Moab IV - Day 2
Pool Arch Canyon
For our first full day, rain was predicted and
so we didn’t make any specific plans until morning. Fortunately, blue skies
reigned supreme early on Sunday and we therefore decided to do a canyoneering
trip – pick the best weather days to do the most potentially scenic trips I
always say.
We picked Pool Arch Canyon, as described in
Derek Wolfe’s Moab Canyoneering. The
trip started off in usual Moab canyon fashion – ie. extraordinary! After three separate trips to Moab, I still
can’t get enough of the awe-inspiring canyon scenery; the magnificent variety
of colours, wind sculpted spires and massive fins of rock, and the predictable
surprise at every corner.
Pool Arch also had the added bonus of several
very enjoyable scrambling sections, as we made our way up the canyon. Arriving
at a wonderful viewpoint we continued down the canyon, not realizing we had
missed an important turn-off. We were still only an hour into the 1.5-2 hour
approach and had not yet seen the obvious arch to the right, as described in
the book. Warning lights should have gone off 10 minutes later when we happened
upon a pool of water under a magnificent arch (“Pool Arch Canyon” – hmmm!)
Instead, we continued following the narrowing
canyon, taking in more amazing scenery. About 45 minutes into this “detour” it
became obvious we were not on the correct route and we returned to the pool.
There, Dan was smart enough to read the “Canyon” part of the description and we
determined we had bypassed the first rappel, but were actually now on the
correct route.
Not wanting to miss out on a 50 m, free-hanging
rappel, we dropped everything except rappel equipment and re-ascended to the
top of the canyon. There, we bumped into John and Maddy from Wyoming. They were
super friendly and informed us we were going the right way. We hit it off right
away with Maddy and John and were delighted to join forces with them to finish
the trip.
The first rappel, alongside the arch and into a
small, closed amphitheatre-like room was spectacular! Unfortunately Dan and I
had left our cameras behind, however, Maddy graciously offered to get a few
photos of us rappelling. The couple then rappelled down and we proceeded to the
next interesting section, which was getting out of the “room”. This required
dropping down into the aforementioned pool of water. This pool could have been
waist-deep or swimming-deep. Dan went first – a theme for the entire week.
Thankfully the water was only just above our waists and we all got out only
half drenched – good thing because the temperature of the water was
bone-chilling!
The next rappel was not as thrilling, but the
fantastic scenery in the canyon on both sides of the rappel more than made up
for that. Another terrific section of deep water wading, a surprise for even
John and Maddy, who had completed the trip before, followed. The third rappel
equaled the first in terms of scenic beauty. We then finished the trip with a wonderfully scenic hike, everyone in great
spirits.
What an awesome trip! Out of the six
canyoneering routes I had completed over the years in Moab, this one moved into
the #1 position immediately.
It's going to be a good day when you get scenery like this one minute away from the car
...and this a minute further
Dan tackles the first section of fun scrambling
My turn (photos by Dan)
Couldn't be happier amid the stunning surroundings (photo by Dan)
Looking west
Dan at the highpoint
Same as above, without Dan
Looking to the route ahead. This is where we should have gone left, but instead we continued going down and straight ahead.
"You're going the wrong way!! Great scene from "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles".
Heading down to the bottom of the Pool Arch
Stunning arch with a pool at the bottom!
We should have been up there
The wrong route did have some super cool terrain to negotiate
Back at the top of the arch rappel. Dan goes first (photo by Maddy)
The arch can be seen at the right (photo by Maddy)
Beyond the first rappel, there is some exposed terrain
Maddy and John descend that terrain
Then the canyon narrows
Maddy demonstrates excellent stemming technique
Usually the water here is knee to waist deep. John hugs the rock in order to avoid a full-on swim.
The second rappel
More fantastic scenery as the canyon continues
The group tries to figure out where the station is for the third rappel
Turns out the bolts and hangers have been removed and now you must rappel off some big rocks. Dan goes first again.
Waiting for my turn and mesmerized by the scenery
The rappel rope got caught, but John graciously descended a little to untangle it
Maddy rappels
Maddy again, Awesome free-hanging rappel!
John's turn
The hike out continues to impress
Love this stuff!
A short, 5.8 sport route, with a one minute
approach – who could pass up on that? Not Dan and I.
Dan gracefully led the chimney route that
involved a pretty heady and committing move at the end, stepping from one
pinnacle of the rock over a large gap to the summit. Nicely done Dan!
Graceful being too easy, I chose to squirm and
wrestle up the route like Jim Carrey emerging from the rear end of the model
rhino in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Nicely done, also! Even on top-rope the
move at the end was scary.
We finished our first full (and glorious) day
in Moab with dinner and beers with Maddy and John. Great to meet great people in great places!
Molar Tower. The route goes up the obvious gap in the rock.
Dan is in "selfie" mode while I get the rappel set up
Rappelling the route
Continue to DAY 1 DAY 2 DAY 3 DAY 4 DAY 5 DAY 6 DAY 7
