Big Canyon (New Mexico)
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| | Difficulty:3A III (v3a1 III) Raps:2-3, max ↨55ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Sandstone, Gypsum/Alabaster | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 19 Sep 2024
"This was our first canyoneering trip and it did not disappoint! This canyon was a lot of hiking, but it was beautiful. All of the rappels were straigh |
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| Best season: | may-nov
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36.3779, -106.7741
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Introduction
Though long with extended periods of hiking, the striking geology of the Entrada sandstone and gypsum, the sweet slot section and the beautiful exit hike up and out of a nice area on the Rio Gallina make this canyon well worth it.
Approach
walk down into the shallow drainage, following old roads where found.
Descent
the first major obstacle is a 55' rap over a cliff band that can be bypassed on either side (LDC is easier). after this is a 10' which can be downclimbed by the skilled or with a handline for others. could set a rap off of a pinch here. the material can be retrieved from below. last rap is 30' from a tree RDC into the sandstone slot section
Exit
Walk through the slot and continue down to the Rio Gallina. Walk upstream (left) and scramble up the steep drainage indicated on the kml. a long but pretty hike through mostly open forest will get you back to your car. a steep section traversing on the northwest side of a peak is best done by following a substantial elk trail (indicated on kml map).
Red tape
Beta sites
Doug Scott's New Mexico Slot Canyons : Big Canyon