Beginner's Bailey Canyon

So I just started getting into this activity called canyoneering/canyoning. I prefer canyoning because it just sounds more right. I mean, the term "canyoneer" seems more like a noun. Therefore, "to canyon" is the verb. Take this sentence for example: A canyoneer went canyoning because he loves to canyon. Makes sense, right? Unless of course "canyoneer" is both a verb and a noun, in which case the sentence would proceed as follow: A canyoneer went canyoneering because he loves to canyoneer.

That's just too much repetition. Bottom line is I prefer canyoning. :)

Technically canyoning is supposedly still "new" in the realm of outdoor activities, although it has existed for quite some time now. But it's definitely not as established as rock climbing with a clear cut system of gears and how to's. This newness creates a sense of freedom in terms of approaching the activity itself, which is great because that's very exciting.

In a way, canyoning is the opposite of rock climbing. Instead of climbing up, you're rappelling down. I guess some people would prefer the motion of going down rather than climbing up. But I would also like to remind you that you gotta get up there one way or another in order to come down! Just saying.

The gears are also very similar. The very basic of things include ropes, webbing, harness, and a rappel device (instead of a belay device--funny thing is the ATC could be used as both a belay and rappel device). Of course it's much more complicated than this, but I'm just simplifying the list.

Tony had gone canyoning before and he has been trying to get me to go. I finally consented when he signed us up for a three day class through meetup. Honestly, if I wasn't enthusiastic before I sure as hell am now!

The guy that teaches the class, Klaus, is very passionate about what he's doing, and it shows. I had a great time learning the basics of rappelling, using the different devices, and tying knots. I quickly learned to love using the Pirana and the thrill of going over the edge.

However, I feel like the funnest (is that a word?) part lies in building the anchors.

Maybe I'm just too much of a logic, mind-game, problem solver kind of freak because I absolutely love building new anchors from scratch. Klaus split us up into groups of two or three people and assigned us to a certain spot to figure out how to build an anchor. Our group built a knot block/chock (I don't even know how to spell it, but that's what it sounds like to me). We basically made a water knot with our webbing and wedged it in a tight spot between rocks. The scary part was we had to rappel down our anchor. Well, I wasn't scared because I trust it. ;)P Plus, I guess it helps when you're the smallest and lightest person in the group.

Anyway, the point of all that was the fact that the class was very informative and practical if you want to experience canyoning. I mean, it's only at Stoney Point, so it's not like a real canyon or anything. But it was still very valuable for the time and money spent.

Here's a link to Klaus' meetup group: www.meetup.com/canyoneering.

Oh, and did I mention Klaus is a funny guy and a good story teller? He's really the highlight of the class, besides rappelling down rock faces and doing other cool stuff. :)

After taking the class Tony and I were looking for canyons close by to start out my career as a conyoneer. There were a few candidates but we decided to go for Bailey Canyon due to time restrictions and the higher number of rappels there (supposedly 12 overall). We actually down-climbed a couple just because we could and it saved us time.

Bailey Canyon is a dry canyon, meaning the most that will get wet is probably the sole of your shoes, and that's probably because you stepped in your partner's pee puddle or something.

Remember how I warned you you gotta get up there to rappel down somehow? Well, let's just say the hike up to the starting point was kind of brutal. Not gonna lie, it beat the shit out of me. I haven't had to hike up at such an incline for that long of a period in a while. It's comparable to hiking Mt. Baldy, although slightly better (considering I haven't summit Baldy yet; just got to the ski hut which is like halfway). Tony and our friend, Jeremy, were way ahead of me. Little me panting way behind like a dog in the summer heat.

Well, it was a hot day actually.

Seriously though, I'm considering starting my own meetup group. And I'm gonna call it "Petite Hikers." I mean, I don't think I'm that weak! I go to the gym at least three times a week and hike once every two weeks. And yet I struggle to keep up with the guys. One time while Tony and I were hiking, he noticed that for me to go at the same pace as him I had to move my legs faster. Duh, I have shorter legs! It just tires me out quicker to go at the same pace as they are going. Plus, I feel bad being the one trailing behind.

So yes, I'm creating a group for people with shorter legs. Don't steal my idea!

Moving on. We started hiking from the small parking lot. It was a nice little area with an abundance of picnic tables and some grills. We saw this one person working on their laptop in the shade. I don't know. If I'm out in nature, I don't really want to work or stare into a screen. But that's just my opinion.

The trail head.
We're headed for the Old Foundation.

The funny part was we walked through the picnic area for a little bit and we came upon a turnstile, which let us out onto this paved road:

It eventually turns back into a trail though. To the right side of the road is a dried up reservoir with vegetation growing all over. A pretty interesting sight. I would film my zombie-post-apocalyptic movie there. It just looks the part, you know?

Once we got back on the trail, it forks in two directions. There was a little bridge on the trail to the right, and we decided to take that one because we were supposed to cross a little creek (according to the map at the beginning of the trail where the car was parked, and no, we didn't bring any maps). We just ended up going in circles, running into a nature education class where they were pointing out poison oak to a group of little kids. Hahaha!

So we got back to the fork and took the left trail instead. We then commenced our grueling hike (well, for me it was anyway) up to the Old Foundation. We finally got to the starting point, which was below this ruin:

Yes, that's me standing in the shade drinking from my bladder.
And Jeremy eyeing me with a disapproving glare (not really).

There was a lot of poison oak/ivy going down from the ruin to the first rappel. And that is why you should wear pants while in nature no matter how hot it is because you never know what's by your ankles. That's my logic anyway. :) The whole canyon is supposed to have 12 rappels with one that's a 100ft drop (part of the reason why we chose this one).

Throughout the trip we didn't have to change any of the anchors. I gotta say, it was a really fun first canyon. There were some rappels with a little bit of water trickling down, which made the surface really slippery. I slipped a couple of times and banged myself against the wall. It also doesn't help that the rock was super smooth. One of the reasons why you'll also want shoes that have lots of grip in them.

The first rappel!

One thing to note in canyoning is the fact that if you're not too experienced you don't go first or last. Therefore, I mostly went second. I went first a couple of times, and I was lowered once. It was a mixture of experiences. I definitely learned a lot from doing this first canyon.

Okay, so another major rule in canyoning is to never, NEVER, let go of the rope. Because when you do, you fall to your death, literally. You need your brake hand to at least be around the rope at all times, except for when you lock-off and tested the system. I semi let go twice during the first few rappels.

It was freaky as shit!!!

You'd think that something as serious as falling to your death would have you hold on tight to that rope like there's no tomorrow, but there are situations that will trick you into letting go. For instance, in my case, you get so comfortable that you kinda just forget to hold on tight and falls down a little. Even though I didn't grip it tight, I still had my hand around the rope at all times.

The second time that I let go was when I slipped on the slick rock wall. I lost footing and swung towards the wall. It's basic instinct for people to lift their hands up to try and protect themselves, which is what I did. Thankfully the fall scared sense into me and I caught myself (I still had the rope in my hand). It felt almost like someone suddenly pulled the ground from under you and you instantly fall. It's so instantaneous that you would readily curse all those childhood cartoons where the characters would hover for a second in thin air before falling. There isn't really any time to think.

Sad to say, those two times that I fell I was the first man down, so there wasn't even anyone to fireman me. If I didn't catch myself I would have definitely broken some bones. But, oh man, believe me when I say I learned my lesson and had my hand tightly around that rope at all times.

The 100 footer! Definitely not letting go for whatever reason on this one!

The canyon turned out much better than we had expected. :)

Going down!

The "waterfall" (a trickle of water really).
My gloves got kinda wet, I guess.

Helping Jeremy pack the rope!

Unless you paid someone to take you out canyoning, the rule of thumb is to help with whatever you can even when you're inexperienced. I mean, I guess you could be a jerk and just stand around...

And, of course, when the guys heard me squeal during the two times that I fell and asked if anything was wrong, I said everything was perfect. I couldn't risk looking stupid! ;)P