Box Elder Canyon
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| | Difficulty:4A IV XX (v7a1 IV) Raps:0
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| Best season: | Spring
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37.4660, -111.1470
37.4300, -111.1464
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Introduction
SOS is known to be one of the 3 hardest XX canyons in the Colorado Plateau.
XX canyons are "on your own" kind of affairs. Please make sure you have adequate experience/comfort and ability of high stemming 60'+ for numerous hours before contemplating descending this canyon. A ramp up with R/X experience is strongly encouraged.
If you have no X experience, you’re in the wrong place to test out your abilities. You’ve been warned! ❌❌
Approach
Starting at the Red Well TH, you follow the trail to the North/NE down to Dry Fork. Climb up to the south of the canyon drainage until you reach the top. Gear up and get ready!
Descent
The canyon rock quality isn't the greatest, lots of flaky goodness, mixed in with mossy/crumbly walls. There are 3 distinct canyon sections.
Section 1: X to X+ with many options for passage (mid-level to high, depending on comfort). Series of small 15-20' downclimbs that are followed by a quick upclimb to gain the right line going forward. There are a few squeezes that will pinch you tight (185lbs) as you come around turns out of a silo, awkwardly shimmying upwards downcanyon to only pop out again to more of the same. Eventually downclimbing to a sandy bottom and a rest.
Section 2: XX. Shortly after the rest spot a definitive ledge midcanyon leads you into the business. More mossy/flaky walls and quite a few Pintac style upclimbs to get up and over pinches in the slot at eye level (debris and small rocks lodged in the pinch that is maybe 6-8' wide). Following one of the bigger upclimbs you will drop into a more curvaceous silo section that can eventually lead you to the ground if you want to explore). Back up 30-40' is where smooth sailing is found. The bottom drops out more as light becomes minimal through the most beautiful section of slot. Numerous squeezes that pop you into a silo requiring attentive navigation. Finally you reach the crux ("ejector seat"). From a wide off-width move you can pop up and stem high (20-30') over the pinch to arrive at the top of the ejector, a large silo with minimal features in a smeary/completely vertical crack. The wall eventually gives way and forces you outward. The safe move is to NOT go up and over, but rather elevator downward/forward through the opening to place you at the bottom of the silo. Then work your way back up with a somewhat physical upclimb to get over the next pinch and continue forward. After a few more turns, you reach a silo that forces you down to the ground. Crawl through and take a rest before the end.
Section 3: The finale is enough to keep you attentive, with more of the same X movement. Much shorter in duration, and after 30-45min ... you're out.
Exit
Retrace your steps back to Red Well TH. Or if you stashed rope/water and want more out of an already physical day, go for it. :)
Red tape
Beta sites
Super Amazing Map : Scorpion West- Super Amazing Map : Six Ounce Sack (SOS)