Waterholes Canyon: Canyoneering Training in Flagstaff, AZ
This weekends plans - a three day training session with members of the Coconino County SAR team, despite the snowstorm forecast for Saturday. Driving down Friday night proved uneventful, and snow was just starting as I arrived in Sedona and my hosts for the weekend, Patrick and Jamie. A fine weekend, and a fine hosting, it was.
Day One was inside the county SAR building as it snowed heavily outside. Lots of rigging, gear-talk, some ascending practice with very little gear...
Day Two started inside to let it warm up, then on a lovely little training area a few miles up Oak Creek Canyon from Sedona, where we practiced a lot of rigging, worked through scenarios, set up a guided rappel or two, and tied off rocks to build cairn anchors.
Day Three found us off to Page for some fun in Waterholes Canyon near Page. The team is quite familiar with Waterholes as it is a common place for misadventure. This day, I actually took some pictures! Practicing various skills had us getting just a bit past the mid-canyon exit for pothole escapes, team climbing and pull-outs before climbing back to the rim. Wonderful wildflowers out in the Page area now - Purple scorpionweed (Phacelia crenulata) and Fragrant Sand Verbana were the big hitters.
The team was really sharp and kept me on my toes, and I can say with some conviction, a good time was had by all!
