Date of Event: 7/4/2010
Canyon Involved: Nobe Young Creek
Region: Great Western Hwy and Last Chance Meadow Rd ( 22S02) Springville California
Country: USA
Submitted by: Matthew Maxon
Source: I was the injured party
Injury: Fracture
Cause: Fall or slip, Worn out equipment
Description of Event: We drove out the afternoon before meeting early evening at a turnout on what I’ve decided to call Last Chance Meadow Rd (SqNF 22S02). The following morning we set up the shuttle and drove to the trailhead on GWDH.
We proceeded down the old logging road and made the requisite right turn at about 6275ft onto another abandoned logging rd. At about 6200ft we started looking for a use trail on the left. This takes you to the falls on the map. About 100ft down there is a lesser use trail heading up to the top of the falls. We by-passed this first & best rappel in Nobe Young Creek as the water flow was a bit high and it was pretty cool on this early July morning.
Of course when I got out my camera I discovered I’d left my battery in the charger at home. Grrrrr ***** was appointed our official photographer as **** camera took a bit of a tumble 150ft down a waterfall a few weeks back.
We completed donning our wetsuits and started down canyon about 8:30am. About 6015ft I encountered some signs of Marijuana farming operations , cautious inspection showed it is old, with no recent activity.
Shortly down canyon at 9:10am we came to our first rappel, R2 in Nobe Young Creek. (36.01780, -118.55358, 5948) Unlike R1 this rappel and all the others below here are dome like but steep cascades. We rappelled canyon right off a bomber tree down a nearly vertical wall staying on rope over the wet slickrock for a total of about 75ft.
A bit further on is R3, we opted to get into the water here for a total drop of about 100ft, other options abound, we anchored on canyon right around a stout tree.
Scrambling over boulders and down trees quickly brought us to “Hand Break Falls” R4 the “best” option here was the water course as the canyon right and left was choked with brush and snags. The anchor is high in a tree mid-canyon , **** went first being our official photographer, it was clear this was the slipperiest of our rappels so far.
**** disappeared into the brush, A single blast of the whistle reassured us she was safely down and off rope. Johanna went right around the tree directly in the water and from my vantage point, high on the left I figured I could do a bit better. I got on rope and scrambled down… Oops I’m not going far with my tether clipped into the anchor!
After figuring I’d get further without the tether clipped into the anchor I got into the ankle deep water. I turned backwards assuming the rappelling stance. *** handed me the rope bag and when clipping it on to my harness I slipped going face forward I put out my right hand, it hit the granite hard (crack) Oh shit! Damm that hurt! Fucking Shit that hurt! Kept it in the cold water for a minute or two and tried to move it, everything moves but it sure hurts.
**** takes the rope bag and asks if I’m OK? Not really but I can get down, I used a two hand grip on the rope as my right hand was weak.
**** had explored down canyon a bit and came to an awesome bowl like area with many different rappel opportunities, after carefully examining my hand I determined there was no displacement though it didn’t look good. We opted to skip the water and stayed dry down the steep slick rock canyon left R5 about 100ft. To a broad ledge, here we opted again to stay dry and stayed to canyon left R6 for about 40ft into the bushes and boulders.
Probing the boulder field looked daunting, I went high canyon left on the slickrock and staying there bypassing several nice drops and one interesting slot like area. At this point it was getting hot, especially with a wetsuit on. We stopped in the shade of a nice pine tree and had a bit of chow and lost some of the hot gear. This was about 11:45am (36.01613,-118.54857,5417ft)
A check of the GPS showed we were less than a 10th mile from the exit though to look at it we were miles from anywhere.
We made it to the lower trailhead about 12:20pm without any more rappels but there could be if you wanted there to be. Despite injuring my hand I agreed it is a wonderful little canyoneering adventure!
We made it back to the upper trailhead somewhat relieved no car break ins and headed home.
The following day after bruising started showing on the palm of my right hand it was time to confirm what I already knew. I fractured something.
The x-ray revealed midway on the 4th metacarpal a fracture, bummer! Ah well it will heal and I’ll be back.
Analysis: After reflecting I would say I was not using the stickiest of canyoneering shoes, while they may be OK for San Gabriel Canyons, 5.10 Canyoneers C4/S1 will be my choice for Sierra Canyons in the future. I’d say it might be better to not screw around in the water just get down. I was also unfamiliar with Sierra Canyons and the very slick nature of the rock and the ubiquitous slime throughout the region