Conditions:Dry Taco Ravine-20221109043154

Latest:	3 Nov 2022 (2 yrs, 5 mos ago)

Reported by:	Willie92708 (997 reports)
Quality:	Good
Waterflow:	Dry
Wetsuit:	None
Water temperature:
Difficulty:	Special challenges
Time:	6 hours

Team: 1 people

Trip report URL:

Comments: Given that I did not get started until 12:30 PM (unexpected meetings at work), this FD was a bit much to cram into an afternoon. I took 2 headlights, because I figured I'd need one working for sure. The approach is "trivial", since it's all on road (same as the Eaton approach) but stays on the road bed a bit further, taking 1.5 hours at a moderate pace. Finding descent spot to rappel off the ridge took a full hour (picture looking off the top). The first 2 rappels required a bunch of pruning to make them reasonable, and they still could use yucca point trimming. After that (besides a few yuccas here and there), the ravine is easy to get down. The main event rappels are totally brush free, but the rock quality varies from good to crumbling. The last rappel is overhanging, but short. The hike out to the Eaton wash is easy.

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
21 Apr 2024	Ok	Dry	None	Special challenges	7 hours	2 people	Rapbear (74 reports)
Comment: Who wants to run Dry Taco when there is Eaton Canyon right next door? Decided to scope out Dry Taco again after a year and I'm reminded why I don't do this canyon often. The trail to the drop in is hard to follow and I spent quite a bit of time looking for that tree anchor that sets up the first rappel. To get here, keep on following the faint trail down what looks to be drainage and right before you cliff out, look for the trail DCL that will take you to the left of some trees. You should see an anchor there (roughly 34.19540, -118.09645). Drop into the canyon with your 200ft rope, go over the crumbly rock face and you should end up between two trees DCL of the rock face you just came down. There should be an anchor on one of those trees. Once you rappel down, there is a lot of downscrambling. We built a bunch of fiddlestick anchors to get down as we couldn't find the others. R4/R6 which relies on a BFR in the stream are gone with all the recent rains. We ghosted off a tree DCR for R4 and down climbed DCR on R6. The big rappel R5 is still as sketchy as ever. The bolt hasn't been glued in and the webbing is beginning to show its age. Perhaps I'll do dry taco again in another year. Watch out for the poison oak and bring plenty of water. It was a warm one today.
27 Mar 2023	Ok	Dry	None	Special challenges	5 hours	1 people	Rapbear (74 reports)
Comment: First time in Dry Taco and it was quite an experience. The trail to the drop in is faint as the grass and weeds are slowly overtaking. If you encounter cut tree branches and dead foliage, you are on the correct path. The trail leads to a sharp left steep drop that I was sliding down on. This could get tricky and I created a retrievable handline off a nearby tree to help out. I came across a DCR web anchor tied to tree (photo attached) that isn't on the wiki which made me question if I was on the right track. I set up a rappel and went over what I thought was the rock ridge. I went DCL to a nice bush/tree that I ghosted off of to rappel down the remainder of the canyon. I did not find any webbing so I don't know if this bush was R2 but it worked. I was able to make my way down the canyon by ghosting off various stout bushes/trees. Didn't exactly know where R3 and R4 were as the bushes/trees I used did not line up with the wiki. Once you are at the talus, you can down climb it. Some of the down climbs were sketchy so I ghosted off a bush DCC. Be careful not to get your rope stuck as my fiddle/smooth operator just happened to wedge itself perfectly between two rocks (see photo) during the pull. I was able to climb back up and retrieve it. R5 is as marginal as they say it is. The bolt pulls out easily and the bush is not as thick as I would like it to be (see photos). Gluing in the bolt would be a good idea. Overall, it was a fun day in the canyon with a lot of improvising and skill practicing. This is definitely not a beginners canyon and can be challenging at times. I had a 200 ft rope + 200 ft pull cord that worked perfectly for me. Eaton canyon is raging right now so you will get wet heading back to Pinecrest.
22 Jan 2023	Poor	Dry	None	Special challenges	5 hours	4 people Intermediate to Advanced	Eshi-1 (32 reports)
Comment: This canyon may need some more work and changes. Willie, I'm willing to go together. Approach: Great fire-roads all the way to the dropin (which we marked with a cinder block we found). However, the dropin is way too steep and crumbly. Flat out dangerous, especially for less confident hikers. Same for the first 2 rappels. Lots of loose rocks and dirt. Looking back, there may be a more gradual way to approach it, will have to check it out. Rappels: 6 total. First 2 we struggled. The beta suggested that R1 is 120' and R2 is 150'. Going down the clear, sandy slope leads you straight to the first anchor so we know we started in the right spot. However, rappelling down the crumbly rock, there was nowhere to stop and no visible anchor for 160'. so our R1 was 160' and R2 was shorter. All along the way on R1+2 it seems like the better place to be is 20' to the right. There was a great tree to start you off (better than that skinny bush) and it looks like at least some of it was solid, better rock. Anchors: We had to replace a couple but most anchors are ok. R5 however could use some help. The Home Depot eye-bolt just sits in the hole and I pulled it out by hand. Maybe not the best anchor to leave for other people? I did see 2 other empty holes that were drilled nut left empty, likely due to poor rock quality. Maybe a place for Chemical bolts? Exit: The exit is simple. 3 places you'll need to cross Eaton. We managed to stay dry on all 3 crossings.
24 Nov 2022	Good	Dry	None	Normal	4 hours	2 people	Willie92708 (997 reports)
Comment: Now that the approach is cleaned up, anchors are fixed up, Dry Taco is actually an OK "canyon" run.
16 Nov 2022	Good	Dry	None	Special challenges	8 hours	1 people	Willie92708 (997 reports)
Comment: I spent a bunch of time fixing up the approach trail, fixing anchor issues, cleaning deadfall from the watercourse, and attending a CAC phone meeting; thus the LONG 8 hour run (special challenges). I ghosted off a bush for the short downclimbs after R2, but the bush failed and I got a bit scraped up; definitely need a betting anchor here! At this point Dry Taco is a pretty easy run with almost no brush issues.
3 Nov 2022	Good	Dry	None	Special challenges	6 hours	1 people	Willie92708 (997 reports)
Comment: Given that I did not get started until 12:30 PM (unexpected meetings at work), this FD was a bit much to cram into an afternoon. I took 2 headlights, because I figured I'd need one working for sure. The approach is "trivial", since it's all on road (same as the Eaton approach) but stays on the road bed a bit further, taking 1.5 hours at a moderate pace. Finding descent spot to rappel off the ridge took a full hour (picture looking off the top). The first 2 rappels required a bunch of pruning to make them reasonable, and they still could use yucca point trimming. After that (besides a few yuccas here and there), the ravine is easy to get down. The main event rappels are totally brush free, but the rock quality varies from good to crumbling. The last rappel is overhanging, but short. The hike out to the Eaton wash is easy.