by John Hart   www.crystalcanyons.net

Aug.  3, 2005

(Click on any image for a larger version and a description)

INTRODUCTION

The following is a photo-album of images shot during a week of canyoneering in Washington and Oregon.  I went to explore this newly-discovered area, which is really neat for the sport of descending canyons, creeks, and waterfalls.  Our group was organized by Seattle canyon enthusiast Robert C., who, along with Ken L., has worked hard exploring the area for true outdoor-adventure gems.  The group also included Aussie videographer Joe B, as well as Seattle Petzl rep. Dave H., and ACA instructor Charly Oliver.

I was honored and grateful to be able to go on this adventure, for these canyons are, I think, among the best to be found in the US.  They even rank up there in the stratosphere with those of Reunion Island.  Indeed they have many of the features that have caused some to claim Reunion to be the "Paradis du Canyoning" (e.g. Pascal Colas).  They are full of lush, rich, and colorful vegetation.  They have abundant, clear, and fast-flowing water,  interconnected chains of potholes and waterfalls, basalt and granite clefts, and a few big (300 foot+) drops.  In Wallace River, I thought I was back on Reunion, with possibly the only difference being the more tropical nature of the vegetation on the latter.  Both regions have wet and "dry" seasons, and the high geographic density of great canyons is due primarily to the interaction of the wet climate with the volcanic landscapes.  If, like me,  you consider canyoneering a means to get into some absolutely fabulous and uniquely beautiful venues, visited by few at most, with experiences and views to savor for long time after, then the PacWest is for you!

THE SCENE

What more to say?  The pictures tell the story.  Rappeling down a canyon in full close-view of the magnificant Mt. Rainier, or down-climbing and roping down waterfalls of all shapes and sizes, this is the real deal.  The only problems are that the season is short (maybe July - Oct), the rock is super-slippery, and with all the overhung vegetation the interiors of these canyons are quite dark for photography.  Here are some of my better shots - but you really need to see them in 3D to truly appreciate this marvelous place!

 

GORGE CREEK

A granite cleft sporting one big, and many small and narrow, waterfalls.  Difficult in high water, sweet as we found it.  Our group was joined by Steve Ram, who, along with Stevie B., had made an initial attempt to go down this canyon under conditions of more extreme flow.

WALLACE RIVER

This is the big one.  Existing descriptions and previous photos did not give a good impression of the size and committing nature of this canyon.  Over 15 big-water raps and many many down-climbs and swims made for a long long day.  As close to my all-time favorite canyon, Takamaka, as I've yet come across, for canyons of this type.   Cool (literally and figuratively).

Descending the 300 foot waterfall (below)

DAVIS CREEK

Narrower, but equally committing, Davis Creek was a fun five hour romp.  Again the colors astound, but watch your footing!  Beta.

UNICORN CREEK

Unicorn Creek is so close to Rainier you feel you can touch the mountain while doing the canyon.  Wider than Davis, it nonetheless has some narrow sections and some very pretty stair-step cascades.  Among the uncountable water drops (I gave up keeping tabs after a dozen or more), the very last one stands out (see pix 2 - 4 below).  Unfortunately you pay the price for doing it (previous descents exited onto the Wonderland Trail just above).  At the bottom of the last fall you have the choice of hacking through 100 yards of devil's club and cross-bedded ash, emerging well-bloodied onto a sun-baked scree-slope (NOT recommended), OR, slowly working your way down a whitewater river (intensified at the confluence with Steven's Creek) to a talus slope (RDC) and hiking it up to the Wonderland Trail.  At the time I questioned if it had been worth it, but in retrospect (as in still alive and walking), SURE.  Beta. 

ONEATA GORGE

A PacWest classic (sometimes written 'Oneonta').  Typical, typical.  There is a bridge/trail exit just above the last waterfall.  The last drop is in full view of hikers, who often congregate right at the base.  It also has very fragile vegetation on the walls.  Best to belay/swim down to the rim for a look, but go back up and exit.  If the vegetation gets trashed, it would be very sad, and the canyon might well be closed.  Beta.

EAGLE CREEK

The Lost World canyon of the Northwest.  Hidden pools, many slides/jumps, rappels into large lake-like potholes, all in an environment spiced with mystery and shrouded in over-sized plants, with water leaching out of the basalt sidewalls most of the way down.  Beta.

Neat.

Neatest.

Thanks again to Rob C for introducing us to this area.  We will be back!

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