there – sc-a-a-a-a-a-a-ary! Don’t do that! Mike extended it to get a good pull / minimize rope grooves and put a big fat rapid link on it.
If’n you head down there, don’t expect to have it to yourself, and do be prepared to play well with others. Thanks.
Tom
>