Arch Nemesis
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| | Difficulty:3B II (v3a2 II) Raps:9, max ↨75ft
Red Tape:Permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 20 Oct 2023
"Great day out with the CR rondy. We added a new anchor DCL off a juniper, above R4. We got wet to waist deep a couple of times. |
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| Best season: | Late Spring, Summer, Fall
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38.2033, -111.1828
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Introduction[edit]
Arch Nemesis is a beautiful and fun canyon, great for beginners with competent leadership or for intermediate or advanced canyoneers looking for a pleasant half-day outing.
Approach[edit]
Park off the road and begin climbing the social trail up the hill. After 2 or 3 climbs, class 3 or thereabouts, you will be able to continue along a ledge containing a faint but distinct trail. Follow this trail around two drainages until you reach the head of the canyon, while trying not to destroy any cryptobiotic soil.
Descent[edit]
- R1: 30ft from a tree RDC, slightly overhung. A bypass route exists LDC.
- R2: 50ft from a tree LDC back into the watercourse. Partly free-hanging, and watch out for rope grooves. In wet conditions there may be a thigh-deep pool or sticky mud at the bottom.
- R3: 20ft down the watercourse into a series of potholes that lead to R4. Alternatively (and preferably), bypass by climbing LDC and finding a tree (often slung with webbing) with 35ft rappel directly into R4. Depending on the anchor situation with R4, you may wish to preserve the option to use this tree for a multistage rappel; the pull will not be great, but it beats being stuck above a 70ft rappel with no anchoring options.
- R4: 70ft into a beautiful chamber. Was previously anchored with a deadman in the watercourse. The current anchor is webbing extended 50ft or so from a log jammed into a crack in the watercourse up canyon. This should be considered a marginal anchor and be suitably backed up when rappelling. Make sure to extend the webbing reasonably close to the edge of the rappel to ensure a better pull and minimize rope grooves.
- R5: 15ft into what will usually be a deep pool.
- R6: 30ft from a cairn anchor into a sculpted section of narrows under an arch. This anchor can be used to facilitate a subsequent downclimb that some may wish to rappel, but the multi-stage pull can be challenging.
- R7: 20ft off a chockstone into what will usually be a deep pool. After this rappel there is a downclimb into a pothole which can be bypassed RDC.
- R8: 40ft anchored from a couple of large boulder pinches.
- R9: 50ft down a gentle pitch, anchored from a large chockstone. Rigging this anchor can be awkward, and a meat belay is recommended for beginners. Get on rope by hanging your backpack and letting it slide down under the chockstone.
Exit[edit]
After R9 there is an easy walk out to the Capitol Gorge road.
Red tape[edit]
Permits[edit]
A permit is required for any and all canyoneering within the boundaries of Capitol Reef National Park. Permits have a group-size limit that varies depending on the canyon or route. A separate permit is required for each canyoneering route. Currently, there is no quota limit nor permit cost, though that is likely to change at some point in the future. Permits can be obtained onsite through a self-serve kiosk located just outside of the visitor center or by sending and email to [email protected] using the following format:
Subject: Name of canyoneering route and date you will be canyoneering.
Email Body: Date of visit (single day only): Canyoneering route (single route only): Number of people: Vehicle location: Number of motorized vehicles: Vehicle description(s):
If you plan to camp overnight as part of a canyoneering trip, you are required to obtain a free backcountry permit, available at the visitor center.
Additional Access Information:[edit]
- CRNP canyoneering permit information webpage: https://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvisit/canyoneering.htm
- Other: http://www.americancanyoneers.org/access-capitol-reef/
Group-Size Limit:[edit]
Canyoneering groups are limited to a maximum of 12 people for this Canyon.
Groups larger than 8 or 12 sharing the same affiliation (school, church, club, scout group, family, friends, etc., or combination thereof) may divide into groups smaller than 8 or 12, provided they do not occupy the same canyon, drainage, general area or the same route on the same day.
Park Entrance Fee:[edit]
The Scenic drive is the only area of Capitol Reef where an entry fee or park pass is required. Passes can be attained at the visitor center or at a self-pay kiosk at the start of the scenic drive. Fees are good for seven days and can be found here: http://www.nps.gov/care/planyourvisit/fees.htm
Beta sites[edit]
BluuGnome.com : Arch Nemesis- RoadTripRyan.com : Arch Nemesis
Trip reports and media[edit]
http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?78076-Arch-Nemesis-Capitiol-Reef-NP-06-03-2018