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Title: Black Hole of the White Canyon
Source:
http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/utah/cedar/blackh.htm
URL Source: http://www.canyoneeringusa.com/utah/cedar/blackh.htm
Published: Sep 30, 2006
Author: tom007
Post Date: 2006-09-30 00:37:53 by tom007
Keywords: None
Views: 293
Comments: 23
A little intimidating, if you ask me. My family went close to here a few weeks ago. Did not see this, or really wanted to, after we entered the first part of the "Black Hole of the White Canyon". Not my photo. If you see a stream of water comming..... I would guess the water level at this point was close to twice the level of the debris.
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#1. To: tom007 (#0)
Fantastic picture! Thanks!
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The big flood happened in 03, I think. Used to be a popular ten hour day hike, and swim, now it's suicide. The descent into the area is remarkable, a little difficult, this side of gnarly but "sporting" as one Ranger said. "Sporting"is a code word for a near death experience, BTY.
I take it back. After seeing other slot floods, one third above the debris line is prolly about it. These things are horrifing to be any where close to, even on a small scale. That is why there are not too many photos of the floods - EVERYONE is running away. The NOISE and vibration of the events shatter the nerves of almost all. I Myself were at Fry Canyon last year, the rain was heavy, and I knew it was prolly safe, but I just did not feel like dropping into the canyon to photo the dymamics of the terrible flood in the slot below us . The noise was terrific, all night long it tormented our sleep, in the morning it was almost nothing. When we descended, the damage was frightening.
The route to the Black Hole.
You can believe "Water Rising" is a spine chilling call at this point.
Fascinating! Thank you for sharing!
"If there’s another 9/11 or a major war in the Middle-East involving a U.S. attack on Iran, I have no doubt that there will be, the day after or within days an equivalent of a Reichstag fire decree that will involve massive detentions in this country." - Daniel Ellsberg Author, Pentagon Papers I think I'll stay safe in my condo instead.
Nice. Ed Abbey country, I want to go back to that part of that state and see more of it. I was in the Utah National Guard and traveled there to beable to be in an S.F. Guard unit. That state wasn't at all like I expected it to be. I like remote parts of Utah, thanks for the posting.
Pictures like this are why I never leave my nice comfy chair in front of my computer.
"Anyone who has the power to make you believe absurdities also has the power to make you commit atrocities." — Voltaire (1694-1778)
that is cool looking
I went to the 4 corners region shortly before I moved here, and we went to Mexican Hat in Utah, which was a beautiful area. There were canyons like I had never seen before, it was weird too, like being on another planet with the unusual colors and rock formations. We were driving around, and drove up to a high elavation, and the only way to get down on the other side was a road (is that called a switchback?) where on the sides it dropped down to what seemed like 20,000 ft. I was terrified as I'm scared of heights, and I had this fear the car would just tumble over the side. I almost got out and walked but instead I closed my eyes until we made it down to safety. I couldn't believe locals actually used that road; that was the scariest road I had ever been on in my life. The area was great though, we went horse-backriding througout the canyons, that was such a fun trip, except for riding down that road.
Dude, that's to cool, I want to go now! I was told there's a similar effect in the Tri-State (I think thats AK, MO, and TN) karst area for spelunkers. You can make major treks for ages in cave systems large enough to near drive vehicles in but as I heard it "You'd better damn sure have a 24 hour advance no-thunderstorm forcast for about a hundred mile radius and have supreme faith in it because when it rains they fill to the top and flush like a toilet.
"If the schist hits the fan, the fan will break..."
That was the Moki Dugway road off from the Goosenecks San Juan Overlook area. Goes up to the Muley Point, the best overlook of Monument Valley around, everyone's seen pictures taken from this point. You prolly didn't know it, but once on the top of that Mesa, while driving through rather unremarkable pinion pine scenery, you went right past dirt roads that lead to some of the most remarkable pre historic ruins in the US. The policy of the Park Service is just to not say anything about whats down there in those canyons, but if you seek it you will encounter them. Then the road Tees into Utah 95, the Bicentennial hwy, a rather amazing road in itself. If you turned left, west, towards Lake Powell, you followed White Canyon right past the Black Hole. The White Canyon to the east form the Natural Bridges Nat. Park. The area is one of my favorites, full of ruins and natural beauty that are unique in the world.
The road is pretty much like driving through the Grand Canyon. Not a good place to lose your brakes, for sure.
Now is prolly the best time to go, unless there's a hurricane aroung Baja, that can cause alot of rain, which is fun for a day or two. Spring time the black nats hatch and are absolutey unstoppable. I'll meet ya there with the topos!
Oh no, I wish I had known that at the time as I find that kind of thing very interesting. You described the area we were at, and when we left Mexican Hat we went to a town called Moab where I bought some carved sheep at an art place. They had long silky kind of sheep hair on them. From Moab we drove into Colorado (I found some of those small towns in CO to be full of snobs, very odd). We had driven all over that region but my favorite was our stay at Mexican Hat, and the landscape there which was so amazing.
Then you turned east on U95 to Blanding. From there N to Moab. Do you remember going up through "The Notch", a portion of of a gigantic wall that was blasted so the the Hwy could pass?
No, I don't remember that.
Well there is alot out there.
You are not safe in your condo. Maybe safer. Security is an illusion, some illusions being better than others.
But you knew that.
That is a beautiful picture. I miss that bright, deep blue sky, haven't seen that in a few years.
#2. To: All, diana, zipporah, christine, robin, red jones, tommythemadartist, indrid cold, horse, arator, arete (#0)
#3. To: All (#0)
(Edited)
I would guess the water level at this point was close to twice the level of the debris.
#4. To: All (#0)
#5. To: All (#4)
#6. To: All (#0)
Then we hiked the swell slot at the San Rafal Swell.
#7. To: tom007, Axenolith (#4)
#8. To: tom007 (#6)
#9. To: tom007 (#6)
#10. To: tom007 (#0)
#11. To: tom007 (#2)
#12. To: Ferret Mike, tom007 (#9)
#13. To: tom007 (#3)
#14. To: Diana (#12)
We were driving around, and drove up to a high elavation, and the only way to get down on the other side was a road (is that called a switchback?) where on the sides it dropped down to what seemed like 20,000 ft. I was terrified as I'm scared of heights, and I had th
#15. To: All (#14)
oad (is that called a switchback?) where on the sides it dropped down to what seemed li
#16. To: Axenolith (#13)
Dude, that's to cool, I want to go now!
#17. To: tom007 (#14)
You prolly didn't know it, but once on the top of that Mesa, while driving through rather unremarkable pinion pine scenery, you went right past dirt roads that lead to some of the most remarkable pre historic ruins in the US.
#18. To: Diana (#17)
You described the area we were at, and when we left Mexican Hat we went to a town called Moab where I bou
#19. To: tom007 (#18)
#20. To: Diana (#19)
No, I don't remember that.
#21. To: Red Jones (#8)
I think I'll stay safe in my condo instead.
#22. To: All (#21)
You are not safe in your condo
#23. To: tom007 (#6)
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