Conditions:Barney Spring Canyon-20200730132533
Latest: |
29 Jul 2020 (4 yrs, 10 mos ago) |
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| Reported by: | Rocknbob33 (10 reports), Coalemus (160 reports), Megibbo2 (7 reports) | |
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| Quality: | Great |
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| Waterflow: | Deep pools |
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| Wetsuit: | None |
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| Water temperature: | ||
| Difficulty: | Normal |
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| Time: |  8 hours
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Team: 3 people with experience level Intermediate to Advanced
Trip report URL:
Comments: 3 swims and a couple wades. Plenty of opportunities to warm up after getting wet. The keeper pothole is filled in with large rocks (many ~1' diameter) and gravel and is very easy to walk out of.There's a big log going into it that we climbed down. The canyon currently does not deserve the 4 or R ratings though a flood could scour out the keeper at any time. Replaced webbing at 3 anchors. We used the Immaculate sneak exit loop. This approach is not fun. Steep and a lot of bush bashing. From west fork to Immaculate sneak is also fairly unpleasant... And then you have to do that sneak. Bees were loud but didn't bother us
All condition reports
| Date | Quality | Waterflow | Wetsuit | Difficulty | Time | Team | Reported by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great | Deep pools
| None
| |  2 days
| 4 people Advanced | EMoorcroft (451 reports),RFontaine (276 reports) | |
Comment: Another great run through Barney! This time as an overnight!
We approached via Buckhead Ridge again. I do really like this option as it adds more quality rappels and interesting canyon. The drainage leading down to the first rappel is very bushy but much of the bush is friendly with a few locust mixed in here and there. Moving through this drainage takes time but I feel it is better than the original approach that is choked out with terrible blackberry vines. This time we ran out our 100’ rope on the first rappel from webbing high DCR then ghosted an obvious tree on the midway ledge with our 2nd 100’ rope to get to the canyon floor. Flidding both raps. This initial canyon leading up to Barney proper is nice and has a few very memorable spots. 1 knee deep pool. There was 1 chest deep pool and 2 other waist to knee deep in Barney proper. We were happy without wetsuits, not super cold. We bypassed the “keeper” pool and used the anchor rigged high DCR. Shortly after joining West Fork we made camp at an established site under an overhanging ledge for the night. Hike out down West Fork the next day was long and beautiful and we took our time at a leisurely pace. Happy Birthday Eric!! | |||||||
| Great | Deep pools
| None
| | 8 hours
| 2 people Advanced | RFontaine (276 reports) | |
Comment: We approached via Buckhead Ridge and took the Immaculate exit out. Updated GPX is on point. This ended up being a very worthwhile option adding a few nice rappels and some more pretty canyon sections! This approach isn't as nasty as the typical approach but does add a bit of time. The 1st rappel we fiddled and ran out my 200’ rope, passing a midway ledge with a tree that could be easily re-rigged.
The main part of Barney is very pretty, neat sculpting, a 3 or 4 very cold pools. I was happy to shiver for a short swim to not be weighed down with a wetsuit. The historic keeper pothole is not in play as it is still fairly full of sand/rocks. Still, there is an option to climb up DCR and rappel past it if desired. Exit down West Fork and over to Immaculate was very picturesque. The short bit of section from West Fork to Immaculate is annoyingly overgrown. Immaculate exit is the typical grind, claw your way up a loose deteriorating incline to the top, then skip merrily through the forest! Over all a fun and interesting day, not sure that I prefer the Immaculate exit to Barney’s standard exit (I didnt think it was that bad last time) but it was worth it to experience a different side of this route!
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| Ok | Deep pools
| Thin wetsuit
| Special challenges |  12 hours
| 2 people Advanced | Nclegg (414 reports) | |
Comment: Approached from Buckhead Ridge and exited via Immaculate sneak. The approach route surprised us with 6 additional rappels before reaching Barney proper - 3 of which needed to be established to descend from the rim down a steep side drainage into the south fork of Barney. Will update the KML and beta to reflect this as it added considerable time. Horrific brush on approach and lots of fresh flood debris in the canyon which further slowed our progress. A number of rope eater cracks exist in the upper section of canyon which took care to avoid - recommend not skimping on the extra rope. Keeper was full. 2 swims and 2 deep wades. 3/2 wetsuit was nice but not completely necessary. The section of West Fork between Barney and Immaculate was spectacular. Lower section of Immaculate was flowing lightly and immensely overgrown and 15' upclimb was challenging. Knew this route would be longer but thought it may be less hellish than the Barney sneak / Buzzard Point loop - it wasn't. Next time exiting out West Fork.
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| Good | | Thin wetsuit
| Normal | 7 hours
| 3 people Intermediate to Advanced | EMoorcroft (451 reports) | |
Comment: Pothole is a 30' downclimb on tree followed by a 50' rappel off 2 bolts. It is full and an easy escape currently.
100' rope and 100' pull works well. Anchors looked great. Overnight in Westfork and camping just down stream from the confluence next time. Hiking out Westfork is probably the way to go on this one. Sneak exit was loose and thick with locusts and poison ivy. Rocks are GUARANTEED to fall, and the vegetation will surely attack.
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| Great | Deep pools
| Thin wetsuit
| | 7 hours
| 3 people Advanced | RFontaine (276 reports) | |
Comment: Super fun! Super beautiful, lush, and green! The slotted sections were large and picturesque! Many of the rappels were quite fun and very pretty! R5 was especially memorable! Multiple pools/wades; I was plenty comfortable in my 4/3 suit.
We bypassed the "keeper" but looking into it, it seemed easily escapable without gear. Still, the bypass rappel was very enjoyable dropping down a lovely wall with big forest views! The exit hike was also super pretty! The section of West Fork we traveled up to get to the main sneak exit was gorgeous! The exit is not nearly as bad as others had made it sound. Lots of huge trees lying down the drainage made for fun tree trunk walking and a few spots required climbing dead tree trunks to get over ledges. There were a few 5th class moves required in spots to get up walls but nothing major. Looking back as you climb the exit drainage yielded incredible views. We even heard a large rock slide occur in a nearby side drainage! Loud as hell but sounded incredible! Definitely thorns throughout the exit and approach, we dressed appropriately and no one got too scratched up. Absolutely loved this canyon! Very enjoyable! (except the thorny approach) Great camping up top too!
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| Great | Deep pools
| None
| Normal | 8 hours
| 3 people Intermediate to Advanced | Rocknbob33 (10 reports),Coalemus (160 reports),Megibbo2 (7 reports) | |
Comment: 3 swims and a couple wades. Plenty of opportunities to warm up after getting wet. The keeper pothole is filled in with large rocks (many ~1' diameter) and gravel and is very easy to walk out of.There's a big log going into it that we climbed down. The canyon currently does not deserve the 4 or R ratings though a flood could scour out the keeper at any time. Replaced webbing at 3 anchors. We used the Immaculate sneak exit loop. This approach is not fun. Steep and a lot of bush bashing. From west fork to Immaculate sneak is also fairly unpleasant... And then you have to do that sneak. Bees were loud but didn't bother us
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| Good | Deep pools
| Full wetsuit
| Normal | 6 hours
| 4 people Intermediate to Expert | Erek (206 reports) | |
Comment: Keeper pothole full, easy swim across. Sneak exit is horrific. Water cold, 3-4 swimmers.
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| | | | | ScottBetz@Facebook (9 reports) | |||
Comment: extracts from Facebook posts, click link for full details (privacy restrictions may apply)
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| Great | Deep pools
| Thick wetsuit
| Normal | 5 hours
| 1 people Advanced | PatWinstanley (80 reports) | |
Comment: Used both sneak approach and exit routes from East Buzzard Point - 2 miles, 5 hours car to car. Exit route here is very short, but dangerously steep and loose in a few spots. Another option would be to approach from Buckhead Ridge (Immaculate Canyon) and use the Immaculate Canyon sneak exit - this would add a mile or two, but would only have one short steep climb, and is fairly straight forward the rest of the way. A third option is to hike all the way through West Fork of Oak Creek to SR89 and drive your shuttle vehicle 1.5 - 2 hours back to where you started.
The keeper in Barney was full (I bypassed) and may have been able to escape with a beached whale move. There is also a two bolt anchor immediately after the keeper now to finish the drop.
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| | | | | HikeArizona.com (271 reports) | |||
Comment: Most recent conditions reported at HikeArizona.com, see Trip Report for full details.
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