Serious question - you really think the drop in from the water tower trail needs a full harness/rappel? I’m taking a young men’s group in a couple of weeks. Last time I did this we turned at JHA and went back to Crack In the Wall. So I’ve never seen the sneaker route. We were planning to start at the crack and exit the sneak route.
I wouldn’t do it without gear. It can be done without gear, but if you slip and don’t have a way to arrest the fall, you’ll be in for one hell of a ride down to the bottom. I’ve seen a lot of videos of people descending without gear or just with a hand line, and they made it. But again, if they had slipped for whatever reason, they wouldn’t have been able to stop themselves from falling all the way down about 60’ to the landing. To me, it wasn’t worth the risk. Falling is no joke. A fall like that (or even a lot less than that) could result and a broken back or neck. The risk of ending up paraplegic or quadriplegic just doesn’t make sense when it can be mitigated by carrying a bit of gear and making safety a priority. And even if one of those worst-case scenarios doesn’t happen, having a brain injury or breaking a leg, arm, ankle, wrist, rib, etc. is still a major issue. I know I probably sound a bit dramatic, but I take safety very seriously having had a few close calls in my day. I hope that helps👍
@@adrianofthewest interesting. I was planning to start at Crack in the wall and exit up this with the group. But seeing that top view in your video, and given what you're saying about the decent, i might have them go down JHA to start with and hike to the Crack over the next day. I'd rather manage that angle of approach from an assisted downclimb than trying to scale it with packs.
I've done this, It definitely does NOT need a full harness and gear except for the most extreme faint of heart or no experience on any rock. Almost anyone can just hold the rope in your hand for some assist in getting up or down. I saw many hikers doing this including a couple who brought their big dog up and down it. Keep in mind, that 90% of this steep section can easily be done as hand and foot, 3rd class rock scrambling, as you see them in the video doing in places. There is only 10% that is particularly steep and slippery where most would want to hold the rope for assistance. BUT, even that part, I carefully moved traversed across the rock to the right and left ( away from the center part where everyone goes in a straight line down the rope) and then I found good hand and foot holds for proceeding without using the rope at all. Full packs no problem. Of course, err on the side of safety, reducing risk, and easier if you have 3rd class type rock scrambling experience ( blah, blah, blah).
Yeah buddy! I hope it was helpful. I didn’t measure the bolt diameter, but I think it was a 10mm or 3/8" bolt; the other most common sizes are 12mm and 1/2". I'm not sure of the thread pitch (probably standard for whatever the bolt is). You could take several nut sizes if you want to be sure you have the right size available when you get there. In fact, come back and drop a comment with the right size when you return! Regarding gear: take a bolt hanger, nut, crescent wrench to secure the nut, harness (or gunner’s belt), rope, carabiner, and some kind of device that will auto-arrest a fall. I descended on a figure eight with a Klemheist autoblock (that's the green cord you see in the vid). Remember: the most important thing is that if you slip, you don’t want to go tumbling down the canyon. If you have a rope, you can use it to assist you, and you probably won’t fall because it will be a cake walk. BUT, if you do happen to lose your footing and slip for whatever reason, you want to be sure the fall is quickly arrested within a few inches to avoid shock loading you and the anchor point, especially with static rope that has little to no elongation. I also used a Petzl Basic Ascender on the ascent, but you don't really need one and could just ascend by tying in with the Klemheist (or whatever autoblock you use) and push that up the rope with your hands as you simultaneously use your hands to grip the rope and assist your ascent. That way, if you slip and your hands come off the rope (which they almost certainly would because that's a natural reaction), the autoblock will bite down on the rope and you won't go bouncing down the canyon to the bottom. I hope that all makes sense. Let me know if you have any other questions. It’s a beautiful place, and the descent/ascent is a breeze with the right gear. Double check all your connections before you load the line, and have a good time!
Serious question - you really think the drop in from the water tower trail needs a full harness/rappel? I’m taking a young men’s group in a couple of weeks. Last time I did this we turned at JHA and went back to Crack In the Wall. So I’ve never seen the sneaker route. We were planning to start at the crack and exit the sneak route.
I wouldn’t do it without gear. It can be done without gear, but if you slip and don’t have a way to arrest the fall, you’ll be in for one hell of a ride down to the bottom. I’ve seen a lot of videos of people descending without gear or just with a hand line, and they made it. But again, if they had slipped for whatever reason, they wouldn’t have been able to stop themselves from falling all the way down about 60’ to the landing. To me, it wasn’t worth the risk. Falling is no joke. A fall like that (or even a lot less than that) could result and a broken back or neck. The risk of ending up paraplegic or quadriplegic just doesn’t make sense when it can be mitigated by carrying a bit of gear and making safety a priority. And even if one of those worst-case scenarios doesn’t happen, having a brain injury or breaking a leg, arm, ankle, wrist, rib, etc. is still a major issue. I know I probably sound a bit dramatic, but I take safety very seriously having had a few close calls in my day. I hope that helps👍
@@adrianofthewest interesting. I was planning to start at Crack in the wall and exit up this with the group. But seeing that top view in your video, and given what you're saying about the decent, i might have them go down JHA to start with and hike to the Crack over the next day. I'd rather manage that angle of approach from an assisted downclimb than trying to scale it with packs.
Yeah, I agree. I haven’t been to Crack in the Wall, but if you can ascend it, I would recommend descending JHA and ascending Crack.
I've done this, It definitely does NOT need a full harness and gear except for the most extreme faint of heart or no experience on any rock. Almost anyone can just hold the rope in your hand for some assist in getting up or down. I saw many hikers doing this including a couple who brought their big dog up and down it. Keep in mind, that 90% of this steep section can easily be done as hand and foot, 3rd class rock scrambling, as you see them in the video doing in places. There is only 10% that is particularly steep and slippery where most would want to hold the rope for assistance. BUT, even that part, I carefully moved traversed across the rock to the right and left ( away from the center part where everyone goes in a straight line down the rope) and then I found good hand and foot holds for proceeding without using the rope at all. Full packs no problem. Of course, err on the side of safety, reducing risk, and easier if you have 3rd class type rock scrambling experience ( blah, blah, blah).
I plan to be there in 1st part of Oct, wonder if it would be just as windy.
I don’t think it’s usually that windy there. Take goggles just in case though!
Woooo !!!! So so cool!
Yeah that hike was one of my favorites for sure🤙
Thanks for the video Adrian. What gear would you recommend regarding the bolt that's been placed there? Is a bolt hanger, carabiner and rope enough?
Yeah buddy! I hope it was helpful.
I didn’t measure the bolt diameter, but I think it was a 10mm or 3/8" bolt; the other most common sizes are 12mm and 1/2". I'm not sure of the thread pitch (probably standard for whatever the bolt is). You could take several nut sizes if you want to be sure you have the right size available when you get there. In fact, come back and drop a comment with the right size when you return!
Regarding gear: take a bolt hanger, nut, crescent wrench to secure the nut, harness (or gunner’s belt), rope, carabiner, and some kind of device that will auto-arrest a fall. I descended on a figure eight with a Klemheist autoblock (that's the green cord you see in the vid). Remember: the most important thing is that if you slip, you don’t want to go tumbling down the canyon. If you have a rope, you can use it to assist you, and you probably won’t fall because it will be a cake walk. BUT, if you do happen to lose your footing and slip for whatever reason, you want to be sure the fall is quickly arrested within a few inches to avoid shock loading you and the anchor point, especially with static rope that has little to no elongation.
I also used a Petzl Basic Ascender on the ascent, but you don't really need one and could just ascend by tying in with the Klemheist (or whatever autoblock you use) and push that up the rope with your hands as you simultaneously use your hands to grip the rope and assist your ascent. That way, if you slip and your hands come off the rope (which they almost certainly would because that's a natural reaction), the autoblock will bite down on the rope and you won't go bouncing down the canyon to the bottom.
I hope that all makes sense. Let me know if you have any other questions. It’s a beautiful place, and the descent/ascent is a breeze with the right gear. Double check all your connections before you load the line, and have a good time!