DESTINATION Generic 219 Photosets
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| Canyoneering | 2.50 Miles |
800 AEG |
| | Canyoneering | 2.50 Miles | | | |
| 800 ft AEG | | | | |
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| | 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 |
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| no partners | | The Upper Uncompahgre River....Technical Canyon #4 of my Ouray Trip... 
This is more of a Gorge than a Canyon and if I had something to compare it to, it would be Christopher Creek on an Overdose of Steroids... 
I did Lower Oak Creek the Day before and according to some of the more Experienced People up there, this is the next Step in Difficulty...I think they Rate it that way because you are in the Water constantly for a long Period of Time and there is Swimming involved, which a lot of People may not be used to...I was used to that, so I felt like I was ready for this one...It became a little Interesting at the End though for a couple of Reasons...When I was Packing the Vehicle to go up to Ouray on the Thursday before, I irritated an old Hand Injury. Haven't done that in several Years, but here it was...The Hand felt good by the Time I was doing stuff on Sunday and it wasn't my Brake Hand, so I was good to go...But then...I irritated it again in Lower Oak Creek. Although it was a little Sore, it wasn't my Brake Hand, I decided I was still good to go on this Day...It became a Factor late in the Trip unfortunately....
After a small Snafu first thing in the Morning, we started the Hike up the Jeep Road. This Road is part of the Alpine Loop that 4x4 Enthusiasts go on...We got passed by many a Vehicle on the way up...Dropped in and got Suited Up...This Water again was reputed to be Cold, and I did the Full Layer Mode on this One...3/2, Vest, and Shell...Everybody liked my Shell Color, it was Amazingly Loud, but apparently I was easy to pick out even Underwater...
Some Wading, Sliding, Swimming and Downclimbs to get to the First Rappel...The Upper Section especially, you had to be a tad more Careful as there was Mining Debris in the River and some of it was Underwater or just barely sticking out, so you had to pay Attention. The Downclimbs had a little Spice added, due to the Rocks being Wet and Slippery. The First Rappel is an Optional Two "Pitch"...Two Waterfalls with a large Pool in-between...Many that are Familiar with this Trip elect to Jump the 1st Waterfall, Swim and then get on Rope for the 2nd Waterfall...You have to Rig above the 1st Waterfall however and the Trip Organizer decided that we should Rappel the 1st. He wasn't sure how everyone would do in the Pool so we would Rappel the 1st, Swim across the Pool on Rope and then Rappel the 2nd...I actually didn't have a Problem on this, but there was a Problem during and after the 1st Waterfall by another, and by the Time it was all said and done, it took 7 of us 1 1/2 Hours to get it Done...But everyone was Safe, so it was Good...If we weren't Rappelling it or Downclimbing it, we were Sliding it or Jumping it...It was an Absolute Blast...
Unfortunately, with less than 1/4 Mile to go, I hit a Brick Wall and everything started to cease to Function...6 Hours in the Water and although only my Hands got a little Cold, I think the Body was Reacting a little bit...Even though I had 6mm worth of Wetsuit on my Core, 2mm on the Legs and Arms may not have been enough for that Extended of a Time in the Water...Also, I didn't stop to Eat and that was a Mistake. Everyone was stopping sporadically for a Snack and I almost Stopped with the Trip Organizer, but didn't. I was slowing down pretty hard by then and it was a bad Decision. And the Hand Injury was becoming a Real Problem...Even in the Cold Water I could tell that there was some Swelling going on. I finally had no Choice but to Stop, Eat and down an Energy Drink, just so I could Finish...But the Stop helped and I recovered pretty well... 
Amazing River and Trip. Really Good Crew for this One too. If I had to do it all Over again, I would still have done it, but I would have made sure to get some Calorie Intake going within the Trip...I don't think I realized how many Calories I was Burning...The Hand was absolutely Toast after the Trip ended. It swelled to about 3x it's normal Size and even my Fingers got in on that Action... It was now pretty Painful and hard to use at all...That was the Death Toll for doing anymore big Canyons on this Trip, but I found plenty to do for the last three Days, including Exploring, Hiking and a Workshop, so it was all Good. I managed to get in one more Short, Sweet "Canyon" Trip on the way Home... 
Note: If I'm in the Photo, I didn't take it...Taken by another Team Member...  |
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| Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty & well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, totally worn out & proclaiming, "Wow What a Ride!" |
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