- Joined
- Feb 7, 2017
- Messages
- 143
Back at the end of October, @Adventure monkey and I went on an 8 day Canyoneering/Backpacking/Packrafting trip through the lower Cataract Canyon/Dark Canyon/Orange Cliffs area. We began at Clearwater Canyon, and worked our way down to the Colorado River where we packrafted to Bowdie Canyon. We packed up the rafts and trekked up Bowdie Canyon to the exit near the top of the north fork, and made our way to the 4WD road onto of the Dark Canyon Plateau (Sweet Alice Road) and hike to the Fable Valley TH. After a day of exploring the indian ruins, we made it to where Fable Valley and Gypsum Canyon meet and made our way down canyon. Along the way were various drywalls that we had to bypass. Once we made it back to the Colorado River, we packrafted about 3 miles to Easter Pasture Canyon and hiked up all the way to the top and back to my car! We saw tons of rock art, ruins, and some of the most pristine springs and camping. There were no trails most of the time and navigation was tough, we had 10 days worth of food but it only ended up taking us 8 days to complete.
We planned for 10 days out....It only ended up taking us 8 days
Rappel 1 into Clearwater Canyon
Unique double arch below rap 1
@Adventure monkey enjoying the fall colors
@Adventure monkey on rappel
@Adventure monkey in lower Clearwater Canyon
Lower Clearwater
Made it to the Colorado River
Cataract Canyon
Lower Bowdie Canyon
One of the many dry falls in Bowdie Canyon
Another dry fall
This was the most creative dry fall bypass! Up the log, onto the shelf, and then crawl til it opens up.
Bowdie frog
@Adventure monkey getting some free water
Our last camp in Bowdie before we escape to the top
Looking into Bowdie at the top of the exit
It began to snow hard once we reached the road.
It was a long walk to Fable Valley TH
Made it!
My "shelter"
Can you see it?
@Adventure monkey 's shelter
My "shelter"
Made it to Gypsum Canyon
The first of many big dry falls that we have to bypass
Gypsum is very pretty
More bypassin'
We take the easy way if the opportunity arrises
The last big ledge walk
Last camp in Gypsum Canyon
About to put in and float 3 miles to Easter Pasture Canyon
@Adventure monkey cruising down the Colorado River on the Light Water Dinghy
Almost their!
Lower Easter Pasture Canyon
Easter Pasture is basically one big rock slide
Up and up we go
Looking down Easter Pasture
Dry fall bypass in Easter Pasture
Looking down Easter Pasture
Upper Easter Pasture. 3 or 4 miles away from the car!
We planned for 10 days out....It only ended up taking us 8 days
Rappel 1 into Clearwater Canyon
Unique double arch below rap 1
@Adventure monkey enjoying the fall colors
@Adventure monkey on rappel
@Adventure monkey in lower Clearwater Canyon
Lower Clearwater
Made it to the Colorado River
Cataract Canyon
Lower Bowdie Canyon
One of the many dry falls in Bowdie Canyon
Another dry fall
This was the most creative dry fall bypass! Up the log, onto the shelf, and then crawl til it opens up.Bowdie frog
@Adventure monkey getting some free water
Our last camp in Bowdie before we escape to the topLooking into Bowdie at the top of the exitIt began to snow hard once we reached the road.It was a long walk to Fable Valley THMade it!My "shelter"Can you see it?@Adventure monkey 's shelterMy "shelter"
Made it to Gypsum CanyonThe first of many big dry falls that we have to bypassGypsum is very pretty
More bypassin'
We take the easy way if the opportunity arrises
The last big ledge walk
Last camp in Gypsum Canyon
About to put in and float 3 miles to Easter Pasture Canyon
@Adventure monkey cruising down the Colorado River on the Light Water DinghyAlmost their!Lower Easter Pasture Canyon
Easter Pasture is basically one big rock slide
Up and up we goLooking down Easter PastureDry fall bypass in Easter PastureLooking down Easter PastureUpper Easter Pasture. 3 or 4 miles away from the car!Attachments
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We were trying to be more talkative in it. The bypasses were insane, they just kept getting bigger and more sketchy
