OctoberFest Trip reports-Neon Potholes

--- In Yahoo Canyons Group, "Rob Heineman" <heineman@a...> wrote: not intoxicated enough to confess things she wouldn't confess unless > she was intoxicated enough to confess those things. Wow, this reminds > of me college. Or Saturday, October 16th. I bet RAM's sorry he > missed out.

Devastated, but mostly by the thought, that at this stage in my life I would pick sleep. Or try to (SLAM,SLAM,SLAM!!) The light for the TARP set up was a plus, thanx, but don't call my open air alternative a TENT. Fast to set up too. Bringing the indoors with you, outdoors? Shhhh! In addition to Rob's report that the final, ice cream scoop pothole was full of water, I will add, that before the recent rains, the pothole 1/3 of a mile back was a keeper. It captured 3 of our group. This is the pothole below a downclimb and before a big swim, often the canyons longest. It is located above the canyons lowest entry, the moki steps and below the middle "sport canyon" entry, in a spot where the canyon turns right a bit. You do the down climb and you are in, sometimes not realizing the keeper is there or believing it is not going to be as hard as it turns out to be. I was caught in here once thinking I would have no issue escaping. Past solutions, when the hole is in keeper mode are 1- a 5.4 layback crack on the right, 50 feet before the drop, on the right LDC. This is finished by a ledge walk to the moki steps and re-entry. 2- a 5.8 slab climb out on the left LDC 10 feet before the drop. This series of moves are mostly spotable. They lead to a single bolt (ugh)that can be rapped back into the slot or one can reasonably (don't miss) jump the slot to the above mentioned ledge. 3- On can stem out over the drop a few feet and do a step up left, over the drop, to the bolt or the jump. This class 3-4 alternative is easy but has big penalty points. And finally, 4- Continue stemming above the drop for an additional 15 feet and climb down easily to the rim of the pothole. I had never considered this solution and full credit goes to Rhett Chambers who spied and and climbed it, helping our hero's out of what Larry Halford and Ivy call "The mouse in the bucket" challenges they were facing. This pothole can be spied from the top of the drop, but timing seems to always have the sun in your eyes when looking for it. Go with caution. Congrats to Rhett for his vision and skill. Rhett, what would you rate the stem and downclimb? Low 5th class? Ram

> Rhett, what would you rate the stem > and downclimb? Low 5th class? > Ram

Definitely low 5th class, was alot easier than it looked, but I did learn something, if you don't have an etrier handy, "a good keg in a good pack, when bunny strapped to the long end of an energyca makes for a better STEP out than an etrier". The pack even stood up to the challenge of pulling Rob out of the keeper! Cheers to all, for the excellent canyon adventures, Especially to Ram, For the invite and great canyon leadership Rhett

--- In Yahoo Canyons Group, "canyonclimb" <canyonclimb@y...> wrote: > "a good keg in a > good pack, when bunny strapped to the long end of an energyca makes for > a better STEP out than an etrier". The pack even stood up to the > challenge of pulling Rob out of the keeper!

My, we exaggerate. It was a tad chill in the keeper, but I was still able to accurately assess the situation. Rhett offered his pack, but noticing that it was of inferior design and quality to the Imlay Canyon Gear to which I have become accustomed, I swiftly made alternate plans. I wasn't certain the pack would hold up, even with only my delicate frame on it. I tied a loop in the rope hanging down, in which I stood. I noticed Larry was proffering a sling, so I included him in the struggle. His look of cool confidence instantly changed. He said nothing, but I could read his eyes like tea leaves. I'm certain they were saying, "Holy Christ! If I have to do much of this @#%*&$, I might have to start eating meat again!"

Rhett, don't be thinking you get to lay claim to sleeping in the bed of the Great White Hope in the future just by leaving your hat behind.

May all our adventures be as grand.

Rob