Conditions:Illusions Canyon-20230517165408
Latest: |
13 May 2023 (2 yrs ago) |
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| Reported by: | RFontaine (273 reports) | |
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| Quality: | Amazing |
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| Waterflow: | Low |
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| Wetsuit: | Thick wetsuit |
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| Water temperature: | ||
| Difficulty: | ||
| Time: |  7 hours
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Team: 4 people with experience level Advanced
Trip report URL:
Comments: Amazing conditions! Canyon was very full and had some flow! Very rare to see it like this so we savored every minute of it!! We all wore 7mm suits, 3mm gloves, 4mm booties, we were comfy but wouldnt want anything less. There were a couple of large snow piles in canyon we had to climb over. The log jam anchor after the fin rappel is washed out so we extended this rappel to a 2 stage. All other anchors still in good shape. Keeper pothole water line is 2ft above the lip. Exit is covered in landslide debris and multiple large snow drifts. 7hrs at a leisurely pace, fantastic day!
(P.S. we took some time to clear most of the fallen trees using my winch, from the 4x4 road right up to the exit. What we were unable to clear we drove around, a chainsaw would be helpful for cleaning up the rest)
All condition reports
| Date | Quality | Waterflow | Wetsuit | Difficulty | Time | Team | Reported by |
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| Great | | Full wetsuit
| Normal  | 6 hours
| 2 people Advanced | Nclegg (409 reports) | |
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| Great | Deep pools
| Thick wetsuit
| Normal | 7 hours
| 3 people | AZ Advocate (55 reports) | |
Comment: Excellent conditions for late May. Pools are still cold, (relatively) clear, and very cold. Keepers are still easy swimmers. The pool for the last rappel still had water 6-8" above the lip of that keeper.
Old webbing removed and new added where needed.
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| Deep pools
| Full wetsuit
| | 6 hours
| 3 people Intermediate to Advanced | EMoorcroft (450 reports),Triggerfish (62 reports),Dyln cole (75 reports) | ||
Comment: Keepers are full, thick wetsuits encouraged, webbing looked great. Beautiful canyon with a smooth exit, nothing to complain about and everything to enjoy. Thrilling day with fun down climbs and rappels.
Great to avoid rope grooves by increasing pull angles or toggling.
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| Amazing | | Full wetsuit
| | 5 hours
| 4 people | RFontaine (273 reports) | |
Comment: Top of the line! Super fun and asuper pretty! Showing a couple of Utah canyoneers their first time through! Drop in via sneak approach near exit parking for minimal bush. Fall colors in full effect! Potholes super full well above lip. Water cold but comfortable in 5/4 wetsuit with cave suit and wool base layers. Probably last weekend 5/4s will be feasible as temps are dropping fast up there. Sneak exit out is always a breeze!
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| Amazing | Deep pools
| Full wetsuit
| Normal | 8 hours
| 8 people Intermediate to Expert | MountainMongo (12 reports) | |
Comment: Never gets old!! Tried an old approach from the north side and it had become fully overgrown. All anchors were in great shape except the loss the anchor below the double glue ins is causing significant rope groves in the sandstone from the rope pull. Better anchor placement would avert further damage. Pothole was in easy mode only 4 inches below the lip.
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| Amazing | | Thin wetsuit
| | 6 hours
| 2 people Beginner to Advanced | RFontaine (273 reports) | |
Comment: Another great run through Illusions! My partner had never been so that made it even better! We parked at the exit and did the sneak approach once again starting here (34.98639, -111.77142) and following a developing use trail down from the ridge. This is very direct, and cuts off alot of bushy drainage aswell as cutting out the short shuttle. Took us 1 hr to get to R1 this way. Water levels are dropping. 4/3 wetsuits were adequate. Replaced webbing at final rap, water in keeper pothole is 2” above lip.
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| Amazing | Deep pools
| Thin wetsuit
| Special challenges | 6 hours
| 2 people Intermediate to Expert | Rocktherapy (5 reports) | |
Comment: Love this canyon. Definitely one of the most beautiful canyons in Arizona. Had just rained and all the potholes were filled. Was a lot of fun swimming all the deep pools. Would definitely recommend to the people that have the skills and gear to complete this canyon safely. Sneak escape out was easier when we kept to the right side of the canyon out.
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| Amazing | Deep pools
| Thin wetsuit
| Normal | 5 hours
| 2 people Advanced | IdahoJoe (1 reports) | |
Comment: Great canyon, it was gorgeous, had some fun downclimbs, and all pools were full. The water was about a foot and a half above the lip of the last keeper. The LOG JAM used as anchor for rap 6 has blown out so make sure you don't pull rap 5 before you get down both drops! We extended the webbing on rap 5 to reduce rope drag and the pull was super easy.
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| Good | Deep pools
| Thin wetsuit
| Normal |  4 hours
| 2 people Advanced | EMoorcroft (450 reports) | |
Comment: DOUBLE I's
We ran insomnia first then from the sneak, hiked down the point to drop into illusions at the confluence. In dry conditions this saves some time on the approach. 4 hours car to car. Last pothole was 2' below the lip but still easy escape.
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| Amazing | | Full wetsuit
| | 7 hours
| 4 people Intermediate to Expert | RFontaine (273 reports) | |
Comment: Another AWESOME Illusions trip! definitely one of the best in AZ and keeps me coming back!
Sneak approach B-line off the ridge is getting more traffic as people find out about it. More worn in, easier to follow. The old approach at head of drainage is very outdated. Water is still very cold, I wore a 5/4 and personally wouldnt want any less until later in the summer. Thick neoprene gloves and booties shouldnt be over-looked either for a comfortable experience. Water levels dropping but potholes still full. Keeper is 8" above lip. Water isnt too gross yet! ;) Sneak exit is smooth as always so long as you stay in the drainage all the way up! We took our time at a very relaxed pace enjoying the day! Soak it in and ENJOY this AZ gem!
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| Great | Deep pools
| Thick wetsuit
| Normal |  10 hours
| 4 people | Nclegg (409 reports) | |
Comment: Time reflects an approach up AB Young and exit out West Fork. All potholes are still full.
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| Great | Deep pools
| Drysuit 
| | 6 hours
| 4 people | Coalemus (160 reports),Nclegg (409 reports) | |
| Good | Low
| Thin wetsuit
| Normal | 5 hours
| 2 people Advanced | EMoorcroft (450 reports) | |
Comment: 5.5 hours car to car using the sneak exit. Water was very clear and cold. ⚠️ Trees dangling over head in the canyon. Pothole is 3 feet above the lip.
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| Amazing | Deep pools
| Full wetsuit
| Normal | | 2 people Advanced | Reallimbic (12 reports) | |
Comment: Amazingly sculpted canyon. So many fun rappels with endless slot sky views. Fun for us challenging down climbs through slick down climb chambers.
Took hook and pole with us but didn't need it. Keeper pothole full at the time and water was above the lip. Sneak exit steep. Road in had some down trees in the road but we were able to go around. High clearance 4x4 always helps with terrain. Fun trail for us in and an amazing canyon to remember.
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| Amazing | Moderate
| Drysuit
| | 10 hours
| 5 people Beginner to Advanced | RFontaine (273 reports) | |
Comment: Incredible canyon in prime conditions!! Took AB Young up, some snow up top but was mostly hard pack, at most ankle deep. We suited up at the register, the water was clean and flowing strong! Lots if snow in canyon. Water intensely cold but bearable. I had a drysuit the rest of my team wore 7mm suits. All anchors in okayish condition but definitely took a beating over the winter. Keeper is 3ft above lip (obviously). We all stayed suited up for the exit down and out West Fork. What an amazing day!!
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