Asternomical Canyon
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| | Raps:5 - 9, max ↨55ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Unconsolidated | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 11 Sep 2024
"Had a surprisingly great time in Aster Creek. All rappels are not mandatory and there is some fun rappels/pools to enjoy! |
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| Best season: | Jul - Oct
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48.4692, -113.3749
48.4842, -113.3695
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Waterflow
Introduction[edit]
Asternomical Canyon is a great half day outing. It doesn't have any significant hydraulics or committing narrows which makes it a great place to TAKE beginners for teaching opportunities. This canyon is fast. The upper section goes quick, but the lower section will require thoughtful Class C ghosting methods in front of an audience. So please be mindful of building retrievable, releasable rigging systems. Please use Canyoningthe406.com resource for better beta descriptions.
Approach[edit]
Take the South Shore trail to Aster Park Overlook. Then drop into Aster creek. BEWARE OF BEARS!!!
Descent[edit]
Depending on your drop in point you will find a couple of small falls. For the sake of beta we are starting at the falls located at 48.46927, -113.37479.
R1: 55 feet from a slung tree DRC. Rappel next to the flow into the fun little slot. The exit is not a jump, but is about chest deep.
Walk down a creek 200 feet, until the creek banks right and enters a V like slot.
NOTE: The V slot may have strainers/siphons and vertical recirculating hydraulics in high flow. Be careful!
D1 (down climb): Avoid the immediate crack due to wedged logs and down climb into the V slot DLC.
The V slot will constrict into a very tight crack. Stem until you reach the outflow. Once at the outflow, this can be slid or jumped into a neck deep pool. Check depth before jumping. The canyon will slightly open, then constrict again. A very short slide will appear. Check depth before sliding into a small chest deep pool. Then climb out of the slot.
The canyon will now be open and no drops are mandatory!
R2: 30 feet from a slung boulder DRC into a recirculating pool. Exit the pool via a 10 foot slide into a KNEE deep pool. Use caution.
R3: 25 feet from a slung rock DRC into the pool below.
R4: 45 feet from a slung rock DLC. The drop is only 15 feet but anchoring material will be difficult to find.
NOTE: R5 indicates the ghosting section of Aster Creek. DO NOT LEAVE ANCHORS.
You will come up to a slotted drop. This is R5.
R5: 35 feet from a dead tree anchor DLC. Into the flow you go!
R6: 40 feet from the boulder in the middle of the watercourse. You will need about 20 feet of webbing for a two ring retrievable anchor here! R6 ends at a small deep pool, and a low angle "slide" that jets off R7.
To get to the R7 anchor, have someone meat anchor a person past the angled slab. Without a meat anchor they WILL slide off R7. Once passed the angled slab the anchor for R7 is out of the watercourse and DCR on the large slabby ledge above. Have the first member anchor this and come back into the watercourse to help everyone passed the slabby drop.
R7: 45 feet down the constricting flow from a tree DCR (actually kind of up canyon).
Exit[edit]
Exit the way you came.
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
https://www.canyoningthe406.com/asternomical
Trip reports and media[edit]
Background[edit]
First known descent, September 2024.
