Conditions:Esme Canyon-20231225191029

Latest:	10 Nov 2023 (1 yr, 5 mos ago)

Reported by:	Willie92708 (997 reports)
Quality:	Good
Waterflow:	Very Low
Wetsuit:	None
Water temperature:
Difficulty:	Special challenges
Time:	7 hours

Team: 2 people

Trip report URL:

Comments: Removed all the old fixed lines (except R1) that were trashed over the Winter and Spring 2023 (special challenges 2 hour project). We climbed up DSG and ran full Eaton.

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
10 Aug 2024	Ok	Very Low	None	Normal	6 hours	1 people	Rapbear (74 reports)
Comment: I could see how Esme could be a nice canyon when it was wetter and flowing. It's pretty dry now. The rappels are in quick succession and often have anchors (webbing and a quicklink) thanks to the work that Willie did earlier. However, it's been some time since the last update and the canyon is pretty overgrown with nasty biting flies. Some of the hand lines and anchors were in the water course and have seen better days (see photo). They should be replaced - especially if you are more heavy set. The pond/pools are stagnant and smell so try not to get your rope in them. I rinsed mine out at Eaton once I got there. My time reflects me trying out a new rope (ascending) and the exploration of the clover leaf. I bypassed the last two rappels (peanut + penultimate). I'm sure you can do this canyon way quicker!
13 Mar 2024	Amazing	Low	Thin wetsuit	Special challenges	2 hours	2 people	Willie92708 (997 reports)
Comment: We did Esme as an "add on" to a full Eaton run, so the 2 hours was the time from the Eaton approach trail (Telephone) back to the trail using DSG to climb back up. The water flow was awesome for Esme (see pics). The water temp was cold and we went through with our rain shells (wetsuits in our packs) which proved to be "special challenges" to avoid getting soaked and hypothermic. However, climbing DSG quickly warmed us back up.
10 Mar 2024	Amazing	Low				1 people	Willie92708 (997 reports)
Comment: While working on the Eaton Trail and DSG, I could clearly see 5 of the waterfalls in Esme were pumping (4 in the photo #1 and "the spout")! The creek crossing (photo #2) has more flow in it that I've seen in years.
23 Feb 2024	Amazing	Low				3 people	Willie92708 (997 reports)
Comment: On our way to Eaton, we heard yelling from Esme. I spotted one of the canyoneers in the canyon from Telephone trail (see pic). Flow in Esme was good that day (2nd pic).
10 Feb 2024	Amazing	Low				4 people	Willie92708 (997 reports)
Comment: On our way to Eaton, I noticed that "the spout" was flowing nicely and the creek too (obviously, see pic).
15 Nov 2023	Great	Very Low	Rain jacket	Normal	4 hours	1 people	Willie92708 (997 reports)
Comment: I ran Esme as a shortcut version of doing Eaton, since it was raining a bit on and off. With the creek path trimming and anchors fixed up running Esme from the water tanks on the Eaton approach to the Eaton creek bed was under one hour. The spout was dribbling and frog pond still has water (see pic), but no frogs now. Below that the canyon becomes totally dry. I will note that some of the anchor webbing is getting quite old since it has been there nearly 5 years now.
10 Nov 2023	Good	Very Low	None	Special challenges	7 hours	2 people	Willie92708 (997 reports)
Comment: Removed all the old fixed lines (except R1) that were trashed over the Winter and Spring 2023 (special challenges 2 hour project). We climbed up DSG and ran full Eaton.
19 Oct 2023	Good	Very Low	None	Special challenges	5 hours	1 people	Willie92708 (997 reports)
Comment: I spent extra time trimming up the upper creek, since the last run was DEC 2022, the plants had grown back a lot in few spots. The fixed lines were trashed from the Winter & Spring 2023 and proved challenging to use for rappel (specially challenges). Some of the anchors needed help too. This made the Esme run 2:40, which normally would be under an hour. Eaton was good with solid flow.