Conditions:Adams Creek Gorge-20230918040211

Latest:	17 Sep 2023 (1 yr, 7 mos ago)

Reported by:	Logan (60 reports)
Quality:	Unknown
Waterflow:	Moderate High
Wetsuit:	Thick wetsuit
Water temperature:
Difficulty:	Advanced
Time:

Team:

Trip report URL:

Comments: Flow the previous night was Very High. Flow in the morning was High. First we descended a fixed line to the bottom of R2 to assess. Rappeling on DCR was not possible - you would get swept off your feet and have a fast and deep descent into the boil. DCL was a better line, you could stay away from the firehose, stand on a ledge near the surface, jump halfway across the boil, and likely get propelled to the pourover for a safe exit. The boil was very deep. Ascended and went down to look at R3. There is a scramble down just before the canyon makes a 90 degree right hand turn. First tier looked reasonable on DCR; 2nd tier also DCR probably fine but not visible. After 3rd tier there was what appeared to be a new strainer. A fresh log. All water was funneled DCL into a 2 foot wide laminar blast into the log's root ball. Very dangerous, potentially fatal, strainer. You would be on rope to complicate matters. We opted to skip R3 and head back to do R2. R1 was not an issue. The drop in canyon was into a boil in shallow water. Very cold. The Ralstone at R2 was precariously wobbly, more than we expected. Due to the roiling boil, we decided ziplining packs and any rope bags was a must. After gingerly testing the Ralstone, we were spooked and decided to live another day. Did not want it to land on top of someone when it fails, or get pinched like Aaron Ralson in 127 hours. You would not get 127 hours here, you would have about 60 seconds in the cold flow. If the flow was moderate, there may be the possibility to rappel from DCR and avoid the chockstone hazard and also get off rappel in a favorable outwash direction, as the circulation is CCW. R3 would also much more reasonable to attempt at half the flow. Need cooler temps in October, even in this very low year.

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
17 Sep 2023	Unknown	Moderate High	Thick wetsuit	Advanced			Logan (60 reports)
Comment: Flow the previous night was Very High. Flow in the morning was High. First we descended a fixed line to the bottom of R2 to assess. Rappeling on DCR was not possible - you would get swept off your feet and have a fast and deep descent into the boil. DCL was a better line, you could stay away from the firehose, stand on a ledge near the surface, jump halfway across the boil, and likely get propelled to the pourover for a safe exit. The boil was very deep. Ascended and went down to look at R3. There is a scramble down just before the canyon makes a 90 degree right hand turn. First tier looked reasonable on DCR; 2nd tier also DCR probably fine but not visible. After 3rd tier there was what appeared to be a new strainer. A fresh log. All water was funneled DCL into a 2 foot wide laminar blast into the log's root ball. Very dangerous, potentially fatal, strainer. You would be on rope to complicate matters. We opted to skip R3 and head back to do R2. R1 was not an issue. The drop in canyon was into a boil in shallow water. Very cold. The Ralstone at R2 was precariously wobbly, more than we expected. Due to the roiling boil, we decided ziplining packs and any rope bags was a must. After gingerly testing the Ralstone, we were spooked and decided to live another day. Did not want it to land on top of someone when it fails, or get pinched like Aaron Ralson in 127 hours. You would not get 127 hours here, you would have about 60 seconds in the cold flow. If the flow was moderate, there may be the possibility to rappel from DCR and avoid the chockstone hazard and also get off rappel in a favorable outwash direction, as the circulation is CCW. R3 would also much more reasonable to attempt at half the flow. Need cooler temps in October, even in this very low year.
26 Aug 2023	Poor	High					Rernst86 (85 reports)
Comment: The chockstone now has a fracture and could give way at any point. The rap from this feature needs serious attention. Aka DO NOT CASUALLY ROLL UP AND ATTEMPT. we placed a bolt DCR at the chockstone but one more needs set further down. We escaped after this feature as a team member was above for such an event.
23 Sep 2022	Great	Moderate High	Full wetsuit	Special challenges	5 hours	3 people Intermediate to Advanced	Rernst86 (85 reports)
Comment: Ran Adams. R2 has lost a log and the chockstone moves with ease. We need to either create a traverse to the anchor station or come up with a new anchor station. All bolts were solid. Added a stray log to help with the strainer.
23 Oct 2021	Great	Moderate	Drysuit	Advanced	4 hours	3 people Advanced	Rernst86 (85 reports)
Comment: Great day in Adams. Even at moderate flow it would be challenging for some folks. The first pothole swim can be overwhelming and it would be useful to have an emergency line ready for folks. Bolts and anchors are great. We pulled the rope for the boiler room while in the second pothole and used the large boulder to anchor off of for the last 10 foot rap. Do not jump these as they are very shallow and filled with jagged boulders. We did do the last slotty section further down stream. This could be ran multiple times and great for beginners to feel hydraulics in a safe manner.
25 Sep 2021	Amazing	High	Drysuit	Advanced	5 hours	2 people Intermediate to Advanced	Rernst86 (85 reports)
Comment: Canyon was great. Flows were a bit high but manageable. Flows also rose throughout the day so an early start is a good idea. Sieve area is easier as a log has jammed into it and you can walk by it. Trust zero areas that seem like jumpers. Just below the “boiler room” is a pool that has been filled in with a recent rock fall. All bolts are great.
17 Oct 2020	Great	High	Thick wetsuit	Advanced	6 hours	2 people Intermediate to Advanced	Mads (61 reports)
Comment: This canyon is short, but burly and every bit of a5. We rappelled in from two spots along the rim to scout the crux from above and below. It is an amazing part of the slot where the creek narrows, dramatically curves, and drops quickly, forming a chain of three incredible and intimidating waterfalls. The creek was running higher than we originally expected and the first two potholes were pure whitewater. We spent time scouting and planning the best approach before dropping in. We entered higher than the R1 drop-in and found ourselves stranded above the R1 falls without an anchor. Oops. We escaped up a steep slope DCR and rappelled back into the creek at the next drop below ‘chockstone falls’. The creek was pushy but not too eventful until the crux rappel. There were advanced swiftwater challenges as well as rope management challenges from linking the three pools that we had to manage through. Anchors were in great condition. There is a nasty siphon about 20 yards downstream from the last pool of R3 where the entire creek pinches and dives underneath a boulder wedged in a narrow slot (see pic attached). Avoid the siphon by climbing out of the previous pool DCL and stemming over the slot. Beta has been updated. All in all, it was a full value day in a short slice of Adams Creek!
9 Aug 2020		Extreme		Extreme			Vaporman (8 reports)
Comment: We scouted out Adams gorge and it’s still flowing WAY too extreme to be safely runnable by my crew.
13 Oct 2019	Good	Moderate High	Thick wetsuit	Special challenges	4 hours	4 people Advanced	Jakehuddleston (35 reports)
Comment: 2nd documented trip through this canyon. Added several bolts to the canyon for the main drops. Clear water, unusual for the glacier water as it is usually milky. Very cold. Checked out the bonus mini-slot down below as well. Great day and gorgeous canyon, albeit short.