Conditions:Humperdinck Canyon-20170219141007

Latest:	18 Feb 2017 (8 yrs, 4 mos ago)

Reported by:	CC (93 reports)
Quality:	Good
Waterflow:	Dry
Wetsuit:	None
Water temperature:
Difficulty:	Normal
Time:	7 hours

Team: 6 people with experience level Brand new

Trip report URL:

Comments: Friday morning & Saturday morning rain, avoided Badwater since ranger said there could be road closures from water/debris. A few knee deep puddles. Nice twisty sections, a few additional anchors were installed since last year by some group that chose not to downclimb, after last rappel an anchor was installed in a twisty section that might be over 50' but can be walked RDC on crumbly rock which is a Bluugnome downclimb option.

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
30 Dec 2023	Ok	Dry	None	Normal		3 people Beginner to Advanced	Desertnights (37 reports)
Comment: There was a group that went through this canyon before us this year and changed the webbing because it was very new. There was an anchor that we changed because it was slung poorly around a rock. The previous pinch point had old webbing that couldn't be removed and there's still a little cut piece of black webbing there. The new webbing is a small piece of black webbing that's wrapped around a rock and wedged securely. It's small and on the ground.
19 Feb 2023	Good	Very Low	None	Normal	8 hours	6 people Beginner to Expert	Dangel (157 reports)
Comment: Plants look thirsty. Brought cavers and rescuers to teach marginal anchors. We were originally going to do Buttercup but dropped into Humperdink to save a little more approach time. One potentially avoidable knee-deep pool towards the end.
25 Dec 2022	Great	Very Low	None	Normal	6 hours	7 people Intermediate to Expert	Mfeingol (52 reports)
Comment: This is a really fun canyon, definitely worth the walk up and down the alluvial fan. It has a number of rappels with interesting starts, as well as several fun downclimbs that may require partner assistance for some. Anchors mostly in good condition (I believe we replaced the webbing on one of them) and some unavoidable knee-deep water towards the end of the canyon.
31 Dec 2021	Good	Dry	None	Normal	6 hours	2 people Beginner to Advanced	Amains (10 reports)
Comment: A relaxing day to get out and enjoy a canyon! Very easy navigation using the reference from BluuGnome to find the south approach ridge. Canyon held some small pools of water throughout, all avoidable. Meat anchor useful in some places where some might not be comfortable down climbing. All webbing looked fairly new and in good condition. The last cairn anchor above the junction is missing webbing - the last person down climbed around the left.
26 Nov 2021	Great	Dry	None	Normal	5 hours	8 people Expert to Intermediate	Dominik (64 reports)
16 Feb 2020	Good	Dry	None	Normal		7 people Beginner to Expert	Dangel (157 reports),Jessie Leila (17 reports),Farnstrom (4 reports),Nkowalcz (10 reports),SavvasE (8 reports)
Comment: Many fun downclimbs, interesting rappels, and canyon features, highly recommended for a short day in the Princess Bride range.
22 Nov 2018	Great	Dry	None	Normal	6 hours	6 people Intermediate to Expert	Dangel (157 reports),Eran (1 reports),Abby Wines (50 reports),Morgan (103 reports),Jem Jem (1 reports)
Comment: dangel: This was my first Cottonwood range canyon, I really enjoyed it. Much smaller and more laid back than the big boys I've done in the Black mountains. We took our time and enjoyed the day, stopped frequently to enjoy fossils, food, drink, and being out with friends. We downclimbed what we could and removed unnecessary webbing when possible. The ethos for this canyon seemed to be "downclimb and partner assist everything you can."
30 Dec 2017	Ok	Dry	None	Normal	4 hours	3 people Intermediate to Advanced	DMonroy (188 reports)
Comment: A lot of work (awkward starts and downclimbs) for very little reward. We tacked this canyon onto a Prepare to Die trip which is the only thing that made it worthwhile. The best part of the canyon is the last section of the exit, a very cool narrow wash with layers of sediment and rock. The amount of rappels in this canyon are going to vary, as the sand washing into potholes will make them shorter and downclimbable, or when washed out like we found it make it safer to rappel. We replaced all of the anchors but one.
18 Feb 2017	Good	Dry	None	Normal	7 hours	6 people Brand new	CC (93 reports)
Comment: Friday morning & Saturday morning rain, avoided Badwater since ranger said there could be road closures from water/debris. A few knee deep puddles. Nice twisty sections, a few additional anchors were installed since last year by some group that chose not to downclimb, after last rappel an anchor was installed in a twisty section that might be over 50' but can be walked RDC on crumbly rock which is a Bluugnome downclimb option.
15 Feb 2016	Good	Dry	None	Normal	5 hours	6 people Intermediate to Advanced	CC (93 reports)
Comment: This is a fun canyon with various down climbs and rappels from cairn anchors. As with all canyons in the range, skills are need to inspect and build all these anchors. The canyon walls have various limestone sections that are pretty as well as slotted that make for fun downclimbs. We did the approach in under 1.5 hours including a few water stop for pictures to enjoy this as a finish to a long weekend in the Death Valley. It is different than the adjacent longer canyons as the rappels are under 100ft but makes a good choice for a shorter day so you can get on the road home quicker or just as a fun not epic day. Indeed FUN and pretty walls. R3 LDC boulder with webbing is a technical rappel directly into an overhand and the rope will go into the crack to be pinched. The better choice would be to build an anchor on the RDC side of the boulder. We chose to have LAMAR downclimb with specific directions and spotting from below. LAMAR can also put in safety anchors as needed. R6 pothole at the bottom is a 20ft slot section that has water knee high that can be walked through or to increase the fun stem along the edges.
31 Dec 2014	Ok	Dry	None	Normal	5 hours	2 people Intermediate to Expert	Tiffanie (139 reports)
Comment: There are several other canyons in the Princess Bride Range that are considerably better than Humperdinck. Raps and down climbs are straight forward. There is only one down climb that is sketchy and hooks or a pack on top with a handline would be helpful. Better yet, skip this one and run Inconceivable which is next door.