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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
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[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
Super Amazing Map : Scorpion West- Super Amazing Map : Six Ounce Sack (SOS)