An Exciting Adventure and Introduction to Technical Canyoning: Rappel Coon Bluff, AZ

The astonishing state of Arizona is known as canyon country and home to many beautiful and diverse slot canyons featuring rugged rock-wall cliffs, deep natural pools, and impressive waterfalls and cascades. Many of these beautiful canyons are still relatively unknown, rarely visited and not so far off the beaten track to be able to access and reach them in a day’s travel. To descend to these backcountry canyons is what “canyoning” is all about, which consists of hiking, climbing, jumping rocks, climbing, swimming and rappelling, rappelling being the most technical of all canyoning skills and also the most dangerous. Canyoning thus becomes “technical canyoning” when rappelling or the use of ropes is required to safely continue the descent and exploration of a canyon area. So if you are looking for more adventure and more outdoor challenges and the ability to further explore the beautiful and remote rocky canyons of Arizona, then you will want to see how to learn to repeat where your adventure will begin! Venture into the exciting world of technical canyoning! !

Rappelling is defined as “a specialized climbing technique used to descend mountains or cliffs by using a controlled slide by a climbing rope anchored at the top of the cliff edge.” Rappelling is considered an advanced canyoning skill that requires formal training and practice before heading out either with a guide or on your own. Having recently been introduced to the sport of canyoning, I was inspired to continue improving my canyoning skills so that I could explore more of these remote canyons. So when a group of local hikers called the Hiking Hikers Hiking Group (aka Triple H) announced that they were offering a beginner’s introduction to rappelling class at the Coon Bluff Recreation Area in the Lower Salt River, I quickly signed up! and excited!

Located about 17 miles northeast of Mesa, on the beautiful Lower Salt River in the Tonto National Forest, the Coon Bluff Recreation Area is a picturesque and popular place for camping, picnicking, fishing, and also for observing wildlife and mountains. birds. Along the river’s flanks and its lush riparian habitat, they say it’s very common to see bald eagles, turkey vultures, and even wild mustangs roaming out of the desert in the early hours of the morning. To visit the Coon Bluff Recreation Area, a Tonto National Forest Daily Use Pass must be purchased at a cost of $ 6 per vehicle. You can purchase a pass before you leave, either online or at your local sporting goods store, such as The Big 5 Sporting Goods.

So on a bright, clear November weekend morning, and after stopping to pick up a Tonto National Forest pass, I headed out onto I-17 South from North Phoenix to meet up with my good friends and fellow hikers. for our first abseiling and adventure class. . Coon Bluff, we learned, with its sheer 92 foot vertical rock wall cliff, is also a popular place to practice rappelling skills, whether you are new and a beginner just starting out or are more experienced and more advanced. Being someone who has a real fear of heights, I thought, oh my gosh, 92 feet? I felt so nervous and wasn’t even sure I could move on, at least not without a big push from behind!

After picking up our last friend in Gilbert in the East Valley, we were finally ready to leave for Coon Bluff. To get to Coon Bluff from Phoenix, the directions say take Route 60 east to the Power Road exit, then head north on Power Road, which becomes Bush Highway. After approximately 12 miles on Bush Highway, you will first come to Phon D. Sutton Recreation Site Road, but continue for another half mile and on the left you will come to Coon Bluff Recreation Area Road. We turned left and reached Coon Bluff at approximately 1:40 p.m. M., Just in time for our 2 p.m. afternoon session. M. For the beginner rappelling class.

We parked in the Coon Bluff Recreation Area parking lot, where we also met up with a few other members of the class who were just starting to arrive, including our good friend and fellow TLC Hiking, Dan Myers, and his daughter. We headed out, gathered our backpacks and gear, and after posing for a quick group photo, we began the short hike up the trail to the riverbank at the base of the cliff and the 92-foot rock face we would soon descend. The closer we got as we got closer, the taller it seemed too. From the riverside, while we waited for everyone to arrive and class to start, we enjoyed seeing how there were still people abseiling down from the morning session class that day. Wow, I thought as I looked up in amazement. From the ground, looking up, I’d swear it looked like 200 feet!

Soon everyone had arrived and just a few minutes later our event organizer and instructor, world professional mountaineer, Michael Marin, had arrived after they both had deep memories of themselves. In this introduction to the rappelling class, Michael stated that we were going to learn all about rappelling technique, selecting and building anchors, tying knots, equipment, terminology, what to do, what not to do, and how to get out of a tight spot. you get into one. But more importantly, Michael started by emphasizing the importance of safety, security, and even more safety when it comes to rappelling, whether you are new and learning or an experienced gunner or mountaineer. Carelessness is the leading cause of accidents and death and can be prevented by learning essential skills properly and always using common sense, he said.

After laying the foundations of safety first in everything he does when it comes to learning to repeat, we were introduced to the gear and gear that we would need and use for our first rappelling adventure. A list of basic equipment you need to rappel that can be purchased at a local REI store is, 1) a good fit harness, prices range from $ 40- $ 55, 2) a locking carabiner, $ 10- $ 20, 3) a rappelling device like a figure 8 or an ATC, $ 15- $ 30, 4) a 5ml prusik cable, for $ 10, and last but not least, and the most expensive piece , their climbing rope, which for technical reasons canyoning, and for beginners, suggests a dry treated rope that does not stretch, ideally around 9-10 ml and 60 meters or 180 feet long, and runs in the range of price around $ 160, not including the rope bag which you also need around $ 40. Plus, when it comes to packing gear and venturing out into wet canyons for technical canyoning, backpacks start at about $ 129, and for safely store your equipment and assessments, having a dry backpack is essential to avoid water leaks and whether they are big or small. , prices range from roughly $ 10 to $ 20.

With our harnesses and gear on safely and securely, we were led to a tree behind us where Michael had ropes securely anchored and ready for us to begin learning rappelling technique and practice, while still on the ground, how the equipment works and why, as well as giving us all the opportunity to feel comfortable with the use of the rope through the encore device. You don’t need to “turn it on”, it proved, just guide the rope behind you with your right hand to the rear, then release pressure and resistance for greater speed or hold more tightly behind you, adding more. pressure and resistance to your brakes. , to slow it down or to stop it completely. Once you understand how to use this technique, all you need to do is lean on your harness and trust that your equipment will work for you. After everyone had a chance to practice and felt comfortable enough to continue, they gave us the go-ahead to start practicing our first live encore!

Us Michael as he led us up the trail to the top of the cliff and what a beautiful view it was that overlooked the entire Lower Salt River valley. Absolutely gorgeous wow! After some last minute tips and suggestions on how to install anchors, how to install them safely, where and what types are best to use, both natural and man-made, we walked along the edge of the cliff where Michael introduced us to the dual ropes that we were going. to be using and he told us about the importance of redundancy when doing any type of rappelling or mountaineering especially for beginners, like us.

Now we were ready to begin our first retreat. Michael asked, “okay, who’s going to go first?” After a quick peak looking down over the edge of the cliff to get a photo of my friend Scuji waiting below, I could barely see him. It was then that my heart began to race and my palms began to sweat. Wow, I thought, that was a very long and direct road too! I had so many butterflies and the longer I was there, the more nervous I got. So I jumped in line quickly behind my friends Carolyn and Bob and when I was starting to shake like a leaf, I walked to the edge where Michael hooked me to the rope and ordered me to yell down, “secured?” hear the call back, “assure”, said to call back saying, “rappel”. As I kept my eyes on Michael’s, I kept asking, “Am I doing it right?” and as he repeatedly replied, “yes, you are doing well, you are doing well, keep going!”, and with his confidence and assurance, I began to slowly walk backwards down the side of the cliff, leaning back into my harness at the same time pulling the rope behind me with my right hand to keep my speed slow and my decent steady, but not once looking down, just concentrating intensely on what I was doing until almost halfway through I heard a Call from my friend Scuji who was yelling at me: “Laura, look left!” I hesitated and then reluctantly looked down so I could take a photo. It was at that moment that I realized that I was really doing it! Now I started to feel easier and even comfortable enough to let go of the rope a bit and increase my speed, swinging a bit off the wall as I kept getting closer to the ground. Wow, what an amazing and exciting experience! Once I made it safely to the ground my good friend Bob was there waiting to help me unhook and again I was ordered to call back to the top, “off the rope” so the next person would know I was done rappelling . .

After I had completed my first reminder, I waited for the rest of my friends and classmates to come down safely. My friend Dan came first, then Scuji, as well as the rest of the remaining members of the class, as I continued to take as many photos as I could, capturing their first rappelling experiences for them. When the last limbs lowered, the sun was beginning to set and by 6 p.m. the last person had arrived and the ropes were released, indicating that the class was officially over.

It was a great day and an amazing experience and an excellent class hosted by the Trekking Hikers Group (aka Triple H) and taught by our friend, world pro mountaineer, Michael Marin. A true heart pounding adventure, sweaty palm, exciting, and a great introduction to rappelling and technical canyoning that I will never forget! So if you are looking for more adventure and more of an outdoor challenge and would like to be able to explore more of Arizona’s beautiful and remote rocky canyons, I highly recommend learning how to rappel and begin your adventure in the exciting world. of technical canyoning!

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