Conditions:Chipitin-20250407220847
Latest: |
4 Apr 2025 (14 days ago) |
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Reported by: | Triggerfish (55 reports) | |
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Quality: | Amazing |
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Waterflow: | Moderate Low |
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Wetsuit: | Thin wetsuit |
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Water temperature: | ||
Difficulty: | Normal |
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Time: | ![]() |
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Team: 4 people with experience level Intermediate to Advanced
Trip report URL:
Comments: Flows look better than what was reported last year.
To finish a little early, and get back to Monterrey that night, we bypassed dry-looking R1-4 on a steep, duffy trail that mostly followed an orange 2” pipe.
Doing this stretch with just the big toboggan, R6, and R7 could have been combined with Hidrofobia, but that would have been a real big day.
I went first and set up a guided R6 but it was not used or needed. First person down has to get RDC of the rock fin anyway to land at R7, and could easily coax anyone else in their team over by controlling the end of the rap line.
R7 from the bolts we used (many to choose from!) landed danger close to a shallow shelf. I would not recommend short roping it unless your first down can confirm a safe LZ.
All condition reports
Date | Quality | Waterflow | Wetsuit | Difficulty | Time | Team | Reported by |
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4 Apr 2025
| Amazing | Moderate Low ![]() | Thin wetsuit ![]() | Normal ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4 people Intermediate to Advanced | Triggerfish (55 reports) |
Comment: Flows look better than what was reported last year.
To finish a little early, and get back to Monterrey that night, we bypassed dry-looking R1-4 on a steep, duffy trail that mostly followed an orange 2” pipe. Doing this stretch with just the big toboggan, R6, and R7 could have been combined with Hidrofobia, but that would have been a real big day. I went first and set up a guided R6 but it was not used or needed. First person down has to get RDC of the rock fin anyway to land at R7, and could easily coax anyone else in their team over by controlling the end of the rap line. R7 from the bolts we used (many to choose from!) landed danger close to a shallow shelf. I would not recommend short roping it unless your first down can confirm a safe LZ.
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Good | Low ![]() | Thin wetsuit ![]() | Normal ![]() | | 5 people | K arc (363 reports) | |
Comment: Ran full Chipitin. Be aware: when dry R1 and R2 have keeper potholes. R1 can be avoided by exiting up to a ledge with trees about a third of the way down the pitch. R2 is best avoided by rappelling from a single glue-in located DCL. Lower canyon (below R4) had enough water to be fun.
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Good | Low ![]() | Thin wetsuit ![]() | Normal ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 11 people Intermediate to Expert | Johnbcaves (153 reports),Dominik (64 reports),Herve (17 reports) | |
Comment: Skipping first raps added some annoying approach and lack of water meant the first long toboggan didn't go. We did enjoy a big walled pool, excellent shorter toboggan, and a two-stage rap down a stunning green waterfall into a large undercut cave area. Beautiful final pool!
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Amazing | Moderate Low ![]() | Full wetsuit ![]() | Special challenges ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 4 people Beginner to Expert | Dwentzel (16 reports) | |
Comment: The area has not received significant rain in more than two years. The water levels were lower than in May 2021 when we were there last. The upper section was slow going however since it rained hard for the two previous days it was very muddy and slippery. It took 2.5 hours from Aldea to the start of the awesome section. Once we rappelled down to the main section, the water levels were about the same as last time. The toboggan was flowing great. The main waterfall was flowing a bit less than last time. The canyon is getting overbolted. Outside temps were in the 60s, and a 3/2 wetsuit was good. a 5/4 would have been better. Only the water below the falls was really cold.
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Amazing | Moderate Low ![]() | Full wetsuit ![]() | Normal ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 5 people Beginner to Expert | Reiternick (32 reports) | |
Comment: Fantastic. The final slide and rap are as good as it gets, that slide and waterfall were better than those in Matacanes IMO. Fun to place rope a few meters above final pool and pop off. Not to be missed.
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Great | Low ![]() | Thin wetsuit ![]() | Special challenges ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 3 people Intermediate to Advanced | Coalemus (160 reports) | |
Comment: 2 deep keeper potholes up top! rapped into the first one not knowing what I was in for and had to ascend back out. both were essentially dry though muddy at the bottom. the second is very deep. you have to stay up RDC for the 1st, then LDC for the 2nd. The rock is very slippery on these rappels and, though a pendulum would not smack you into anything (the wall is sloping and smooth), less experienced rappelers will want a guide line for these. The toboggan is indeed amazing. we wished we had set up a handline to climb back up and lap it. it's a spectacular final rappel sequence though it'd be great to do it in the flow. we didn't find the redirect for R6 but frankly didn't really need it as there is a pronounced fin that you can rappel RDC of to keep you heading towards the anchor station for R7. the first person down can provide a guide line for the subsequent rappelers (from bolts upslope of the top of R7). This area has plenty of room though it's slippery and folks should definitely stay clipped in while rigging or getting on rope. The 300 pesos to have a donkey carry our wet gear up the steep exit trail was pretty worth it.
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Amazing | Moderate Low ![]() | Thin wetsuit ![]() | Normal ![]() | | 7 people | K arc (363 reports) | |
Comment: Amazing multi-stage finale rappel into an emerald-green pool.
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Amazing | Moderate Low ![]() | Full wetsuit ![]() | Normal ![]() | ![]() ![]() | 1 people | Felixrulz (76 reports) | |
Comment: I couldn't find anyone to go with. I took a bus to centro, bought supplies from Soriana and got another bus to Santiago. I walked through town getting a ride a short way with some French Canadians, and then a local who happened to be going to Las Adjuntas. What luck! From there I started the 9km walk to Potrero Redondo. With me pack at around 25kg combined with the steep gradient it sucked. I was over half way, enjoying views of Chipitin when I heard a car coming up behind me. The local gave me a ride. Sitting on a bale of scratchy hay next to some eskys and barbed wire tapping my leg. I lay back looking at the sky.
In town a local ofered to guide me down to the falls. I politly declined, it was getting late and I needed to find a camp quick. Inside I thought that if I needed a guide to get to the falls, I definitely shouldn't be canyoning solo. I veered off from the main trail to the falls, taking the canyoners trail towards the drop in. I set up camp by the rd. If I'd have gone 5 mins further I would have found the very nice site I used for the next 3 nights. Rain woke me in the night. I groggily at up my tent, but the cloud passed and I stayed in the open. The next morning, I cached my gear. I found a great overhanging tree next to a bluff. Walking out on the tree, it was a great place to hang food. I was a little weary of the black bears that might be around. I made a superarte cache for other gear in the bush. I was still unsure as I walked to the start of the canyon. Most people told me it was not the right time for wet canyons. I'd found Chiflón very warm and hoped I'd be okay. I'd strategically picked Chipitin as my first trip as it was the shortest and I decide to end my trip early if I found this route too cold... I wasn't sure people drop into the canyon and ended up abseiling off a small tree. I experimented by using my pull cord to rap. With a brake crab it actually worked quite well. I scrambled around the left side of a pool, with some hesitation, lowering myself into the water at the end. Reaching my waist, it actually didn't seem that bad. A following swim made me think I should have brought gloves. But once the water trapped between my skin and neoprene warned I was actually toasty! Fears melted and with a smile I continued down canyon jumping what I think was supposed to be the first pitch. At "crossing rivers" I didn't even think about using the escape and abseiled down 7m or so to inspect the landing. I jumped the rest of the 5th drop landing in an amazing constriction with overhanging travertine. This appears to be the main drainage and I went a little way upstream. I wish I'd gone further, but was anxious to have a look at the crux of the route : Chipitin. There was an amazing slide before I was at the top of the 100m cascade. Inspecting the anchors I picked some bolts and threaded my rope. Keeping CR I abseiled down. In the end, it was actually very straight forward. My 60m + 22m pull would have been just enough, but it was nice to have my second pull. It turns out the last drop was optional, but it was the pitch I was most looking forward to! I rapped down next to the waterfall, climbing up to do it again! I ate some food admiring the falls. It is a magical place. My pinky was bleeding slightly. The travertine produced a kind of sand that had taken my skin off as the rope ran through my hand. I cached my wetsuit, harness, helmet and some rope. Hidrofobia is the natural continuation, and that was the plan for tomorrow. I hiked back out. The whole trip only took 4 hrs. I was suprised. I probably could have tagged Hidrofobia on in the same day if I had have been more familiar with the area. But it was nice to have a lazy afternoon. I moved camp to a very nice spot by the river.
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