Camp Creek - Columbia River Gorge, OR
Mike North and myself descended Camp Creek in the Columbia River Gorge this morning. The weather was gorgeous, and we were stoked to get in some waterfall action!
The first two waterfalls did not have anchors established. We installed bomber anchors for those two falls, as well as replaced the anchors on the lower two falls dropping into Herman Creek.
The third waterfall, which is described as having a poor anchor location (and believe me, it was seriously sketchy perched high on a very exposed point above the waterfall). This is now obsolete, as we cleared some brush away from a bomber tree on the opposite side of the creek, perfectly in line with the rappel. The rope will run under the log that crosses the pool. We rapped double strand, and a 60 meter rope will just make it to the bottom with a few feet to spare. Super clean pull, and perfect spot for the anchor!
The last rappel which is immediately after the third which I just described, was chocked full of debris. I put myself on rappel, and down-climbed slowly picking the debris out of the way to make for a safe rap down the waterfall. It is good-to-go for now, and is a lovely rap into Herman Creek. We got seriously soaked, as there was a lot of water coming off that falls. Thank you wetsuits!! The water is pretty high in Herman, and required a short swim from the pool downstream to less deep water. Make sure you have flotation in your packs, as there is a bit of a hydraulic going on here.
We had lunch in a beautiful sun-kissed spot, geared back up and made our way downstream. We decided (after the fact) that we bailed too early from the creek, as we had a very strenuous and steep climb back up to the trail. We now now know that you need to go all the way downstream until you hit a side creek coming into Herman on the right side. Start your way up here, and stay about 100' from the creek and just pick your way up to the trail to the very tall waterfall you passed on the way in.
A great day out in the wilds! View pics in the Camp Creek album in the "photos" section.
Jeff Waugh
Natures Wild Photography
www.jeffwaugh.com
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From: Ken Leibert <canyoneeringnorthwest@yahoo.com>
To: "pnwcanyoning@yahoogroups.com" <pnwcanyoning@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Wednesday, July 24, 2013 9:29 PM
Subject: [PNWCanyoning] website updates
http://canyoneeringnorthwest.com/PilotCreek/PilotCreek.php
Whale Creek in the Oregon cascades http://canyoneeringnorthwest.com/WhaleCreek/WhaleCreek.php
provided by Evan Topinka and a trip report and new photos for Camp Creek in Oregon Columbia gorge
http://canyoneeringnorthwest.com/CampCreek/Camp_Creek.php
provided by Jeff Waugh.
I hope every one is having an enjoyable canyoneering season. Please share your trip reports and photos.
Ken Leibert
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Kudos for doing the upstream bushwhacking to make those photos available! I don't know if you have seen the curious gorge guy's photos of the slot in there...those are the only other photos I know of that are readily available of the section between Big Creek Falls and Cave Falls. Brian's site has an unnamed fall a ways above B.C.Falls. There is also a large falls apparent on google earth about a half mile below where the creek crosses FS 32 that looks pretty cool. I wonder if there are more? I would be willing to do the part between FS 32 and BCFalls if you'd like. I will be able to get out within the next two weeks.
Judging from the flows when you were there, do you think this creek is runnable - in the slot section? From what I've seen, it looks like is would be very challenging to say the least.
I haven't been in a canyon proper for months now. Seems like something always comes up. I was, however, able to spend a half day on my way to yakima checking out a few creeks in Rainier. Van Trump looks like a blast! At least that last section above Christine Falls with about 9 drops in quick succession. It did look like anchoring would be challenging. After looking at the Box Canyon of the Cowlitz, I think that a terminal descent is the only possible method. Unless water flows decrease substantially this is more of an undescendable than an undescended. Gives me the creeps imagining being in the thing (at least at current flows).
Cheers, Evan
From: Ken Leibert <canyoneeringnorthwest@yahoo.com>
To: "pnwcanyoning@yahoogroups.com" <pnwcanyoning@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, September 17, 2013 12:18 AM
Subject: [PNWCanyoning] cave falls on big creek
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