Rappel Arizona Canyoneering

Snow Campout

On January 17-19 2009 Assistant Scout Master Bill Garr and I Lead a group of 10 boy scouts in to freezing snow. We camped at 9100 ft in Hannagan Meadows, near Alpine Arizona in the Blue Range Primitive Area. A primitive ares is an area of land that is more protected than a wilderness. The Scouts learned the techniques of winter survival. Also having the opportunity to go cross country skiing, sledding, and snow ball war. It was a great trip. Thank you to the parents who joined us, and thanks to Geoff Reed (of Geoff Reed Photography) for photographing this adventure.

Schribner's Canyon Saudi Arabia: Rock Climbing and Rappelling

On Sunday December 21st, My friends John Latendresse, Elias Bitar, Caitlin Taylor, and I ventured out into the Jebbles of Saudi Arabia. We drove into an isolated canyon known as Schribner's Canyon just out side the city of Hufof, Saudi Arabia. After scoping out the canyon we parked the SUV on the top where I set up our ropes and all the gear.

All Harnessed up Elias was first down the 70' Rappell, followed by Caitlin, after her was John and then my self. The day was perfectelly clear with temoertures in the high 70's.

The climbing began, Elias roped up began to onsite this cruxy wall with loose dirt and rocks. Thank God I top ropped it! Rocks fell and there were nothing but finger crimps and jams. What a great climb!!!

The next climb was a bit to the left. Looking to be easier with the crack, the rock was even more brittle. Elias went up first clearing the way of the loose crud. I followed up after. About 1/4 of the way up it seemed to me that the huge rock in the crack was not going to withstand anymore stress. So I abandoned the crack and swung to the face. This one had 5.12+ written all over it, what a dusey. Holding on with nothing but the tip of my index fingers I worked my way up. With a few creative moves I made it back to the crack above the sketchey boulder that could fall at any time.

Caitlin Roped up and began her first assent. Jamming her fingers into the crack she made he way up. John was next. After blistering his hands on the rope for one of his rappells he muscled his way up.

We climbed for about 4 hours that day. After cleaning all the gear and packing the car, we lit a fire in the canyon. Sitting back and relazing we cooked hotdogs and Zatar. What a Great day of Saudi climbing.

Here's the u-tube link for my latest adventure-

Salome Jug

Friday December 5th. Trevor, Lee and I went Canyoneering At the Salome "Jug". The trip involved a 2 mile hike from the car, then we put our wetsuits on (Trevor and Lee had a 7mm and I had a 5mm).
We continued our desert hiking for another 1/2 mile then entered the Canyon. The Water was flowing nice and strong for December, thanks to the rain last week. I led Trevor and Lee through the canyon. Trevor wore my head cam. and you can see the video on u-tube. www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ti7Do80SDTU
We had many down climbs and a 65' rappel down a water fall. How cold was it? This cold "-" and nearing the last section of the canyon it became even colder. After about 4 hours of we exited the canyon, but the fun was not over yet. After we striped off our wet suites we had a almost vertical 200 ft climb back to our clothes and trail. That was the hardest part.
After having our muscles freeze from the cold and physically exhausted we had to hike up hill. It took a bit but we all made it. Once at the top of the hill we changed into dry clothes and made the 2 mile hike in the dark back to the car. This was a great trip and we shot off fire works to celebrate.

Special thanks to Josh Parifinik (instructor at SCC) for all of your training and Canyoneering advice.

Grand Canyon: Diamond Down October 2008

With Scottsdale Community College, under the Direction of Dr. Dave Brown, and guided by Moenkopi Riverworks, www.moenkopiriverworks.com, we adventured for 5 days down the Grand Canyon on raft. Starting at Diamond Creek and ending at South Cove in Lake Mead. We rafted the last 80-90 miles of the Grand Canyon, took many side hikes to places such as "The Grotto, Separation Canyon and Columbine Falls.

Check out the video on u-tube. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7e6b5wb4qnM

Mt. Whitney September 2008

The Drive to Mt Whitney-

On August 30^th Our crew of 5 (2 Scouts) Brad and Mac and (3 adults) myself, Dave Brown ( my Recreation Professor at Scottsdale Community College and Committee Member of his sons troop) and Geoff Reed ( Professional Photographer). Our Drive began from The Phoenix area heading to Lone Pine, California. After we loaded my car, and secured the gear on the roof rack we were off. About 3 hours later we stopped for gas in Kingman Az, the gear on the roof was still there. Dave took over driving and about 2.5 hours we stopped in Baker California to fill up and eat lunch at the Jack in the Box. While we were eating I looked over and noticed a pack was missing from the roof rack. The garbage bag was still carabineered to the rack but no pack inside. Then we realized the 2 of Dave’s tents were missing. Brads pack must have ripped through the bag while we were on the Highway. The net was not enough for the fierce winds of the desert. So we decided to back track to look for the lost gear. We drove 50 miles backward and no sign of the pack or tents. This was a great start for the trip. In Brads was my white gas stove, his sleeping bag, extra clothes, flashlight, rain gear, map and compass, camel back bladder, titanium cup, first aid kit, and spoon, coming to a total weight 14 14 pounds, that’s ultra light!

Brad was down a pack, and we only had one 2person tent and my bivy sack for the 5 of us, what were we going to do? Well we continued the dive.

As a added bonus to the trip we detoured through Death Valley. After looking at the map we decided to take the 20 mile 4X4 road through the desert. That was fun, and probable saved us an hour. When we hit the main road again, we drove a little more then went off-road again, gaining lots of elevation on this rough rocky road. As the road ended, I noticed the engine was running hot and was going to over heat. So we decided to go for a hike. The weather was HOT, very dry and windy. As soon as we park Dave just took off up the canyon he saw in search of something, I followed. Looking back we were way above the valley floor, the view was cool. On the other side of the canyon Geoff, Brad and Mac decided to climb up a steep ridge for a view. Dave and I continued. After our hike we returned to the car, popped open some Dr. Pepper and Root Beer then began the drive back down the hill to the road but not before doing some serious rock crawling in 4-low. That was fun! Next we came to Badwater Basin, the lowest point in the Continental United States at -282 ft below sea level.

Our tour through Death Valley led into the night, with a sky full of stars. We arrived in Lone Pine around 9:45pm at the Dow Villa Motel. Ready to rest we find out that are reservations were canceled. Because we did not check in by 6:30pm they tried to call us, but we had not cell reception in Death Valley. So the went to charge the room to my card which was denied because I canceled the Card a few weeks before after loosing my wallet. Now every hotel was booked in Lone Pine for that night. We managed to find that last room in a Hostile. Wow, what a day, first loosing a pack, then our rooms. We all were beat and after dinner in a café we slept.

Conditioning Hike Horseshoe Meadows to South Fork Lake-

After a good night sleep, we hit the road to Horseshoe Meadows where we began our acclimation, but first we stopped at the Whitney Visitors center to pick up our permits, bear canister, and pack out kits.

Even though we were hiking at 12,600 ft in Flagstaff, AZ last week, we still needed more. After we found some real-estate at about 10,000 ft we took off to South Fork Lakes. Sure we could have taken the trail but where’s the fun in that?

Using our maps and compass we hiked cross-country for about 6 miles to South Fork Lakes where we ate lunch above 11,000ft.

Cross-country hiking

While we ate lunch, I fly fished but did not catch anything.

After about an hour at the lake we began our hike back to Horseshoe Meadows but taking a completely different route. We completed about 12 miles this day at high altitude.

We returned to camp, made dinned and started a fire. Mac built a shelter for his Wilderness Survival. He did a great job.

Since we lost two tents I bought a cheap $40.00 2 man in town that morning so Dave and Geoff has shelter. Mac was carring Brads tent which was not lost. Brad borrowed my sleeping bag along with some extra gear I had in the car. Good thing I was prepared with an extra pack (for day hikes), flash light, and a few other things. Aslo Brad did have his main hiking clothes along with his pocket knife, food and shoes in a different so he did not lose everything. Any way, he used my bag this night. I have been experimenting with alternate gear to save weight. Instead of carring my sleeping, I packed my Silk Liner which weighs about 8 ounces and a Emergency Bivy which weights 6 ounces. I did but my sleeping bag in the car incase I needed it if the first night was to cold using this other gear. The forecast at Trail Camp on the Whitney Trail was in the low 30’s at night, so at 10,000 ft were we were should be 12-16 degrees warmer. Any way, Dave and Geoff decided not to set up the tent I purchased but to use it a ground cloth because the sky was so clear, I joined them. Brad was fast to sleep in his tent around 8:00, and Mac finished his shelter and turned in. Dave and I heated some water to put in our water bottles which went into our sleeping bags, or my liner which was in my emergency Bivy, it was already in the low 40’s. Getting into be was nice and cozy, all bundled up with a hot hater bottle at the feet. The three of us watched the stars. The temperature began to drop, getting colder, and colder. Around 10:00 PM I checked my thermometer, it was (-3 C) or (26.6 F). WOW, IT WAS COLD! I then set up my real Bivy, which is different from the emergency bivy. I put the emergency bivy and silk liner into my0 Gortex Bivy, then I got in Layered up, with gloves, hat, and thick socks. I zipped the Bivy shut and tried to fall a sleep. It just kept getting colder and colder, so cold it killed my watch battery. I could not sleep. It was freezing!!! Around 12:30 I decided I was doing to make a run for it to the car and turn the heated on, I could not take any more, the temperature had dropped to about 17 degrees or Fahrenheit.I stopped by the table where the fire pit was to grab my pocket knife which was sitting in my cup. It was frozen solid, The cup to the table and the knife to the cup. Heck with that. I turned on the engine and cranked up the heat. Finally I was warm. I tried to sleep but could not, so I began to do my home work for Dave’s class that was due when I got home. I still could not sleep, so I began to read my Mt. Whitney book, learning about the history, geology, etc. at about 5:30 the sun began to rise, so I decided to try and catch the early bite.

I put my fly rod together and began to fish. It was freezing. My hands and feet were frozen. I fished but with no luck. After my fly hit the water it froze, so did the line. It wasn’t a complete waste of time the morning glow of the mountains was worth it.

It’s a new day and a cold morning. I did not sleep at all that night. Dave and Geoff slept very uneasy. Brad said he slept well, in my sleeping bag of course. But Mac, under his shelter in the cold slept better than all of us. Well we cooked breakfast burritos which consist of pollo asada, eggs, refried beans, and hot sauce. We ate well! After breakfast we planned to do some more cross country hiking, but decided to break camp and go to town for some provisions. I bought some wool socks, a fleece summer sleeping bag to add to my liner and emergency bivy, and lunch. Geoff ended up getting a few things too. After last night we did not want to repeat it on the Whitney Trail. We hiked around the town of lone pine, and in the desert before we went to the Whitney Portal.

After our hiking through the Desert and lone pine, I don’t really know how many miles we did, we drove to the Portal.

After we found a camp spot I lay down and took a nap. Brad and Mac went off on another hike for a few more hours. I would have joined them but I really needed rest. We did a final check on all our gear and food. Dave set up the tent I bought, he tried to lay down in it but it was too small. So Geoff and Dave switch tents with Mac and Brad. For dinner I planned to stuff us before the Whitney trek. We made the Pollo Asada Burritos, like breakfast but with out the egg, and some greens added. We went through 4 pounds of chicken that day. That night we all slept well and were ready to take off to 14,495ft.

The morning of –

We secured all the smellables in the bear box, strapped on our packs and off we went. At the trail head was a scale, so we decided to weigh our packs. Brad was using my camelback which was my day pack, it weighted only 14 pounds with water and the 10 essentials, dam I am good! Before we left Phoenix I made sure his pack was under 20 lbs, it weighed 15. His was the lightest. Followed by mine, which was 28 pounds with the bear canister. My pack was a little heavier than I wanted but that morning I packed extra clothes that I had in a separate bag in the car for the drive home. The weight was added in my jeans, which is a no-no in backpacking, but after that cold night I was going to suffer the weight. I packed my Gortex Bivy for shelter which weight 18 oz, lots of layers, food few pounds, 1/2 water (3.5lbs), ultra light flash light (1 oz), water filter (a little heave 10oz), toiletries which consist of (half a tooth brush (1oz), 1/8 fl oz of tooth paste, ½ fl 0z of bio-degradable soap, deodorant (weighs 1 oz)). I had a map and compass (4 oz), backpack fly (4 oz), Titanium pot (4oz), Sierra cup (6oz), raingear (8-10oz), first aid kit (1/2 lb), also my camera and GPS which added about a 1/2pound; oh yah, my down pillow (6 oz). My weight was not too bad for this trek considering some of the extra I took just incase.

We began up the trail around 8:30 am. The sun made it hot and the trail was steep. After 1.5 miles we came to this sign (below)

This is proof that the LNT is very important. We continued our hike and stopped at Lone Pine Lake at 10,000 ft. Dave and I were the first to jump in, followed by Mac then Geoff. Brad would not go in if his life depended on it. Dave and I told Mac that he had to jump in the 45-50 degree water for his wilderness survival requirement 12 B., he believed us and went right in.

Back on the trail we began to see on micro trash which we picked up and continued to pick for the rest of the trip. We soon passed through outpost camp, then to Mirror Lake which was 1.5 miles and 400 vertical ft up hill from Lone Pine Lake. By now we have climbed over 2,000 ft in elevation in 4.3 miles. We continued a bit further up the mountain and ate lunch above Mirror Lake.

The trail continued to get steeper and harder. I stopped to filter water and Mac stopped too. He did not feel well. It was not altitude sickness, we think it was lunch. He had peanut butter and pita bread. Brad got sick from it two days before at South Fork Lake. After resting for a bit Mac and I began slowly up the mountain. He was not doing well, so I hade him remove his pack. With about 1.5 miles left and at 11, 200 ft I went from 28 lbs to 60 lbs. That was hard, especially at that elevation. I finally made it to the Trail Camp at 12,000ft. I was fried. Brad set up his tent, and Mac went to sleep. Dave and I were worried about Mac having H.A.T.E or H.A.P.E., so we kept a close eye on Mac. Geoff hade severe coughing, inflamed by the hike, it was not good. When Mac woke up he felt all better, and his severe stomach ache was gone. Geoff was ok too, but we were just cautious. He have valley fever a while ago which I Guessed left him with a nasty cough and the strenuous trek made it worse. Well after a good 6.2 miles and 3,735 ft climbe ( like hiking out of the Grand Canyon only at higher altitude) we cooked dinned and enjoyed the sunset.

That night I slept well. It did not get as cold as it did two nights before but it was cold, around 30 degrees. I was glad I bought those extra wool socks, fleece sleeping bag liner thing and packed that pair of jeans. That Night I had my smart wool long-johns on, along with my nylon hiking pants, jeans, polypropylene socks and wool socks over them. For my upper layers I had my Polypropylene long sleeve shirt, smart wool top, fleece vest, North Face Wind Wall Jacked, and my Nylon jacket which doubles as raingear. All those layers in my silk liner which was in the fleece bag, which was in the emergency bivy, which was in my Gortex Alpine Bivy. I was warm that night, almost to warm.

The next morning we woke up early, ate ant took our day packs with lunch. The first part of the day consisted of 98 switch back and 1650 ft in elevation in ¾ of a mile. That was brutal. We saw many people on the trail, a lot of day hikers, who began at the portal at 2:00 am. While going up the 98 switch backs I realized I dropped my GPS, so I turned around to find it. It was about 20 switch backs later I found it at the bottom, then I headed right back up. Along the side of the mountain were year round glaciers. That was really cool. About half way up the switch backs part of the trail was frozen. A steel rail was placed at this point for safe passage around the Ice which rarely saw sunlight.

Geoff and I finally made it to the top of that never-ending stair case. Dave, Mac, and Brad were ahead. At the top of the switch backs the trail went down, which no one liked because it meant more up later. We arrived at the Trail Crest, where the JMT intersects the Whitney Trail. Two people were hiking down the trail then realized that they were going the wrong way and not to Mt. Whitney. Geoff went a head and I rested for a bit, taking in the view. I began the final assent, only about 2 miles and 1,000 ft to go. The hike up was unforgiving, painful, and beautiful at the same time. I passed by Mt. Muir (14015ft), I wish I had a rope. Then past Keeler needle. After passing Geoff again, I camp upon Brad, he was exhausted. I took a break with him and Geoff caught up. With only 1/3 of a mile left I could taste the summit. I began to push my self harder and harder. I started running, the hut came into view, I did not stop. Running with every last bit of energy I had I climbed up the boulders and yelled at the top of the world. I had made it, 14,495 ft. Wow! What a hike. Everyone had made it to the top. I sat out on the ledge and enjoyed the sweetness of victory.

I made a call to my parents (who are all the way in Saudi Arabia) to tell them I made it to the top of Mt. Whitney, the highest peak in the continental United States.

Everyone was very proud of themselves, we all accomplished something that not many people have a chance to do.

We all made it to the top, after about an hour we began the long journey back down. It took forever, but the views were amazing.

We finally made it back to camp. After a small rest we packed up our gear and decided to begun the hike out. While hiking down the mountain we saw many people coming up. Looking back it was mind blowing how hard and long the 11 miles were from the bottom to the top. Our goal was to go as far as we could this day to shorten our last day. We made it to Out Post Camp, where we set up our tents for the night.

That night I conned Brad into giving me my sleeping bag back. Since he wasn’t cold the night before I figured he can use my fleece liner, and emergency bivy. I slept well that night.

The next morning we had a 3.8 mile hike out. Before we left I hid a small 3x4inch signaling mirror with our names and the date we summited Mt. Whitney scratched into it. We marked the location of the mirror with the GPS. Now every time we summit MT. Whitney we have to find the mirror and write the dated we summited next to our name, then we have to contact each person that went on the trek and let them know.

We began our hike out, and Brad was terrified that I was going to make him go in Lone Pine Lake. So we all had fun with it and told him he is going in. Brad, Dave and Mac hiked a head because Geoff and I were dragging taking pictures. When we got to the Lone Pine Lake junction I could see the fear in Brad’s eyes. He knew he was going in. I set my pack down and went to the bathroom, when I came back Brad and Mac was gone. Dave said Brad wanted to leave before I got back, so they took my car keys and ran down the mountain. It was funny, of course I was not going to make Brad go in the lake, but he kept asking if he had to so I said yes. During our last few miles down, Dave, Geoff, and I were reflecting back on the last few days. Like every trip I go on I start planning another on before this one is over. Dave and I were discussing the idea of hiking the John Muir Trail next year, and possibly going to Alaska to climb Mt. McKinley the highest mountain in the United States, over 20,000 ft.

Once we got to the car at around 10:30 am, we loaded up our gear and went to the portal store for breakfast. We ordered all ordered their number 2 besides Brad. The number 2 consists on 2 eggs, sausage or bacon, and 1 Pancake. When we got our food, the pancake was about 3/8 of an inch thick, and 15” in diameter. The biggest pancake I have ever seen. No one finished it, Dave came close by eating half.

After Breakfast we drove to Lobe Pine to the Mt. Whitney visitor center to return the bear canister. We rented 1 because I had my own. Brads dad Bill was driving from phoenix to pick Dave, Mac, and Brad up because I had to take Geoff to San Francisco. We went our separate ways. Bill was running a little late but was close so Dave, Mac, and Brad waited at the visitor center for him. Geoff and I began our drive to the Bay Area. We were going to go over the Sonora Pass on HWY120 but decided to detour through Yosemite fore some pictures.

Another High Adventure trip a complete success. Everyone had fun, learned valuable lessons, and made it to the top of Mt. Whitney. If I had to do it again I would not change one single thing. Our plan was perfect, our group worked well together, our acclimation days successful, with out them we would have been in trouble. Throughout the entire trip we did not have one cloud in the sky. This was a perfect trip and I would do it again.