rope bag and rope lost in the seven teacups

[duffyknox]

I was up in the seven teacups this weekend and unfortunately my red Imlay rope bag was dropped into the 2nd teacup with 300 feet of green canyonator rope and never resurfaced. Extensive diving and looking didn't unearth it, but if you come upon it could you please contact me:

Duffy Knox
duffyknox@gmail.com

Cheers,
Duffy

[Talynne]

Was thinking of doing the Seven Teacups in a week or 2... can you tell me what the flow and conditions were like when you were there? If I find a rope bag/rope, I'll let you know... thanks! Craig

[duffyknox]

The flow was high, but not unreasonable. I camped up top and returned that way so I didn't see what the Kern was like. I'm headed up again this weekend so I'll see if it changed at all.

[Talynne]

Find your rope/bag on your recent trip? I'll be interested to know what the flow is like now... I plan on doing it as a day trip from top to bottom and across the Kern 2nd weekend of October. Thanks!

Craig

[duffyknox]

We had to delay our visit to next weekend. We'll be heading up Friday night and doing the teacups Saturday.

[Talynne]

Did you get to go after all? Hope you had a great time, and hopefully even found your rope bag. I'm going up on 10/22, and am curious as to if you know current beta/conditions... let me know if so. I've done other So Cal climbing and canyons but this will be my first trip to the teacups and any additional beta beyond Brennon's write-up and what's on CanyonBeta.com would be appreciated. Thanks!

Craig

[duffyknox]

We went, and it was fun, although I didn't find my bag. On the other hand, I didn't lose a bag again either so that is good. Both times that I have gone this year I have done something a little different then the online descriptions suggest. Instead of starting on the main road and hiking in as Chris Brennen suggests, or starting at the bridge, hiking along and fording the river at the bottom of the teacups, I have driven to a camping spot fairly near the top, hiked in, done the teacups, then hiked back along the stream to the camping spot. Here's a description of how to get there.

Looking on Google maps you find forest route 22s82 goes off the Kern River Highway. If you take this past the turn off for Camp Whitsett and continue until it curves sharply left and a dirt road forest route 22s53 forks off to the right. There is a large garbage container here so keep an eye out for it. Take this new road. From there it passes one road on the right, where there are bee keeping boxes about 50 yards in, then goes straight to a sort of 4 way intersection. There are some camping spots on the left fork, and a gate across the stream straight ahead, but the best sites are to the right. lots of places to camp a short way in from the fork, and you will find 2 streams intersect here. It is not far from 36.00564874428073 Lat. -118.50538551807404 Long. To get to the teacups simply follow the rough trails downstream from here. The easiest path starts on the opposite side of the stream. Follow it downstream until you come to a campsite with a road. follow the road taking all left turns until you come to where the stream turns left, then continue to follow the faint trails. Continue downstream and the stream curves sharply left again. Follow the trail up hill into a very brushy hilltop with faint cow trails. Once you have crossed the hilltop you have reached the point where you want to cross the stream once more. Find a place to cross then head uphill until you find the path again. Follow this downstream until you find the top of the teacups. The trail continues up to the left where it branches right to the teacups so make sure you stay as close to the stream as possible until you find it. If you reach the Kern you missed the top of the teacups.

Its not as complicated as it sounds, if you make your own trail along the strem to the teacups you will find it just fine, but using the existing trails is much faster. After having fun on the way down climb back up the hill and retrace your steps to the campsite.

Cheers,
duffy

[Talynne]

Thanks for the info, might try that route and it does look straightforward when viewed on my gps or google maps. How was the water flowing? I was planning on bringing my wetsuit - Do you recommend a wetsuit given the conditions or no? Would love to see pics once you get a chance to post. Thanks again for the info and alternative route/camping details!

Craig