Black Jack Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3A II (v3a1 II) Raps:6, max ↨120ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle: Vehicle:Passenger Watercraft:Yes | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Best season: | Oct-April
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35.9756, -114.7441
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Introduction[edit]
If you want to get in two canyon in a day and are willing to put put in a bit more effort Black Jack an excellent canyon that can be done from the river. Narrow corridors, signs of mining, and great views of the river while descending this canyon. There are two forks to this canyon that can be done from the river or from the west rim. Black Jack is keeping the black range theme and if you want to play your hand right with the sun on on the approach, you will get rewarded with a short but really nice canyon.
Please, remember that installation of permanent fixed hardware is prohibited in Lake Mead National Recreation Area. No bolts.
Do not enter this canyon if you do not have the knowledge to entirely inspect and replace anchorage. Do not assume anchorage is prepared to hold any load bearing weight upon your arrival. Bring anchorage replacement material and be prepared to replace all anchorage. This canyon floods and becomes hot. The sunbaked and worn webbing can break. Inspect and Replace all anchorage in this canyon.
Approach[edit]
Approach can be done from the west rim or from a break at the river. From the river, the break to Black Jack is exposed to hot, direct sunlight. you can also stash your 320 ft rope here if you came down Black Magic.
Descent[edit]
We found some fun downclimbs and 6 rappels up to 120 ft. We brought a 200 ft rope and a pull cord / fiddle for the raps.
Exit[edit]
You have numerous exits to choose from. Eventually we floated down and exited from White Pocket but our trip was just getting started. We floated down to a break where you can access numerous canyons back up on the west rim. you will be in direct sunlight while exiting the river. We exited the river, followed a local fault, and came back down Black Jack Canyon. Back at the river inflate your rafts and float down to AZ springs and out. We call this duo "Black Jack Magic". A 5 star day in the black range.
Red tape[edit]
You must wear an approved USCG PFD and have a water craft suitable for floating down the river.
Beta sites[edit]
Trip reports and media[edit]
Background[edit]
We found webbing in this canyon so this is not a first descent but a documented descent of an unpublished canyon. It will be great to know some more of the history behind this canyon.
This canyon was originally named Werly Canyon in 2019. Tony and Bobbie Werly are the owners of Techatticup Mine just east of Nelson Nevada, a few miles downstream at Eldorado Canyon. https://travelnevada.com/ghost-town/exploring-eldorado-canyon/. The Werlys are some of the best people I have ever met, thus we felt their name should be immortalized in this great technical descent.
