The happy section was next, and it was truly beautiful - some of the greatest canyon I have seen. When we started to get into the really narrow sections it became much more serious and the water became colder.
I had a bit of a panic in one section where we came to a log that was waist high and the canyon was chest wide. When I say chest wide I mean that when turned sideways, my chest and back are touching the opposite sides of the canyon. As I climbed over I started down too soon and didn't make enough forward progress to clear the log and I became wedged - unable to move down because my leg was stuck behind me on the log and unable to move forward because I was wedged by my chest. Inside my head I was completely panicked and the harder I tried to dislodge myself the more I seemed stuck.
Doug Noel who was behind me was trying to work my toe/foot off the log – to the point where my heel was almost touching my butt. I was praying that once the foot/leg was free I would be able to slide down to a wider section of the slot - something I was absolutely afraid wasn't going to happen... Thoughts ran thru my head on how they might be able to help me get unwedged - the human chock stone – but nothing came to mind. I felt completely helpless and claustrophobic...
If you have seen Kill Bill 2 – the scene in the wood coffin ring any bells?– if so, you know what I was feeling… Thankfully Doug helped me get the foot loose and it provided enough movement where I could slide free of my impingement... That little moment scared the hell out me!
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A typical Choprock scene. A small break between long swims in the grim.
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Dave making the first grim swim. Only one significant logjam in the first section, which created the "Human Chockstone."
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Temporary relief from the prolonged swimming, and a chance to refuel.
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Penny and Eric rounding the corner on the last stretch of the first Grim swim.
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The name Grim comes from a time where difficult obstacles were much more numerous. A few very real and challenging obstacles remained for our trip, but in general, the name simply doesn't fit. The place is fantastic.
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Choprock 1 - Choprock 2 - Choprock 3 - Choprock 4
Egypt II - Neon - Choprock
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