Laura
freespirittraveler
- Joined
- Oct 1, 2012
- Messages
- 961
I thought I'd post a quickie report since so many people helped with suggestions for my outdoor girls-only adventure. This was my first trip with kids and they wore me out-I don't know how you parents do it. And they are really great kids! I can't imagine taking a trip with whiney kids. Anyway, we camped (the 12 year old loved it, the 15 year old hated it) and took the Outdoor School at ZAC since the 12 year old was too young for the canyoneering class. She did so well that ZAC says she can take the canyoneering class next time! The 15 year old did fine but decided it just wasn't for her either-she likes being in the outdoors but doesn't want to tackle it headfirst. I only had a camera phone but you can get the idea of what a natural the 12 year old is:
Next was Keyhole Canyon, on our own. I have to admit I was exhausted by this point and had reinjured my knee trying to keep up with these two, but I had promised we'd do this, so off we went. The directions to Keyhole were vague-apparently the NPS doesn't want specific directions to keep people who don't know what they're doing out of there. Well, it worked. We approached on a steep basin (with me wondering what the hell I was doing out there at 48 trying to keep up with a 12 year old mountain goat) that seemed to match the route description, but there was no safe way to enter the canyon. We could see it snaking below us, but from the side we were on it was a 10-12 foot drop no matter where we tried. We spend an hour on an extremely steep slope exploring different ways to enter, and both of us had several close calls where we had to rescue each other. At one point I was on a sandy slope and it gave way beneath me, sending me on a slow slide toward the edge and there was nothing to grab but a bush. Fortunately I stay calm in these types of situations and self-arrested by grabbing the only stable part of the dry bush. We were going to try to rappel into the canyon using a standing dead tree trunk as an anchor when I realized we were in over our heads. I had to make a safety decision and cancel the expedition. She was sooooo disappointed! I thought she'd never forgive me. I promised to take her back another time, and told her safety always comes first in the outdoors. She was not convinced, but asked if we could go back to the practice area (where we had the class) so I took her. There she discovered that rappelling by yourself is quite intimidating, and after one close call she slowly began to realize that I had made the right call. So while we didn't get to actually canyoneer it was a good lesson. I told her it's important to listen to your instincts, and if something doesn't seem right then you don't keep going. We went back to ZAC and found out we probably entered too early. All in all a good day.
Last day we went to the Narrows, and they thought it was the most amazing place they'd ever seen. I let them run ahead and explore at their own pace. It's fantastic experiencing a place through a kid's eyes-their sense of wonder is precious.
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, it was a lifetime experience. I am going to keep my promise and we are going back next year, this time to take the canyoneering class and re-tackle Keyhole, plus maybe the Subway and Orderville (if possible). The 12 year old really found her niche and she wants to work at ZAC when she's older. Each girl got a sense of who she is and what she does and doesn't want to do.
Now if only the monsoon would start so I can get back!
Next was Keyhole Canyon, on our own. I have to admit I was exhausted by this point and had reinjured my knee trying to keep up with these two, but I had promised we'd do this, so off we went. The directions to Keyhole were vague-apparently the NPS doesn't want specific directions to keep people who don't know what they're doing out of there. Well, it worked. We approached on a steep basin (with me wondering what the hell I was doing out there at 48 trying to keep up with a 12 year old mountain goat) that seemed to match the route description, but there was no safe way to enter the canyon. We could see it snaking below us, but from the side we were on it was a 10-12 foot drop no matter where we tried. We spend an hour on an extremely steep slope exploring different ways to enter, and both of us had several close calls where we had to rescue each other. At one point I was on a sandy slope and it gave way beneath me, sending me on a slow slide toward the edge and there was nothing to grab but a bush. Fortunately I stay calm in these types of situations and self-arrested by grabbing the only stable part of the dry bush. We were going to try to rappel into the canyon using a standing dead tree trunk as an anchor when I realized we were in over our heads. I had to make a safety decision and cancel the expedition. She was sooooo disappointed! I thought she'd never forgive me. I promised to take her back another time, and told her safety always comes first in the outdoors. She was not convinced, but asked if we could go back to the practice area (where we had the class) so I took her. There she discovered that rappelling by yourself is quite intimidating, and after one close call she slowly began to realize that I had made the right call. So while we didn't get to actually canyoneer it was a good lesson. I told her it's important to listen to your instincts, and if something doesn't seem right then you don't keep going. We went back to ZAC and found out we probably entered too early. All in all a good day.
Last day we went to the Narrows, and they thought it was the most amazing place they'd ever seen. I let them run ahead and explore at their own pace. It's fantastic experiencing a place through a kid's eyes-their sense of wonder is precious.
Thanks for all the suggestions everyone, it was a lifetime experience. I am going to keep my promise and we are going back next year, this time to take the canyoneering class and re-tackle Keyhole, plus maybe the Subway and Orderville (if possible). The 12 year old really found her niche and she wants to work at ZAC when she's older. Each girl got a sense of who she is and what she does and doesn't want to do.
Now if only the monsoon would start so I can get back!
