Class: 4 C IV+
Gear:Four wheel drive, Ropes: 2 @ 200’, 2 @ 250’, 1 @ 120’, Rappelling equipment, Self rescue and group rescue equipment, 70’ webbing, bivi gear, water filters, headlamp, extra food.
Expected Time Commitment:14-15 hours. Best done as a two day, allow 3.5 hours for the approach including the four wheel drive section. A competent group of four canyoneer’s should be able to navigate the technical section within an 8 hour time frame, the class III section will take another 2.5 – 3 hours. Once at the road again the walk out is 1 hour.
Technical Obstacles: Several large multi-pitch rappels, 1200′ of technical canyon descent within 100 yards of canyon. Long fun class III scrambles, swims.
Non Technical Obstacles:
Long hot approach, some poison oak, large loose rock columns near rappel route, high level of commitment.
Recommended Time of Year:
Late fall, winter, early spring.
Finding the Trailhead:
We have removed access beta for this canyon due to recent changes as of late 2011. We are working to resolve access issues. Once those issues have been worked out, we’ll repost the trailhead and approach beta.
The Approach:
See above.
The Canyon Descent:
Once in the water way you will be atop of a 60’ water fall that shoots into a pool that must be swam. A single bolt anchor is available cyn right. At the base you will now be atop of the largest and most challenging obstacle in the cyn. A 400’ two pitch rappel awaits. You will find a pair of good bolts cyn left. be careful as you approach these anchors as there is a very exposed edge just below. Rappel 180’ to a semi hanging re-belay stance that will be directly below your start. A single bolt/ a piton, and a stopper will be found and equalized, deploy a second rope and begin your final 220’ descent into the belly of falls creek. A shallow pool awaits you at the bottom. In pulling your ropes the lower 220’ rap will present several difficulties. There are two different rope eating ledges that you rope may get stuck on as it falls from the anchor point. Be advised that if you loose your rope at this point there is an “escape route” option at the top of the next water fall cyn right. If you need to escape the cyn via this route make sure that you have plenty of water as it is a very steep and grueling climb out with a lot of very loose rock. We recommend that you bring the amount of rope suggested at the top to insulate against having to climb out.
[NOTE: Late February 2010, the webbing on the first 2 rappels had been removed by an unknown party]
The next rappel is a 120’ rap into a deep pool, the anchors are a pair of good bolts cyn left. you will have to climb a safe inside corner up to a ledge that will afford you a great view of the drop. Directly after that rappel is a two pitch 215’ rappel the first pitch is a 65’ rap off of a good single bolt cyn left down a narrow cleft to a two bolt station. From the two bolt station you will find a 150’ rap down to a great pool. A 65’ rap is next off of a good two bolt anchor that is just to the cyn right of the water course close to the edge.
Your final rappel is another two stage rap. A 65’ rap off of a single bolt anchor leads you down to a small ledge that has a two bolt anchor. From that stance you will be able to rig up the remaining 140’ to complete the rappel. There is considerable poison oak beginning to grow from this rappel all the way to the bottom of the canyon.
From there you will find another amazing adventure hike as you explore a perfect class III cyn descent with challenging route finding and down climbing sections. We rigged up a retrievable anchor to do a 15’ rappel to complete this section. As you head down cyn the drainage will turn to the left, soon after this natural bend in the cyn you will reach the damn that the water co. has in place. At this point you can pick up the paved road and follow it back to the point that you reached at the beginning of the cyn route. Follow your pipeline trail back down the delta until you reach your car.
Optional Write Up:
This is a 14-15 hour trip. Plan of a bivi even if you get an alpine start, bring extra food and Gatorade. If using creek water, make sure that your bottles stay full. The rock has an algae growing on the wet rocks that makes it unbelievably slick. Sticky rubber shoes are a must. On the second rappel on the lower 220’ section you will pass though a huge section of loose death blocks that are delicately stacked on top of one another. Take care.
