Photos by Tom and Bruce, Text by Ram.

Ram:
"No Stefanos, you won't need a wetsuit"
"Ram, are you sure?"
"Yeah, it is a dry canyon, except after real storms and there haven't been any for awhile"
"I don't mind carrying it"
"Don't bother"
Then Tom pipes in "But Ram is often wrong"
I pipe back 'HEY! Only occasionally!"
Ummmmmmmm!!!

The approach, looking out over Glen Canyon.

Ram pointing out landscape features.

Group shot: Bucky, Denise, Bruce, Michelle, Ramoo, Stefanos

Ram:OK, so I jug like crap. OK, so I terrorize myself. OK, so I sometimes have limited control over my bodily functions. I do give "good trip" and I do give it day after day. So when the day after Sandthrax was at hand, I wanted another classic, if not one so hard or scary. How about Hard Day Harvey? Tom Jones is back, healed up from an illness, and ready for a warm up before the Black Hole. Stefan, I have met once and e-mailed a 100 times. How about a canyon together, at long last? I owe Michelle a good canyon (long story) and am thrilled that pay back is imminent. Neesee...ah I mean Denise has followed me often and hasn't paid the price yet. Bruce has done this canyon with me and wants to measure his considerable progress against his last, "losing my shoe" run through. Besides, it's a great canyon.

But where are my Sandthrax partners? I understand how almost anything would be a let down, but my partners have scattered to the winds. Steve is back home with the family. Hank is taking the day off, to absorb his experience of the day before. Dave has a girlfriend, Dave has a girlfriend. Old reliable Aaron NEVER misses a day...but...but....but, he is headed home, courtesy of Rob, so he can visit Grandma, in Florida. That leaves Bucky...

"Buckaroo, its a great canyon"
"I don't know Ram, I'm really pretty sore and my skin! My skin is raaaaaw."
But, but, Bucky, you are only here for 3 days, gotta maximize!!"
"I'll let you know after breakfast"
"OK" I say, then I go off to Tom and Dave and sic them on Bucky, opening a new front and a pincer move on me old buddy! Soon he surrenders and is on board.

Post Trail and Sandthrax canyons, no one was in the mood to reorganize for the next day. There was a day, in the past I would have fought the mood and tried to get folks committed and prepared, but now I know better. There are other methods. I let them float on their good mood. Reviewing the coming day, in my mind....From campsite to campsite....Looking like 10-11 hours. With only a bit under 9 hours of daylight, it requires a predawn departure. Folks trying to get into carpools and pack at camp, in the dark the next morning? I don't think so. So we go California carpool, for the first 30 miles. Six vehicles for seven canyoneers. We regroup. Everyone is awake at the marina gas station. Their doors open to coffee and bathrooms, just as the sun comes up and then we organize in the outside, semi wind protected picnic area. Much better.

Obstacle in the canyon, passed using a "Sequence" or "Meat" anchor and a handline. Aaron goes last because: A. he's light, therefore easy to spot; B. he's young, probably thinks he is indestructible.

Stefanos coming down, Bucky spotting.

And into the infamous thigh belay.

Ram:After organizing, we slim down to 3 vehicles and take the rough, 1 hour, 4X4 ride into the trailhead. Skies are clear, the breeze is cool, the sun is warm and the shade is cold. Out to the Carmel nose we go spying distant features that cause us to wonder...good slots in there? On the slickrock slope descending to the canyon, we note an open pothole section....WAIT A MINUTE!!! What is all that water doing in there?? I review the recent past for a hint how........Ahhhhhh, that snow up high in Shenanigans three days earlier....but, but, but it barely rained down low....unless down here where it is lower......Uh oh.......Ummm, too late to go back and grab more gear. Not everyone has access to their stuff anyway, after the carpool. Might as well take a look.....Yes, the canyon has flowed. Not a lot. Not up the walls, but it is December 31st. Not great timing for unprotected swims

You never know, until you go. First we stem and keep dry, Michelle showing exceptional form. But I know there is just too much ground to cover, to try and stay dry. Not to mention how much more effort it would take trying to stem past all the water. We have a full day in front of us, without the delays. So I test the waters, hoping.....First some ankle high water. Yikes!! So confident was I...no neo socks.....Then it is calf deep. Then knee. Then thigh. We have gone nary a tenth of the canyon. DANGER! DANGER!! Real doubt is banging at the door. What have I done, saying no wetsuits?? I review the canyon ahead, in my mind. In 3 places, deep, normally dry potholes await. In another area, a crawl. What if the crawl is under water? Can be passed high, but not easily for everyone. It is the last day of the year and after the canyon, there is over a 3 hour slickrock trip back to the cars. What if we are wet and the wind blows? Not to mention that the Black Hole is scheduled the next day. Sure don't want to burn too many calories. What have I done?

Tom, Ram and Michelle, trying to make use of the sun, near the end of the canyon.