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| by Cody Howard June 10-18, 2007 |
The Jug is one of those spots in Arizona, where you cannot believe you are IN Arizona. The
“Jug” is the name of a granite box on Salome Creek. It has a long history, but only until
recently has it been rediscovered. For decades, there was a jeep trail that led down to the
lip of the Jug, but was “decommissioned” by the forest service in the late eighties to the
early nineties. This road dated back to when the creek was named “Sally May”. Since then
it had laid in a dormant state and as a refuge for the elite few who knew of it. These few
canyoneers had kept the forgotten Salome Jug secret for years upon years. Easily missed
and unexpected, nobody found out about the hidden jewel. It wasn't rediscovered until
recently when people started to explore more in the Sierra Anchas aided with the increasing
popularity of the Internet. The secret slowly leaked out and over the years turned into full
blown canyoneering destination. Although, it is still “unknown” sort of speak, the outdoor
enthusiasts of Phoenix, Arizona all know and cherish the Salome Jug. And until February
of 2007 no one had ventured into the horrific walls with a kayak.
“Jug” is the name of a granite box on Salome Creek. It has a long history, but only until
recently has it been rediscovered. For decades, there was a jeep trail that led down to the
lip of the Jug, but was “decommissioned” by the forest service in the late eighties to the
early nineties. This road dated back to when the creek was named “Sally May”. Since then
it had laid in a dormant state and as a refuge for the elite few who knew of it. These few
canyoneers had kept the forgotten Salome Jug secret for years upon years. Easily missed
and unexpected, nobody found out about the hidden jewel. It wasn't rediscovered until
recently when people started to explore more in the Sierra Anchas aided with the increasing
popularity of the Internet. The secret slowly leaked out and over the years turned into full
blown canyoneering destination. Although, it is still “unknown” sort of speak, the outdoor
enthusiasts of Phoenix, Arizona all know and cherish the Salome Jug. And until February
of 2007 no one had ventured into the horrific walls with a kayak.
| Photo by Aaron, waiting for Cody to come on down. (the Jug) |
I had my eye on this spot for a while, and with the help of past photos and journals, i
was able to figure out the optimum flow to “safely” boat the Jug. This stretch of
whitewater is best explained as, “dry meadow on steroids”. It is one solid mile of smooth
pink granite walls, waterfalls, and pools. There is absolutely no getting out once
entered. The only exit is downstream. The drops are significant, and the consequences
are huge. Therefore with an inch of rain upstream, can result in feet downstream, and
ultimately death for the souls inside of the Jug. Time is crucial, and safety is a must.
So armed with that knowledge, and a previous canyoneering descent of the creek, i was
confident that it would be "boatable". The lure of the epic first descent and clean drops was
too great, and school had to wait on February 14th . I watched the water rise on the
gauges and felt my adrenaline pump then night before. I quickly phoned Aaron Riding, and
told him the news. He was definitely in, and we were up before the sun rose.
was able to figure out the optimum flow to “safely” boat the Jug. This stretch of
whitewater is best explained as, “dry meadow on steroids”. It is one solid mile of smooth
pink granite walls, waterfalls, and pools. There is absolutely no getting out once
entered. The only exit is downstream. The drops are significant, and the consequences
are huge. Therefore with an inch of rain upstream, can result in feet downstream, and
ultimately death for the souls inside of the Jug. Time is crucial, and safety is a must.
So armed with that knowledge, and a previous canyoneering descent of the creek, i was
confident that it would be "boatable". The lure of the epic first descent and clean drops was
too great, and school had to wait on February 14th . I watched the water rise on the
gauges and felt my adrenaline pump then night before. I quickly phoned Aaron Riding, and
told him the news. He was definitely in, and we were up before the sun rose.
| Deep in the Bowels |
The Arizona sun rose, and it found us hiking in the two miles down hill to the creek. Upon
arriving to creeks edge, we discovered that we had left the video camera at the put in!
(explains the crappy water spotted lens in the video). But still had my camera for the stills,
and was a man short on photographers. So after a “rock, paper, scissors sesh”, it was
determined that Aaron had to stay on the rim and take the picture of the the drops being
boated by yours truly. So I left Aaron on the top and pushed off the shore. The
meandering stream quickly catapulted into the granite box in dramatic form. With a couple
of clean 20 foot slides and 5 foot falls, I was in upper reaches of the Jug. Aaron was
snapping pictures on the rim of the Jug. I looked up the 40 foot walls and saw Aaron
peering over giving me the thumbs up. The cue for me to stay put, and wait for him to boat
down to my position.
As i waited for Aaron to hike back upstream, i stepped out of my boat and sat back and
took in all that was happening. I couldn't believe that we where an hour out of downtown
phoenix, boating down some of the most beautiful granite in the southwest. Let alone
some the most dynamic. I then heard the whoops and hollering of Aaron as he slid down
the last drop and saw him paddling up the pool towards me. We where in it now and we
where about to embark on the first descent of Salome Creek.
arriving to creeks edge, we discovered that we had left the video camera at the put in!
(explains the crappy water spotted lens in the video). But still had my camera for the stills,
and was a man short on photographers. So after a “rock, paper, scissors sesh”, it was
determined that Aaron had to stay on the rim and take the picture of the the drops being
boated by yours truly. So I left Aaron on the top and pushed off the shore. The
meandering stream quickly catapulted into the granite box in dramatic form. With a couple
of clean 20 foot slides and 5 foot falls, I was in upper reaches of the Jug. Aaron was
snapping pictures on the rim of the Jug. I looked up the 40 foot walls and saw Aaron
peering over giving me the thumbs up. The cue for me to stay put, and wait for him to boat
down to my position.
As i waited for Aaron to hike back upstream, i stepped out of my boat and sat back and
took in all that was happening. I couldn't believe that we where an hour out of downtown
phoenix, boating down some of the most beautiful granite in the southwest. Let alone
some the most dynamic. I then heard the whoops and hollering of Aaron as he slid down
the last drop and saw him paddling up the pool towards me. We where in it now and we
where about to embark on the first descent of Salome Creek.
A sketchy, must run drop....Abyss Falls
It started off with the aptly named “Last Chance Falls”. Named after the 5.7 climb out on
river right, if someone was in over their head, and had to get out. With my camera rolling,
and Aaron strapped in, he dropped off the 7 footer slamming into the slot and sliding into
the pool below. After the thumbs up, i hopped in my boat and peeled off the lip. A smack
and slide, and i was down, looking in the depths of the gorge.
The next half mile consisted of clean drop after clean drop. Slides and falls all in the middle
of the Jug. It was the most amazing narrows in have ever boated. The excitement of the
multiple falls combined with the anxiety of being locked in to this “cave-like feature”, I
suddenly felt the thrill that we had been searching for. Simply amazing.
We came up to our one portage, which was a 30 foot slide, constricting at the bottom to the
width of a coupla fists. The portage require a leap from the perched ledge above, dropping
30 feet, to the pool below. Just another bonus for us...an Arizona pastime.... cliff jumping.
The pool at the bottom of this portage is named “The Jug”. This was the heart of the run,
and by far the most amazing place that i have been in a boat. We paddled the remaining
clean drops and came to the last fall named “One More Thats It”. A tiered drop totaling 15
feet. After cleaning the line, we paddled out of the pool. As quickly as the Jug started, it
ended. The walls come to a screeching stop and the creek bed turns back to cobblestone.
This was our exit, and we where happy to be there, as the water level rose another 2
inches in five minutes! The incredibly steep hike out took us to our car and our celebratory
“drinks”.
The experience was one in a lifetime, and the memories will last forever. Our first descent
of the incredible stretch of water was coming to an end and a rainbow appeared, stemming
from the center of the Jug. One of the sights that i will never forget.
river right, if someone was in over their head, and had to get out. With my camera rolling,
and Aaron strapped in, he dropped off the 7 footer slamming into the slot and sliding into
the pool below. After the thumbs up, i hopped in my boat and peeled off the lip. A smack
and slide, and i was down, looking in the depths of the gorge.
The next half mile consisted of clean drop after clean drop. Slides and falls all in the middle
of the Jug. It was the most amazing narrows in have ever boated. The excitement of the
multiple falls combined with the anxiety of being locked in to this “cave-like feature”, I
suddenly felt the thrill that we had been searching for. Simply amazing.
We came up to our one portage, which was a 30 foot slide, constricting at the bottom to the
width of a coupla fists. The portage require a leap from the perched ledge above, dropping
30 feet, to the pool below. Just another bonus for us...an Arizona pastime.... cliff jumping.
The pool at the bottom of this portage is named “The Jug”. This was the heart of the run,
and by far the most amazing place that i have been in a boat. We paddled the remaining
clean drops and came to the last fall named “One More Thats It”. A tiered drop totaling 15
feet. After cleaning the line, we paddled out of the pool. As quickly as the Jug started, it
ended. The walls come to a screeching stop and the creek bed turns back to cobblestone.
This was our exit, and we where happy to be there, as the water level rose another 2
inches in five minutes! The incredibly steep hike out took us to our car and our celebratory
“drinks”.
The experience was one in a lifetime, and the memories will last forever. Our first descent
of the incredible stretch of water was coming to an end and a rainbow appeared, stemming
from the center of the Jug. One of the sights that i will never forget.
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