Conditions:Hidden Canyon (North Cascades)-20230813225948
Latest: |
12 Aug 2023 (1 yr, 10 mos ago) |
|---|
| Reported by: | Coops (125 reports), AdamOtter (55 reports) | |
|---|---|---|
| Quality: | Amazing |
|
| Waterflow: | Moderate High |
|
| Wetsuit: | Full wetsuit |
|
| Water temperature: | ||
| Difficulty: | Special challenges |
|
| Time: |  11 hours
|
|
Team: 5 people with experience level Intermediate to Advanced
Trip report URL:
Comments: What an awesome canyon. Thanks to this season's unusually low flows we got to run it in moderate-high level in mid-August. Snow pack analysis shows conditions close to that of the last group, on 10th Sept 2022.
Even the very annoying parts - the incredibly slippery rocks, and an entry & exit which saps your soul - are washed away by the memories of the monsoon room. The water doesn't just fall on you like a regular waterfall - it gets driven into you sideways by hurricane strength squalls.
The v-thread is in good condition. The monsoon room bolt is smashed up, but still passed testing.
Noted "Special challenges" simply for how slippery it was. Near-zero friction downclimbs test the nerves.
All condition reports
| Date | Quality | Waterflow | Wetsuit | Difficulty | Time | Team | Reported by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Moderate
| Thin wetsuit
| Normal | 9 hours
| 2 people Advanced | Blueshade (55 reports) | |
Comment: The approach is a bit never ending, but otherwise not too terrible. Would likely become easier as the trail develops, but as of now it's more non-existent than easy to follow.
We added a few more short raps above the normal start. Nothing special, but not bad either. Did all of them off of fallen trees, leaving no webbing. Canyon was nice, until it ended abruptly at the exit. Not sure if the drops below are very poor quality? Or if the exits become impossible? Monsoon room, getting on the next rappel, was memorable as we got pounded with falling water. Higher flow must be bruising?
| |||||||
| Amazing | Moderate High
| Full wetsuit
| Special challenges | 11 hours
| 5 people Intermediate to Advanced | Coops (125 reports),AdamOtter (55 reports) | |
Comment: What an awesome canyon. Thanks to this season's unusually low flows we got to run it in moderate-high level in mid-August. Snow pack analysis shows conditions close to that of the last group, on 10th Sept 2022.
Even the very annoying parts - the incredibly slippery rocks, and an entry & exit which saps your soul - are washed away by the memories of the monsoon room. The water doesn't just fall on you like a regular waterfall - it gets driven into you sideways by hurricane strength squalls. The v-thread is in good condition. The monsoon room bolt is smashed up, but still passed testing. Noted "Special challenges" simply for how slippery it was. Near-zero friction downclimbs test the nerves.
| |||||||
| Amazing | Moderate
| Full wetsuit
| | 12 hours
| 6 people Intermediate to Expert | Logan (60 reports) | |
Comment: The MONSOON RAPPEL is outstanding and one of the most unique and memorable rappels in Washington - like the RAIN ROOM in Big Creek, but more impressive in some ways. The MIDDLE SECTION is where the canyon becomes a narrow chute and is also very memorable. With a 35' jump opportunity and a 25' slide (and potentially another 30' slide) and 18 rappels total it is geologically and technically a 5-star canyon and one of the bast in State. It took us 11.5 hrs. car-to-car. We had a nice lunch break in the sun right before the middle section. 3.5 hrs. approach. 6 hours in canyon. 1.5 hrs exit by crossing the river. Although the approach is long, the off-trail portion is almost all open forest, only the last bit involves bushwhacking.
| |||||||