Conditions:Ape Canyon-20230821175605

Latest:	19 Aug 2023 (1 yr, 9 mos ago)

Reported by:	Briwellman (76 reports)
Quality:	Great
Waterflow:	Low
Wetsuit:	Thin wetsuit
Water temperature:
Difficulty:	Special challenges
Time:	14 hours

Team: 5 people with experience level Intermediate to Advanced

Trip report URL:

Comments: Adding to K arc's report. Temperature high was probably 80. I was comfortable in a 5 mil farmer john and a rain jacket. Others were hot at times in their wetsuits. The canyon rock was very loose and easy to cause large rocks to fall until water entered the canyon. The mud stabilized the ground and rocks in the water course but rockfall was still a hazard. Caution when throwing bags because they will roll into holes or off the next ledge. We overanalyzed our gear and took the least amount of weight possible. We used over 200 feet of webbing and more than 20 quick links. Sometimes we set a rappel only to find it should have been a down climb. Recommend using a meat anchor for the questionable situations to save time of setting and removing an anchor. The water course is super slippery! The bushwack out wasn't terrible. We changed back into hiking clothes to exit. We found and lost and found elk trails for a good part of the exit. When the bushwacking gets nasty, head back into the creek and find a new way. There are many huge downed logs near the bottom which made moving slow and difficult. We did not really find an easy way through them. Once we found the trail to the exit it was smooth sailing! My feet did not like being wet from 8am to 6pm. I do not have a solution for this, you cross and walk in the creek several times to exit. We bypassed some water features on our exit that would have been good rappels but we did not have time to explore them due to trying to complete our mission before dark. This could be a 12 hour canyon if the anchors are in place. I would not rush this high consequence canyon. Be careful and have fun!!

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
8 Sep 2024	Great	Low	Thin wetsuit	Special challenges	12 hours	6 people Intermediate to Advanced	Briwellman (76 reports)
Comment: The flow was higher than it was last month. I ran it again with a team who hadn't seen it before and to survey the other leg of Ape. I recorded the bushwack section and will update the map. Ape is a big day, prepare for a 12 hour day even with all the anchors installed. Expect around 25 rappels most of which are awkward and overhung. The first bolted anchor needs decommissioned. Rockfall has partially buried it about 6 feet below where you can access and it requires an exposed downclimb to access. The rockfall has pulled it out a little and it won't tighten. The threads are smashed or its bent. We used the anchor.
11 Aug 2024	Great	Deep pools	Thin wetsuit	Special challenges	11 hours	6 people Advanced	Briwellman (76 reports)
Comment: Another exciting trip to Ape Canyon, a fantastic slot canyon in the PNW that offers a SW-style adventure closer to home. The canyon has undergone significant changes since my last visit, so I wanted to share some critical updates and key takeaways. Dress for Success - Layering was crucial to stay comfortable throughout the day. A thin wetsuit or shorty paired with a rain jacket proved to be the ideal combination. Neoprene alone, even a 5mm jacket, left one of our party members chilly. The canyon's dynamics have shifted dramatically, most previous anchors were missing. Be prepared to establish new anchors. We relied less on webbing compared to our 2023 trip. One notable change in our approach was the increased use of meat anchors with assisted downclimbing for the final person. This technique improved efficiency. Ape Canyon remains an incredible destination, but adaptability and the right gear are now more important than ever. Plan accordingly, stay flexible, and get ready for an unforgettable adventure! I updated the beta where applicable.
19 Aug 2023	Amazing	Low	Thin wetsuit	Special challenges	14 hours	5 people Intermediate to Advanced	K arc (376 reports),Treyshoe (33 reports)
Comment: Wow, that was one committing canyon! Once you commit on the first rappel, there's no escape until the last one ... some 8-9 hours later. (And that's just the technical section.) Our time may be a bit longer than the norm as we had to rebuild every anchor. (Other than the bolts at the very bottom there was no sign anyone had ever descended the canyon before. The last descent may have been in 2012...?) Special challenges: terrain combined with having to rebuild every single anchor -- most being cairns or rock pinches. With established anchors, one could likely could shave off 1-2hrs. However, Ape Canyon clearly sees big flood and rockfall events so do NOT rely on anchors being present. They will very likely need to rebuilt every season. Teams should bring enough anchor material to re-rig the entire canyon... and be ready for 20+ rappels. We put in a few bolts in places where anchor materials were sparse or where we were concerned about a clean pull of the rope. You may need ever more material if your team is not comfortable with downclimbing. Definitely get an early start with a strong, efficient team. We left the Ape Canyon trailhead at right about 4am, arriving up at the top of the canyon about 6am at sunrise (which is really cool coming right through the slot at this time of year). Had a good break, then dropped into the canyon at about 6:30am. Surprisingly, there was mud and wet sand right at the canyon, indicating that the area had experienced recent flow -- possibly high melt on the mountain during the heat wave of the previous week (Ape Canyon is largely glacial & snow fed). We did not encounter any significant water, however, until past R5 (aka the Bolt-Hole). Water levels were low and remained so throughout the canyon despite small side springs and mini-tributaries coming in along the canyon walls from time to time. There were a couple short swims at the very bottom of the canyon. We exited the technical section about 3pm. We were psyched up for a major bushwhack out, but were pleasantly surprised as how speedily it went. Reached the lovely Smith Creek trail about 4:30pm. From there we hiked the last 2.7mi, with the last obstacle being a wade of the Muddy River (little pushy in places, but not bad). Back at our campsite adjacent to the Lower Smith Creek trailhead at just about 6pm. About 14hrs car to car. No one on the team has any memory of encountering rock-throwing ape-men. Will be updating the beta shortly, although it is likely that floods rearrange boulders in the canyon every year, so it should be taken with a grain of salt. Do not rely on the beta and be ready for more or less obstacles during the descent.
19 Aug 2023	Great	Low	Thin wetsuit	Special challenges	14 hours	5 people Intermediate to Advanced	Briwellman (76 reports)
Comment: Adding to K arc's report. Temperature high was probably 80. I was comfortable in a 5 mil farmer john and a rain jacket. Others were hot at times in their wetsuits. The canyon rock was very loose and easy to cause large rocks to fall until water entered the canyon. The mud stabilized the ground and rocks in the water course but rockfall was still a hazard. Caution when throwing bags because they will roll into holes or off the next ledge. We overanalyzed our gear and took the least amount of weight possible. We used over 200 feet of webbing and more than 20 quick links. Sometimes we set a rappel only to find it should have been a down climb. Recommend using a meat anchor for the questionable situations to save time of setting and removing an anchor. The water course is super slippery! The bushwack out wasn't terrible. We changed back into hiking clothes to exit. We found and lost and found elk trails for a good part of the exit. When the bushwacking gets nasty, head back into the creek and find a new way. There are many huge downed logs near the bottom which made moving slow and difficult. We did not really find an easy way through them. Once we found the trail to the exit it was smooth sailing! My feet did not like being wet from 8am to 6pm. I do not have a solution for this, you cross and walk in the creek several times to exit. We bypassed some water features on our exit that would have been good rappels but we did not have time to explore them due to trying to complete our mission before dark. This could be a 12 hour canyon if the anchors are in place. I would not rush this high consequence canyon. Be careful and have fun!!