2012 Adventure # >> : West Fork of Oak Creek Day Hike

5/12/12 - My old friend Patrick was in Flagstaff for a couple of days so we decided to tackle West Fork of Oak Creek along with Lara, Dexter, and Bo .  14 miles of boulder hopping Coconino sandstone (white), and Supai (red).  Always a challenge.  Always a treat.

Birdwatching

2012 Adventure # 5: Christopher Creek Canyoneering

I think it was early March....anyway, my roomate and I decided to descend Christopher Creek.  Christopher is a red quartzite box canyon which flows year round.  It eventually joins Tonto Creek (see past trip report).  We had been here before in summer a while back but didn't bring ropes that time or go very far down canyon.  Prepared with wetsuits, harnesses, belay devices and that crucial thing called a rope, we returned determined to see the creek through.  The water was cold but clean.  Some exposed downclimbing was necessary but all went well.  Rappel # 1 was straight forward and began from a wide ledge on canyon left into a deep pool.  Rappel # 2 was very short and probably could have been down climbed.  Rappel # 3 was another fun descent into a deep pool but this time featured an undercut wall which requires the canyoneering to really lay back into the rappel, almost to the point of being upside down.  Very cool.  Rappel # 4 held yet more adventure.  Though short, it required us to descend through and then behind a pretty intense waterfall.  Looking out from this grotto we could see where we needed to swim to.  Helmets helped as the torrent of water thundered down  as we made a B-line from through the falls to the placid creek some 20 feet away.  Again, very cool.  A short hike through a nice section brought us to our exit and 

eventually Highway 260 where the car awaited.   

Unfortunately, I wasn't a very active photographer on this trip.  Here a few shots of the only rappel I photographed. 

                

Joe S, Starting Rap # 1

                         .

Joe S, halfway down Rap # 1

2012 Adventure # 4: The Jug

After camping at the base of Devil's Chasm, we headed to the Jug. Bo stayed in the car...dogs can't rappel....or flush toilets...they lack opposable thumbs. Anyway,   I've descended this technical canyon (1 rappel) before and would definitely have considered it a beginner canyon with some gorgeous granite walls.  Matt also had descended the canyon separate from me and would have agreed prior to this trip that it is indeed beginner territory.  Problem:  Water levels were very high.  We didn't realize this until we were past the point of no return and had to keep descending.  At one point we were both clinging to a crack on a canyon wall struggling against a current that wanted to pull us over a 12 foot fall onto the rocks below.  Luckily, Matt is a skilled climber and was able to pull a very difficult move in order to scramble out of that section.  He then pulled me out.  At this point, we both new that this situation was very real.  It was time to bring our A game.  Little to no margin of error.   2 hours of stress, worry, quality teamwork, plus a rappel (in which I was battered by a heavy waterfall) later, we began the climb to canyon rim.  The Jug is an amazing

canyon.  Just avoid it in high water. 

The start of Jug as seen from the rim

                                                     

Matt attempts to move mountains

The one and only rappel had a pretty strong waterfall in the descent zone.  In fact, there are two anchors depending on water levels.  We had to follow a hand line across an exposed cliff band to the high water anchor and descend from there.  My belay device was sticking so I got a good pummeling by what I can only describe as several fire hoses at full blast.  Above is a shot of Matt doing the same rappel minus the beating (I tell myself his gri-gri (type of belay device) made the difference but maybe he's just a better rappeler than I am)

This shot is from Fall, 2011 and is provided for  purposes of contrast.  Note the waterfall in the shot previous to this.  Same chute here but so deliquent of water that we could rappel directly down it. .....canyons change based on water levels....who knew? 

2012 Adventure # 3: Devils Chasm

A major obstacle ascending Devil's Canyon.  We used a hand line that was already in place to climb over the right side, hoisting Bo along with us.  He loved it.

Looking down canyon

In late March myself, Matt, and Bo the Dog visited Devils Chasm in the Sierra Ancha Wilderness followed by "The Jug" in Salome Wilderness (see next post).  Devils Chasm is non-technical, but physically challenging, canyon hike with cliff dwelling ruins.  Unfortunately, Bo the Dog couldn't get up a certain steep section....he actually fell down it twice....I fell down it, sliding on my back once.....about a 20 foot shot down a steep chute ....amazingly neither of us were hurt.  It did make give up ascending to the ruins.  Matt was able to continue on.  The shots below are his.  I'll have to return some day as I'd love to see these ruins myself.  Very fun, interesting area.

Slick portion where Bo and I fell (much steeper than this shot lets on)

Again, looking down canyon

1000 square foot apartment with scenic views.
Adjacent to mountain lions and javelina.

Epicness personified
  

First room

This structure had two stories at some point.
This view is looking through the remnants of
the second story floor boards. 

Kitchen?

The Canyon from where we car camped

2012 Adventure # 2: San Diego

My parents were in San Diego in early to mid March.  Not too far a flight and prices were decent so I figured, why not?  The result:  I spent five days in a great town enjoying good company, amazing food, spectacular breweries, vibrant culture, and gorgeous scenery.  

View of the statue of Cabrillo (the first European to step foot on the  Left Coast) set against the Pacific at Point Loma. 

Hiking above Blue Canyon

Looking up in the Japanese Tea Garden of Balboa Park

Koi pond, Japanese Tea Garden, Balboa Park

Every Sunday at 2pm there's a free organ concert in Balboa Park. 

Generally speaking, zoos depress me.  The San Diego Zoo is a rare exception.  

This is a Red Panda....didn't know these existed until I visiting the zoo.  

Polar Bear feeding time! 

Interesting tree at the zoo

King of the Beast chewing on a bone the size of a baseball bat

Flamingo party

Seals on the beach in La Jolla

More seals, more sea

A sculpture outside the Museum of Contemporary Art  in La Jolla

2012: Adventure # 1 - Mazatzal Backpacking Loop

I did this 20 miles loop over two nights/3 days in mid February with my dog Bo.  An Oldie but Goodie (see previous post from '08 http://thisnotionoflife1.blogspot.com/2008/03/2008-backpacking-trip-1-mazatzal.html), the Willow Trail-Dutchman-Verde Trail offers some challenging hiking in serious solitude.  I have to say that everything after Willow Spring until Dutchman Spring (nights 1 and 2 respectively) is heinous: poor trail conditions, non-existent cairns, lots of sun exposure, and very little water.  For future trips, I'll probably just go to Willow and back.

View along the ridge approaching Willow Spring.  

Side trail to Willow Spring campground where Bo and I spent the first  night.

Very cool find:  A humming bird nest (about the size of a shot glass) with mom tending to it was just  down stream from my camp.  I was able to stand on an adjacent ledge and get this zoom-in shot without disturbing her too much. 

The quartzite canyon slots beneath Willow Spring forming  pools of varying depths.

Looking up canyon in Willow Spring slots.  Bo the Dog, who couldn't descend further, can be seen peering at me from some 50 feet away.  I traveled down canyon a bit more before fear of Bo trying to follow me down the cliff turned me back.  It's possible that the canyon included some rappels down stream.  I'll have to return with a rope one of these years to find out as it did look promising. 

Junction of Willow and Dutchman.  Dutchman is the suffer fest that I  took to day # 2's campsite, Dutchman Spring.  Again, I don't recommend this section.  The area was burned badly in the 2004 Willow Fire, making the physical challenge of the terrain not at all worth it.  No more pics after this....I was too tired.