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Big Kahuna Canyon
3 Photosets

2011-12-11  
2011-03-04  
2011-01-29  
mini location map2011-01-29
38 by photographer avatarVaporman
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Big Kahuna CanyonPayson, AZ
Payson, AZ
Canyoneering6.50 Miles 2,300 AEG
Canyoneering6.50 Miles   8 Hrs      0.81 mph
2,300 ft AEG
Intermediate Canyoneering - Difficult or dangerous; Tech Climb; rope reqd; descent anchor; exit technical;
C - Strong current; wading/swimming; waterfalls; possible wet/dry suit
III - Normally requires most of a day
 no routes
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alpineclimber
This one has been on my list to check out for the last few months ever since it cooled off but like most canyons, this one is best done when wet! :D We took advantage of the warm weekend to run up the Barnhardt trail to above the snow level and play in the snowmelt. Most people like to take photos of Big Kahuna Falls...well we like to rappel those falls! : rambo :

We went a bit further up canyon than needed and got an extra 50ft rappel in and got to play in loads of ice and drop down a cold falls into a cold pool with iced over rocks & logs. :o A fair amount of rop hopping later and we reach the top of Big Kahuna Falls and make the 120ft drop down that beauty. Crossed over the trail and continued down canyon with some down climb and cold pool bypassing as it drops into a super sweet set of narrows! :y: The next 40ft drop was around a large chockstone and down a slick falls into a knee-high pool. The next 40ft drop was my fav of the day from a sturdy tree and down a slick chute into a chilly chest-high swimmer but the cool part was how some of the flow was diverted around to the side and came back in as another falls. :D A couple down climb and smalls pools to navigate and the next drop was a 50ft falls into yet another chilly pool. Loads of serious down climbing and we reach the final 6th rappel thru a hole to get past a huge boulder jam. A little more rock hopping later and the creek goes underground and the trail makes a close pass by the canyon. So we dropped the gear & wetsuits (so glad I had a warm 4/3 suit on :) ) and hike the rest of the trail back to the Barnhardt TH. :sweat:

So much water flowing in the Mazzies right now and can't wait to come back and hit another of these gems. :GB:
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Yea, canyoneering is an extreme sport... EXTREMELY dramatic!!! =p
 
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Vaporman's
229 Photosets

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