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Secret Place #17 (Scurvy Canyon*)
*
Alias, not found on any map.
| Summary: |
A long technical canyoneering trip through a boulder
filled canyon that requires a quite a bit of hiking on
slippery water polished rocks. Gear required:
helmet, webbing (100 ft), harness, descender, ascending gear (just in case)
and 2x200' ropes (or a 200' rope and 200' pull cord). A wet suit is
recommended in all but the hottest weather. This trip is suitable for
experienced canyoneers familiar with evaluating and using natural anchors. A car shuttle
is required. |
| Road
Conditions: |
Passenger Car |
| Navigation: |
Moderate |
| Length: |
~12 miles |
| Date
Hiked: |
September 2005 |
| Weather
Conditions: |
Warm and sunny |
|
Required Skills: |
 |
| Hike
Description: |
After spotting a car at the canyon exit, drive around to
the top to a marked trailhead. From the upper car park, walk down an
established trail that parallels the canyon for about 20 minutes. The trail
descends more gradually than the canyon below, so before the intervening
hillside becomes too steep, head off the trail, down the slope and begin
walking down the canyon bottom. The drainage is moderately sloped and is not
brushy (a good thing), but it's not very interesting either. After about 1
hour 40 minutes of steady hiking you'll reach a drop off. Look for a steep
cleft on the left that good climbers might be able to descend without a
rope. Otherwise, use a tree on the left as an anchor for a 60' rappel. The
canyon becomes somewhat more interesting below this point, with a side
canyon soon adding some flow to the drainage creating a few nice waterfalls
interspersed with sections of slickrock. Continue walking for another 2
hours as the canyon continues its moderate descent. Eventually the canyon
enters a short and scenic box canyon and the first of a series of waterfalls
which require rope to descend. Be aware that the rock over which the falls
flow is polished smooth, coated with invisible algae and is incredibly
slippery. When rappelling, it's often easier to sit down and slide down the
rock, rather than trying to keep your feet under you. Rappel #1 (or #2
depending how you're counting) is 150' from a pinch point formed by a large
boulder a little ways back from the edge. A short distance beyond, rappel #2
is 100' from a pinch point at the top into a pool. Rappel #3 is 100' from 2
pitons driven into a crack on the left side of the pool. Down climb a short
waterfall to Rappel #4. Use webbing to girth hitch a big rock half submerged
in a pothole at the top of the drop (use care to make sure the webbing can't
work its way around the edge of the rock) for this 110 foot drop. Coil your
rope and walk down canyon a ways to reach Rappel #5, a double drop from a
tree on the right that will require 170' of rope. A short distance later is
Rappel #6 an annoying 90' drop that we rigged on the right using a chock
stone at the top for an anchor. If you rappel on the right, be careful not
to stick your rope in the pinch point located ~15 feet below the anchor (we
wedged a branch into the crack to keep the rope from falling in). The
technical section complete, take off your harness and slog down stream for a
few more hours to a point where you can pick up a maintained trail (which is
nonetheless rather difficult to identify) that can be used to return to
civilization and your car spot. |
| Rating
(1-5 stars): |
 
A lot of this canyon isn't terribly interesting in my opinion, however the 4
rappels in the technical section are some of the best around. Bring lots of
webbing, shoes with good traction, and make sure you are comfortable with
the anchor opportunities for the next rap before pulling your rope from the
previous one.
The author completed this hike with a group of 4 in 12 hours. |
| Photos: |
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