Casablanca Canyon (North Fork)
| Rating: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Difficulty:3A I (v3a1 I) Raps:1, max ↨160ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Condition Reports: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best season: | Year Round
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regions: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
_Banner.jpg)
37.9823, -110.4845
Search nearby locations
Weather forecast
Waterflow
Introduction[edit]
Basically just a stunt rappel.
Approach[edit]
From the Casablanca canyon parking area walk up the canyon until you encounter a gully on the south (37.982024, -110.481763). Climb the gully nearly to the top, where a wider ledge layer can be followed around to the top of the south fork (Play it Again Sam: http://ropewiki.com/Casablanca_Canyon_(South_Fork)) at 37.982024, -110.481763. From here, look for a spot to climb up a ledge. Contour around until you're above the north fork, then find your way, zig-zagging down through boulders and a series of ledges into the canyon and to the top of the rappel at 37.982314, -110.484460.
Descent[edit]
The anchor is set from a large boulder about 20 feet back from the drop. Use a Fiddlestick or smooth operator to pull from this anchor, or set up a longer anchor that extends closer to the edge for an easier pull. The rappel looks deceivingly big. Pass two ledges on the way down - from the second one you can check that your rope is on the ground before proceeding.
Exit[edit]
A short walk with a little bit of easy scrambling down lower Casablanca Canyon will return you to your car.
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
Trip reports and media[edit]
Background[edit]
Dave Pimental, who explored many of the short slots around Hog Springs, including Morocco, Hogwarts, and Merry Piglet, referred to this canyon as Casablanca Canyon. The minislot Guide for Morocco Canyon shows this canyon as "Casablanca" http://www.canyontales.com/minislot/canyons/?i=morocco. See also: http://www.canyontales.com/canyonames/#nwt.
The bottom of Casablanca Canyon affords a short scenic walk with some minor scrambling. The lower canyon ends with views of alcoves and a dry fall.
"Black Swallow" is the dryfall on the north side of the dead end (left side looking up canyon). The name is a tribute to the amazing life and accomplishments of Eugene Bullard. Eugene's connections with the movie Casablanca include that he owned a night club in Paris where movie stars were known to frequent, and he employed Casablanca's "Sam", Arthur Wilson, as a member of the house band. Black Swallow was Eugene's nickname as a fighter pilot during World War I. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugene_Bullard.
See also: http://ropewiki.com/Casablanca_Canyon_(South_Fork)
