Had a great time in Henline Creek on Saturday. Lots more water flow than two weeks ago. I see bolts were installed on rap 3 (Dave Falls), and rap 5 (Dan Falls)…to keep one in the flow. It was a great day to stay in the flow. Today’s team…Myself, Keith, Kaitlin, Wade, Judith, and Rico…
Rap 1 (Steve Falls)
Rap 2 (Jackie Falls)
Rico on Rap 2…
A bit of creek walking…
Beautiful drainage…
Deanna’s Slide…A little bumpy today.
Rap 3 (Dave Falls). Awkward start to a fun exhilarating drop…
Keith on Rap 3…
Rico stems his way down Rap 3…
Judith on Rap 3…Keith there just in case…
Rap 4 (Ron Falls). Wade in the roostertail…
Whoa!!
Judith is in there somewhere…
…there she is!
Keith in the roostertail…Rap 4
Wade at the top of Rap 5
Rap 5 (Dan Falls)
Look hard and you can see Kaitlin on the guided rappel, on Rap 6…
Keith on the guided rappel…
Rap 6 (Mark Falls)
Nature…
Rap 7 (Jerry Falls)
…then the long creek walk…
Looking straight up Rap 8 (Henline Falls)
Judith dropping Henline Falls…
Kaitlin just starting to drop Henline Falls…
Keith on Henline Falls…
Rap 8, Henline Falls with moderate flow…
Hi. I’m fairly new to canyoning (1-2 years), and I have a question. I’m wondering why Henline falls is rappeled DCR and not DCL. I’m guessing it’s to reduce the risk of dropping rocks onto hikers who might go into the pool? Or is it simply because DCL is more fun? Or are the riggings on the big fallen log at the top not secure enough to use it to rappel that direction?
Hi Dan!
As I remember, the large log at the top is too far back to use for the main drop…probably would be a very hard pull to get your rope back. There’s nothing saying one couldn’t rap DCL other than the anchor would probably be too far back, making the pull very hard. Loose rock onto hikers may be a concern, but not sure. I’ve rapped it twice now, and the 12″ alder works well, and I really like the line it takes…not directly in the main flow but close enough on both sides to get your attention.
-Karl
Ohhh I see. Thanks for the explanation. I was a bit confused at first because I remember the rigging was quite close to the edge when I was there last weekend. Then I went back to check on pictures from a previous trip this July, and back then the rigging was way quite a bit further. I can see how it could be hard to pull. Apparently someone has since removed that rigging and put a new one closer to the edge (http://imgur.com/a/AkCR2Ww). Perhaps that group when down directly over the lip instead of going down the other flow.
The rigging on the big log is for safely descending the top flow down to anchors DLC (alder tree) and DCR. IMO the anchor on the right is a nice fall line but dumps you back into the big logs at the bottom.