Hiking...actually no,... Swimming Down Salome Creek

I had a friend call me up and ask me if I wanted to go back to Salome Creek this year. Last year our wives went with us and they braved the rapids incredibly well. Still, Tami was almost washed away in the current of 3 Blind Mice Falls, was almost detopped be another water spout, and was shivering so hard at the end of it all that her lips were blue. Brandon's wife almost did a face plant into a 6 foot granite bolder. I am still amazed at how well they did and how they had fun the whole time. But this time I said I would go if I could find a water sport helmet and if we left our wives safely at home (now that they are both mommies it did not take much convincing).

Salome Canyon starts at the base of the Sierra Anchas where several peaks combine to make a singular path to lake Roosevelt. Over the years there has been some incredible rock formations made and the scenery is incredible. There were some changes in the canyon too since last trip. That 6 foot boulder I mentioned earlier...it was about 6ft wide and 6ft deep as well. It has moved about 3 feet, so if a solid chunk of granite is around 4600 lbs per yards cubed...there was enough water during a flood to move 36,800 lbs. If a flood came through right now...we would be like lint in a fire hose.

With that in mind, we crossed our fingers that the life insurance premiums were paid and jumped in.

This is were the canyon starts and the only place to get in.

The water was extremely cold from melted snow runoff so we wore wet suits.

In most pools we could not touch the bottom of the canyon floor.

Brandon and I just before the first water fall.

The Narrows have been carved out by centuries of flooding. Due to the narrowness and the sharp decline in elevation, one missed place foot in the water can yank you down the many falls.

There were several water falls that were wide enough that we could just slide in.

The water was so cold that Brian's wedding ring fell off his ring finger and we had to dive for it for a half hour before he finally found it.

The drift wood was deposited by a 15-20ft rush of water during one of many flash floods. This is an area that you need to know the weather miles away up stream so you don't get trapped in the canyon.

The last waterfall we chose to repel down.

The end of Salome Canyon and the start of Salome Creek. See the Sierra Ancha Mountains in the background above the canyon.




We did not dare take a video camera down with us but I found someone that did...along with his Kayak! Watch below...


CLICK HERE: SALOME CREEK IN THE SIERRA ANCHAS