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Pecos Bridge to Rio Grande to Panther Cave Rock Art

When:
Thursday, February 21, 2019, 8:00 AM until 5:00 PM
Where:
Underneath the Pecos River bridge over US Hwy 90 about 10 miles west of Comstock in Val Verde County
TX  
Additional Info:
Event Contact(s):
Karen R Newcomb
Category:
HASK Paddle Trip
Registration is required before Tuesday, February 19, 2019 at 12:00 AM
Payment In Full In Advance Only
This is an ACA sanctioned event. All participants in ACA-insured activities must wear properly-fitting U.S. Coast Guard-approved lifejackets (Personal Flotation Devices, or PFDs) at all times during on-water activities. Non-HASK participants must sign a waiver. See all rules at the bottom of this page.
Participation is subject to approval of the Trip Leaders.
Capacity:
12
Available Slots:
8
No Fee
This is a 16 mile round-trip paddle on Lake Amistad, the flooded Pecos and Rio Grande RIvers, to a magnificent cave of beautifully preserved rock art that is only accessible from the water. We will put in under the Hwy 90 bridge over the Pecos River, paddle south in the Pecos canyon, then turn southeast into the Rio Grande Canyon to Panther Cave. At the cave, there is a floating steel dock and a grating stair/walkway to the broad opening of the cave. Pictographs are beautifully visible behind a protective wire fence.

Participation is subject to approval of the Trip Leaders.  This trip is a long Level 2, subject to canyon winds, in a very remote location. In the 8 mile one-way trip, there is only one intermediate point where it is reasonably possible to get out a boat due to cliff walls, cane rushes, and soft mud. Paddlers must be prepared with at least a gallon of water per person, warm dry clothing in a dry bag in a hatch, extra food in addition to lunch, sunscreen, hat, rain gear, and an extra pair of shoes suitable for rough walking. Due to the inaccessibility, it is necessary for every paddler to be able to complete the 16 miles before dark, short of an emergency. It would be difficult to impossible to walk out and not a good place to spend the night.

We will have an Emergency Initiator on top of the plateau in case we are delayed in the canyon, whose name and phone number will be added here and who will know how to contact emergency help. 

If weather forces postponement of this trip, we will try to do it on Monday February 25 or Tuesday February 26.

Carry your passport with you if you have one, but at least a current government-issued ID.


Plan to arrive at the put-in by 8:00 AM so we can be on the water by 8:30 AM
Latitude 29°42'16.73"N     Longitude 101°21'36.07"W

Paddle route Pecos High Bridge to Rio Grande to Seminole Canyon to Panther Cave
Pecos High Bridge to Seminole Canyon to Panther Cave


Paddling at the confluence of the Rio Grande and the Pecos
Rio Grande Canyon



Panther Cave viewing
Panther Cave


Panther Cave Rock Art
Panther Cave Rock Art

Hazards: 
Wind, heat, cold, dehydration, snakes, gallstones, thunderstorms, international border



Trip Leader Karen Newcomb
Trip Assistants  Bob Scaldino
Trip Rating* solid 2 due to length and potential wind
Ready to Launch at 8:30 AM
Duration (hours) 8  hours
Paddling Miles 16 miles
Emergency Initiator  Carl Kuhnen 713-444-3315  
Emergency Phone #s
Seminole Canyon State Park
Hwy 90 W      Park Road 67
Comstock, Tx 78837  432-292-4464

Val Verde County Sheriff's Office
Del Rio, Tx   830-774-7513
Comstock, Tx   432-292-4525

Comstock Border Patrol 
Comstock, Tx    432-292-4600

Latest Expected Return 6:00 PM
Auto Description/Lic # Teal Honda CRV FWC 6215
Distance from Houston 390

 

* Trip ratings are only a  guide.  Actual conditions will vary with wind and other weather.

 

This is an ACA sanctioned event.   All participants in ACA-insured activities must wear properly-fitting U.S. Coast Guard-approved lifejackets (Personal Flotation Devices, or PFDs) at all times during on-water activities. Non-HASK participants must sign a waiver. 

 

Waivers - Please complete our easy to use online waiver if you are a HASK member who has not signed a waiver within the last 12 months or a non- HASK participant. Read the waiver carefully.  You give up substantial rights when you sign it.

  • Add Smartwaiver with email address “noreply@smartwaiver.com” to your address book to ensure emails do not go to junk/spam.
  • Select a link below to complete the online waiver. 

   ACA-HASK Adult Waiver ACA-HASK Minor Waiver

  • Respond to the “Confirm your E-Signature” email from ACA / HASK to confirm your email address.  Wavier is now complete and valid.
  • You will receive a confirmation email. Please download and print a copy of the waiver and bring it to the trip put-in. 

 

Guests – You are welcome to join us for a couple of paddle trips.  HASK will cover the $5 ACA event membership for non-ACA members. Hopefully you will then join HASK and continue paddling with us.