Conditions:Jacob's Ladder-20231105050127

Latest:	4 Nov 2023 (1 month ago)

Reported by:	Nclegg (308 reports)
Quality:	Good
Waterflow:	Deep pools
Wetsuit:	Full wetsuit
Water temperature:
Difficulty:	Normal
Time:	6 hours

Team: 2 people

Trip report URL:

Comments: Rebuilt a few anchors and removed old webbing. Toggle was useful to have. Exited via White Box which was frigid but manageable in a 4/3.

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
4 Nov 2023	Good	Deep pools	Full wetsuit	Normal	6 hours	2 people	Nclegg (308 reports)
Comment: Rebuilt a few anchors and removed old webbing. Toggle was useful to have. Exited via White Box which was frigid but manageable in a 4/3.
3 Jun 2023	Great		None			3 people Beginner to Advanced	RFontaine (154 reports)
Comment: This route is the absolute best way to get down to Hanging Gardens in my opinion! Multiple raps that are fun and beautiful narrow rock walls at the bottom. We parked at the very end of the 4x4 trail where the hiking trail begins. My lifted Xterra Pro4x had no problems on the trail but I wouldn't recommend attempting without 4x4 and AT/MT tires, it is pretty rugged… We did not find the boulder for R1 so we rigged a tree just above the watercourse and added it to the beta. The downclimbs are easy enough for a beginner. The technical is dry, no water or flow. I believe it took us around 2 hours to get down to WCC. We then hiked down to Hanging Gardens which is beautiful as always and hung out there. Afterwards, we hiked back up stream through White Box which is fantastic! It’s super fun to swim through! Lots of swimming, I didn't wear a wetsuit and was cold but it was bearable. Would probably bring a 3/2 next time to enjoy the water more. This section adds alot of bang for your buck to this trip and is totally worth spending the extra time. The social trail beyond White Box that hikers use to get to Hanging Gardens is obviously cairned and easy to find. This route is super chill and has a ton of bang for your buck, a must do, get after it!!
18 Sep 2022	Good	Very Low	None	Normal	7 hours	2 people Intermediate	Damian (11 reports)
Comment: GPS took us through Toms Creek road and it was a nightmare. Even with high clearance and 4wd we were scrapping the bottom and going so slow we could walk faster. This road absolutely sucks, go further and take 149 instead and still be prepared for ugly bumpy. Half way through we gave up and walked the rest of the way. Canyon is very pretty towards the end, we changed the webbing on last rap. Hanging Gardens are so sweet, overall great day.
14 Apr 2022	Great	Dry	None	Normal	6 hours	4 people Beginner to Advanced	Johnbcaves (139 reports)
Comment: Knot chock on R2 blew when rappeller slipped and shock-loaded it. Luckily we had a meat backup. Decided to use fiddlestick from rocks DCR instead. Great weather and the Hanging Gardens were beautiful.
20 Aug 2021	Good	Moderate	None	Special challenges	6 hours	2 people Intermediate to Advanced	Jawx0420 (42 reports)
Comment: Recent heavy rains have taken a toll on this route. We ran into a few unexpected problems with anchors that were missing from the flash floods. The canyon had running water and several deep potholes that were easily avoided. WCC was completely full of water. We had to wade through chest deep water on several occasions to get down stream to the gardens and the exit hike. Debris is everywhere so watch your step! I tripped a few times on slippery rocks and logs. The hike out is more direct than the XML tracks but it is very tough. Cairns mark the entire path which is very helpful. We ran into a rattle snake on approach to the first rap. With the vegetation so lush from the monsoon season this year, watch every step! Rap 1 - This was harder to find than expected. The first drop that you come to is not where the rap is. You must downclimb this LDC and then you will get to the second drop where the anchor is located. It was still in good shape. Rap 2 - The cairn anchor was washed downstream leaving little options for a new anchor. I was able to create a pinch anchor using some webbing that I brought with me. It is located close to the edge LDC. I wedged it in nicely using several knots, then redirected it around a second boulder to put the anchor in a good fall line for the rap. We retrieved the old anchor webbing that had been washed down stream. Rap 3 - The pinch anchor is still in place and is in good shape. Small over hang on rap is fun. If you need to get back up to the top because you left something, you can scramble up RDC. Don't ask me how I know... Downclimbing - Very fun but sketchy when wet. There were a few spots that we considered setting up anchors to rap down but opted to take it slow. Rap 4 - Two stage - DO NOT DOWNCLIMB FIRST STAGE. The tree anchor that was wedged has been washed away. There are no suitable anchors. You must use the Tree anchor located RDC at the top of this rap. We extended the webbing around the rock wall to prevent rope rub and potential of a stuck rope. Double strand rap all the way down. The rope pulled nicely. Rap 5 - Deadman anchor is still in place and in good shape. Fun last rap. We used our fiddle stick on every rap except for Rap 4 due to the two stages. I recommend you bring a 200 foot rope because of the anchor situation on Rap 4. Enjoy!
7 Aug 2021	Ok	Dry	None	Easy	3 hours	2 people Expert	Dwentzel (14 reports)
Comment: It's an okay canyon, better than I thought it was going to be. Quite similar to X-Pine. Definitely a better way into Hanging Gardens. We had an angry Diamondback encounter partway down the last rappel, which was of course the narrowest section. I had to wait until he moved as far as he could LDC so I could rappel past him RDC. A newer more direct approach back to the vehicle has been made versus the GPX route.
23 May 2021	Great	Dry	None	Easy	6 hours	3 people Intermediate to Advanced	Johnbcaves (139 reports)
Comment: Updated the only anchor without new webbing. Had a great time- canyon becomes a beautiful slot near the bottom and the Hanging Gardens were amazing! Great group and beautiful scenery. Weather was a little warm for the exit hike. We added ~2mi each way hiking due to concern over road condition.
2 May 2021	Good	Dry		Normal	6 hours	2 people Intermediate to Advanced	EMoorcroft (330 reports)
Comment: r1. watch for crack at top. r2. cairn anchor was solid. r3. anchor off pinch. watch crack at top of using a block. r1-r3 have ok rock quality, and bushes on the walls. they are all 3 fairly short, but nerve racking, and just on the cusp of being downclimbs. I consider them .Keegan a right of passage for the good section of downclimbing ahead. From r3 pack up rope and downclimb through the next section of moderate downclimbs to the section that slots up. On both trips I have spotted the r4 anchor up in a tree and back ldc. We have opted to downclimb the next 25+ ft to the opening of the chute. In the shoot we have lodged an old tree in the opening which makes for a 50' rapp. This rapp appeared to be a possible advanced downclimb or handline. r5. dead man anchor could use new webbing, or there is a newer anchor rdc and back off a tree. Both times I've done this route I've brought a 100' rope, fiddle stick, pull cord, and extra anchor materials. If you enjoy downclimbing you'll love the middle section. approach is easy, and the exit is moderate to difficult. The exit gets easier everytime but there are multiple game trails and the social trail seems to disappear at times. Hike up and behind the hanging gardens constantly working your way up and right across a few different drainage. often times you feel as if you are hiking back into west clear creek as you make your way to the ridge that stands above hanging gardens. Once on the main ridge things ease up as you work your way to the rim. This route is definitely worth doing at least once as the hanging gardens are well worth the effort.
2 Aug 2020	Good	Dry	None	Normal	7 hours	3 people Brand new to Intermediate	EMoorcroft (330 reports)
Comment: We had fun time figuring this one out! I had read the page before it had been updated with the rapp beta , and Erek's report. We did not use a fiddle stick or retreivable anchor for rapps 2,3,or 4. rapp 1. new easy to find anchor off boulder. Thanks Erek! rapp 2. single loop anchor off pinch in cairn. 60 ft. new webbing and quicklink added. rapp 3. single loop anchor off pinch LDC close to edge. 60 ft. new webbing and quiclink. After rapp 3 a fun section of downclimbing got us to the second tier of rapp4. BEE'S as mentioned in the previous report were encountered but noone was stung. rapp 4. in the same location as the main picture for this page. we did not build an anchor but wedged. dead tree across the opening and used it as our anchor. a fiddle stick can now be used here or webbing placed on the tree. This was a beautiful 45 foot rappel from the edge! rapp 5. We did not locate the new anchor, but used an old tattered deadman that was buried near the edge. I reccomend taking off the new quick link we left, and replacing/ removing the webbing. I would reccomend reading the trip reports the night before, as Erek's reoprt and updates would have been useful. Although we really enjoyed figuring this one out. I would also reccomend taking extra webbing and quicklinks A fiddle stick or retreivable anchor could be useful as mentioned, but is no longer needed. This was a really fun day! Fyi- old webbing that was cut and removed was left lying on the ground by rapps 2 and 3. We packed it out along with a other garbage. Lets keep our Sanctuary clean yall! :)
1 Aug 2020	Good	Dry	None	Normal	6 hours	2 people Beginner to Advanced	Erek (207 reports)
Comment: Setup new anchors on rappel #1 and #4. Used fiddlestick anchors on rappel #2, #3, and #5. Bring webbing and quick links if don't know or want to use retrievable anchors. Canyon is dry. Was able to only get feet wet in WCC to exit. Exit is steep, but on old trail, and is way better than going up creek to more well known exit. Canyon has some nice down climbs, as well as a few scenic rappels. CAUTION BEES!! One member of our group got stung by a bee near rappel #4.