Arachnophobia Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3A III (v3a1 III) Raps:10, max ↨170ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:Required 20 min Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 19 Dec 2024
"Beautiful day in Arachnophobia. Almost all the cairns were in good condition and easily inspectable. As the first party through this season, we replac |
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| Best season: | Nov-Mar (avg for this region)
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36.3898, -116.8202
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Introduction
A beautiful half day canyon in the badlands of Death Valley. It starts with a series of ledges finally giving way to a fun 170' free-hang. This is followed by a sequence of shorter rappels and some great views of the badlands and the salt pan. The canyon narrows up near the end before it ends in Desolation Canyon, a destination on it's own.
Approach
Follow the approach for Scorpion Canyon. From the 20 Mule Team road take the wash at: 36.3915, -116.7785. Follow this drainage up until you are in the Scorpion drainage at: 36.3855, -116.7901.From here there are two options. On the first descent we went up a side drainage at: 36.3877, -116.7994 However this will require you to cross 3-4 drainages and the accompanying ups and downs. The other option (Not tried but looks quite feasible) is to stay in the wash in Scorpion for a bit longer and take a ridge on the left (LDC) at 36.3884, -116.8050 (Alt Ridge Approach on the .kml). Climb up this ridge and you'll be in the drainage that leads to Arachnophobia.
Note: See condition report from 02/18/2018 for details. Third alternate. Stay in Scorpion valley and take the wash LDC just past the Climb up to Vinegaroon.
Descent
The canyon drops precipitously over some ledges. It would be possible to break up the first two rappels if you are worried about getting your rope stuck on the pull.
Rappel 1: 100' from a deadman/cairn anchor. Be mindful of the rope pull here, as there are some ledges and some horns for the rope to catch.
Rappel 2: 80' from a cairn anchor.
This puts you at the top of the 170' rappel. There is not much here to build an anchor with as most of the rock is crumbly. Before you pull your ropes ensure that the anchor here is built and reliable.
Rappel 3: 170' from a deadman/cairn. This rappel goes into a free-hang almost immediately. Great rappel! Don't forget to look down.
Rappel 4: 60'
Rappel 5: 120' Anchored 30-40' back. Vertical rappel portion is about 80' Beautiful views from here down the rest of the canyon and into the badlands and salt flats
Rappel 6: 15' Anchored off a large boulder RDC. Fun simul-rappel (be wary of the rope pull).
Short down-climb. Easiest to do it LDC.
Rappel 7: 25' from a deadman/cairn. This is followed by a short down-climb and then immediately a nice slot rappel.
Rappel 8: 60' (40' rappel anchored about 20' back)
The canyon turns hard right as it is joined by another short branch and rappel 9 & 10 in quick succession. Before pulling the rope on rappel 9 make sure you have enough anchor material for rappel 10.
Rappel 9: 50' Vertical rappel is 20' anchored 30' from the edge.
Rappel 10: 70' A bit of a free-hang. Rappel is about 45' anchored 25' back.
There is one more down climb after the last rappel.
Exit
As you continue down you will begin to see more footprints of people coming up from the bottom. This eventually turns into a heavily used path winding through Desolation Canyon and is quite scenic.
Eventually the canyon opens up. Follow the wash back to your car shuttle.
Red tape
Beta sites
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BluuGnome.com : Arachnophobia Canyon
Trip reports and media
Background
Discovered and named by Alden Anderson. First descent, 14 February 2016: Alden Anderson, Kirk Belles, Francis Andrew Butler, Mike Cressman, Mika Enriquez, Aysel Gezik, Steve Irvin, Rick Kent, Ania Moll, Justin Pugh, Norma Ryan, Scott Swaney, Tina Tretina. (Alphabetical order.)
