Eaton Canyon 2/6/11

TRs for the San Gabriel Mountains.
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cougarmagic
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Post by cougarmagic »

I've been working Saturdays lately, and had missed out on a trip down Eaton last weekend with two large groups. Their photos and stories about the condition of the canyon after the December storms had me both excited and envious. A few of my friends were interested as well, so we packed up the neoprene and headed out one week later.

Many of you know that last summer, Eaton was not in top form, with most of the beautiful pools filled in with sand washed down from the section that burned above Idlehour. I'm happy to report that progress has been made - we jumped and slid many places that were not possible before the storm (always sending someone down on rope to check first of course)

Granted, the water level is high right now, so that makes a difference. But the streambed has mostly returned to large rocks and boulders, and the sand has washed away. And then again, all that sand ended up at the bottom of the second to last waterfall - the "Slide of Fate" will be slid no more, until another big storm clears it out. Currently it is about 4' deep where sliders would end up. Definitely not recommended at this point.

But the blue-green pools...they exist once more:

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Interesting anchors abound when you get toward the end, where kids can climb up canyon and do dangerous things:

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Water flow is very strong. I would caution anyone not experienced with high water, and COLD water against going in the canyon right now. The last two falls in particular are very challenging. Sore muscles in my back and arms today remind me of the force of the water.
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AW~
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Post by AW~ »

awesome tr. So which route is #1 in the San Gabriels again? :D
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Taco
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Post by Taco »

Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeell yeah. 8)
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HikeUp
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Post by HikeUp »

Dang that looks cold. Nice!
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Elwood
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Post by Elwood »

Nice pictures! I can almost hear the roar of those falls from here.
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Hikin_Jim
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Post by Hikin_Jim »

What? You guys don't have showers at home?

Pretty dang cool. Gotta like the last rappel. More water than rock!

HJ
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turtle
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Post by turtle »

Thanks for sharing the pictures and video CM.

It's truly wonderful to see Eaton very close to it's old form. Now if we can just get the slide back...

But what's up with the title of the video on YouTube? Its warm but it's not spring just yet! :wink:
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lilbitmo
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Post by lilbitmo »

Very, very nice, there maybe a new hobby in my future, going downhill on very hot days in the spring through cool water sounds more fun than fighting the uphill battle of places like Iron mountain in that hot weather :shock:

Thanks Cougarmagic for sharing that - does give me shivers when I think about the time of year it is burrrrrrrrr :D
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He219
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Post by He219 »

Nice TR, CM!
Looks like fun ..
So, tell us about the Stilettos!
:lol:
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cougarmagic
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Post by cougarmagic »

He219 wrote: Nice TR, CM!
Looks like fun ..
So, tell us about the Stilettos!
:lol:
Oh, these old things? :oops:

Image
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Hikin_Jim
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Post by Hikin_Jim »

The tone of that last post seemed, well, a little stilted.

HJ
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cougarmagic
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Post by cougarmagic »

Hikin_Jim wrote: The tone of that last post seemed, well, a little stilted.

HJ
We run on four heel drive.... :wink:
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HikeUp
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Post by HikeUp »

Too cool. I got a pair just like that! $19.99 at Marshalls!!!
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Hikin_Jim
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Post by Hikin_Jim »

cougarmagic wrote:
Hikin_Jim wrote: The tone of that last post seemed, well, a little stilted.

HJ
We run on four heel drive.... :wink:
:lol:

HJ
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Illusive
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Post by Illusive »

I've always wondered what the canyon above Eaton falls looked like. Thanks for sharing.
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cougarmagic
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Post by cougarmagic »

AW wrote: awesome tr. So which route is #1 in the San Gabriels again? :D
It never left #1 for me! Eaton is my HOME.
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davantalus
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Post by davantalus »

cougarmagic wrote:Oh, these old things?
Haha! Is that Nivalda!?

I thought she rocked the fawn double-straps? :}
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Taco
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Post by Taco »

HikeUp wrote: Too cool. I got a pair just like that! $19.99 at Marshalls!!!
OH, MY, GOD. NO WAY? ME TOO! They're like, SOOOO cute!
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cougarmagic
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Post by cougarmagic »

Taco wrote:
HikeUp wrote: Too cool. I got a pair just like that! $19.99 at Marshalls!!!
OH, MY, GOD. NO WAY? ME TOO! They're like, SOOOO cute!
Guys, please don't show up to one of my trips all wearing the same shoes! That would be sooo embarrassing!!
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Taco
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Post by Taco »

cougarmagic wrote:
Taco wrote:
HikeUp wrote: Too cool. I got a pair just like that! $19.99 at Marshalls!!!
OH, MY, GOD. NO WAY? ME TOO! They're like, SOOOO cute!
Guys, please don't show up to one of my trips all wearing the same shoes! That would be sooo embarrassing!!
What about skirts?
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Hikin_Jim
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Post by Hikin_Jim »

Taco wrote:
cougarmagic wrote: Guys, please don't show up to one of my trips all wearing the same shoes! That would be sooo embarrassing!!
What about skirts?
Shades of Fight On! No! That's just wrong!

HJ
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Taco
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Post by Taco »

That guy probably does wear a skirt.
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davantalus
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Post by davantalus »

It's all about the divided skirts in Taco's avatar.
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norma r
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Post by norma r »

CM,
just took a look at this TR and the video. Wow! :shock: the volume of water has increased considerably since we were there a couple months ago. that fall you rapped in the video dropped serious force.

glad to see you don the proper Diva Canyoneer footwear for this operation. i expect nothing less Miss Magic. 8)

hope to get out there once again with you when a double suit is not necessary.

fun stuff, well done! :D
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