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Secret Place #18 (Lunacy Canyon*)
*
Alias, not found on any map.
| Summary: |
A technical canyoneering trip through a scenic, though
not spectacular canyon with one rappel. Gear required: helmet, webbing (20
ft), harness, descender, and a 100' rope. A wet suit is probably not needed,
except in cold weather after heavy rains. This trip is suitable for
moderately experienced canyoneers familiar with evaluating and using natural
anchors. |
| Road
Conditions: |
High Clearance Vehicle |
| Navigation: |
Moderate |
| Length: |
6-8 hours |
| Date
Hiked: |
January
2006 |
| Weather
Conditions: |
Cloudy and
windy |
|
Required Skills: |
 |
| Hike
Description: |
From the
parking spot, head off the ridge to the left and route find a way down the
steep hill into the drainage below. Once in the canyon bottom, simply follow
it down canyon. After a some hiking and bush whacking, you will encounter a
few sets of short narrows and a couple down climbs (a belay might be needed
for the less experienced climbers in your group). Eventually you’ll
encounter a drop off into a pool. Use a tree on canyon right (or canyon
left, though it’s harder to get to) located 15’ up the slope as your anchor,
and rappel 25’ into the pool (waist deep when I was here). Beyond the rappel
is a scenic section of shallow canyon consisting of interlocking pools
(several of the pools are chest deep and can be bypassed with a little
climbing on one side or the other). After some hiking the canyon drops into
what appears to be a keeper pot hole filled with stagnant water (and a very
dead Ringtail Cat when I was here). This pool is easily bypassed by climbing
around on the right. Our party bypassed the pool, then came up from the
bottom. We used a stick to test the depth and found the pot hole to be about
7 feet deep filled with about 4.5 feet of water. The pool should be easy for
two people to exit with a boost (though solo canyoneers should bypass this
pool!!). Some additional hiking will bring you to a final, short section of
narrows which requires a downclimb into a pool to complete. Continue down
the now wide, but scenic canyon along a series of elk paths to locate a
constructed trail that will take you steeply up and out of the canyon and
back to your car. |
| Rating
(1-5 stars): |
 
The
author completed this hike with 2 others at a medium pace in 6 hours. |
| Photos: |
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