Pool Creek (Dinosaur)
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| | Difficulty:3B I (v3a2 III) Raps:2, max ↨55ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:4WD Rock type:Sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | May-June, Sep-Oct
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40.4718, -109.0501
40.4733, -109.0423
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Introduction[edit]
A great, short canyon with easy dirt road approach and short, albeit steep exit. Good Pay-To-Play, nice flat sandstone for walking, tall deep canyon walls and some fun carved sandstone obstacles. Recommended for introductory-type experiences if taking someone newer to the sport.
Approach[edit]
Drive: Just East of Dinosaur, CO, drive north on Harper's Corner Rd for 25.5 miles. Turn right off pavement down Echo Park Rd into Sand Canyon for 3.8 miles.
While better than Yampa Bench Road, reconsider this dirt road in rainy conditions or after recent precipitation.
Drive beyond the drop in location and park at a strong right bend in the road (40.47333, -109.04234), which is just wide enough to parallel park along the dirt road and may have space for two short vehicles.
Consider dropping packs and some of the team at the drop in location while the driver parks the vehicle and walks back.
Hike: Walk up the road 1/2 mile to a gully to drop into the creek, walking a short distance to the drainage from the road.
Descent[edit]
Walk 0.3 miles in the canyon to the first obstacle, which starts with a pothole, a 5 ft drop, 15 ft drop into a mostly filled pothole and a final 8 ft drop into the chamber below.
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R1: 55' from a tree on Canyon Left bypassing the pothole sequence, landing in the alcove below. Take a longer rope if attempting to go through this section of the watercourse as the length and anchor for that path is unverified.
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DC
DC 10'
The second and final obstacle sequence:
DC 15' into a stemmable pothole under a large chockstone, followed immediately by:
R2: 10' from a meat anchor and partner assist the last person, followed almost immediately by:
R3: 35' into a swimmer, that may be stemmable for some to mostly stay out of the water
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Exit the canyon 500 feet down canyon
Exit[edit]
Depart the streamcourse 500 feet after the last technical section on Canyon Right and bush bash through the narrow strip of thick vegetation.
Walk up a short distance of slickrock looking for game trails to begin on the right.
Gain the game trails and switchback 300 feet vertically and 750 ft horizontally back to the car parked above.
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Red tape[edit]
A National Park's pass or a Dinosaur National Monument entrance fee is required.
Beta sites[edit]
Trip reports and media[edit]
June 2023: photos, beta entry, kml map. Ira Lewis. Eva Vaitkus, Carl Bern, Wayne Herrick
Background[edit]
Mormon Crickets are generally found at lower densities, but as populations congregate, outbreaks occur on average 3 out of every 10 years. These outbreaks can last for consecutive years though. Many factors are at play in Mormon cricket population ecology including weather cycles, predation and disease.
