(Pictures by Erik Jennings, story by Lisa Jennings).

Nice lighting...

Dave takes the slide...

We came across Almost Mindbender where Ram, Doc, Aaron, Jason, Big Ryan and Tom were doing a first descent, so we stopped there for lunch. It looked like they were really enjoying it, and were coming down the last part to join us is the main section of Not Mindbender canyon. We ate, and they still weren't done, so we continued onto the big rappel so we wouldn't clog it up with 12 people at once.

We stood at the big rappel. A breathtaking 95 foot free rappel into a large cavern with hanging gardens clinging to its rounded walls, and a small spring at the bottom. Amy bounded up, saying "oh, fun!" Amy is 12 years old and an amazing young woman. Her joyful and confident approach to canyoneering is really delightful, and her zesty attitude makes her lots of fun to be around. Her mom, Judy, a lovely woman full of musical laughter, cracks a joke about how her daughter says "it'll be OK, mom", as she rappels off a 95 foot cliff.

There was a crazy jumble of different colors of webbing at the big rappel. We were grateful for Penny's help rigging up. With Dave already at the bottom, Amy rappelled next. A couple feet over the ledge, Amy's shirt got stuck in the rappel device, making for an exciting moment. Penny leaned over, tried to free Amy, but wasn't able to from her precarious position reaching over the ledge. Erik then suggested Amy stand on the little rock ledge above the overhang, and this allowed Amy to take some weight off the rappel device and remove her shirt. Amy just calmly worked through the problem, then once the shirt was freed, she rappelled down.

Then it was my turn. I had decided it was probably best if I didn't even look over the edge until it was my turn to go. I hooked up my gear with Penny and Erik's help, feeling really excited. I lowered myself over the edge, and it is hard to describe that feeling of hanging in the air on my first big rappel, 8 stories off the ground. Exhilaration, a little adrenaline gushing, feeling like the rope had my full attention! Penny told me to take a look around, but I probably lowered myself 20 feet before daring to look around at the hanging gardens on the walls of the cavern. Beautiful. I couldn't stop smiling. I got off rappel and said something like, "wow, I have never done anything like THAT before!" For me, it was the best part of the day. Judy came down next, then Erik with a heavy pack containing "the pig", that Ryan had so generously allowed him to carry.

Ram on rappel, Centava providing a bottom belay, with her helmet protecting very valuable items in her pack.

Quite a nice rappel, and quite a nice picture, Erik.

We hiked downcanyon for a little while until we reached the Moki step climb out. A group of people were already there, so it took a little while for all of us to climb up. The other group dared each other to do it without a rope, and from the bottom it looks like an easy climb. Most of us preferred to be roped, since there are a couple tricky little parts to the climb. Everyone got to the top without any incident. We rested a minute at the top before checking out a petroglyph nearby, climbing up some slickrock, then up a rocky slope to the car. It sure felt hot on the climb out compared to the 40 degree temps in Northern Idaho this time of year. We were grateful for a can of sparkling water at the top - thanks Judy! We hopped in the back of Penny's truck for a ride back to camp.

We ate dinner, made some smores around the fire, and enjoyed the company of the canyoneering community. There was an abundance of diversity, warmth and good energy around that campfire. A unity of different ages and backgrounds, brought together because of our love for canyons and exploring new places.

Not Mindbender was an exhilarating day of expanding comfort zones and great people. We'll never forget it! Thanks everyone for allowing us to tag along.

Lisa Jennings

Climbing the moki-step exit.

Lisa cranking the moves on the bulge. Allez! Allez!

Rock art on the walk out.