Conditions:Kings Cave-20230802215655
Latest: |
30 Jul 2023 (1 yr, 9 mos ago) |
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| Reported by: | RFontaine (270 reports) | |
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| Quality: | Amazing |
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| Waterflow: | ||
| Wetsuit: | ||
| Water temperature: | ||
| Difficulty: | ||
| Time: |  7 hours
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Team: 2 people with experience level Intermediate to Advanced
Trip report URL:
Comments: Another great trip to King's. The approach is one of my favorite in Sedona, pretty, engaging, and plenty to see!
Once we got to the top of the final ridge overlooking the layer where the first rappel is, instead hiking around and downclimbing out of the way as the KML would have you do, we ghosted off trees straight down to the first rap. There are many different trees to use and many different lines to take. This is a much more enjoyable way to get back to the slick rock layer in my opinion. The aforementioned down climbs are shitty and take you out of the way.
The rappels on this route are all top notch, just too bad the resort is in constant view in the backdrop...
R1 webbing is sunburnt but not crispy yet.
We took our sweet time on this one enjoying the day!
All condition reports
| Date | Quality | Waterflow | Wetsuit | Difficulty | Time | Team | Reported by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great | Dry 
| None
| Special challenges | 8 hours
| 4 people Beginner to Advanced | Mchlprk11100 (9 reports) | |
Comment: We had difficulty following the offline maps and ensuring we were on the right cliff level once we got past the technical crack and ridge traverse. We kept following social trails that led us astray and had to do a lot of bushwhacking to get back on trail. I would recommend wearing pants and really paying attention to your map to make sure you have a better experience on the approach. Once we got to the rappels, however, it was a fantastic time. Make sure to follow the watercourse the entire way to find the anchors. There were a couple of red-slinged anchors before the first rappel to help with the downclimb, which was really nice. Overall, a really cool canyon!
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| Great | Dry
| None
| Special challenges | 6 hours
| 4 people Advanced to Expert | Heliops (15 reports) | |
Comment: Took the class 4 approach, what awsome views it affords,well worth the effort. The rappels where awsome as well. All anchors are in great shape as well.
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| | | | 5 hours
| 9 people Beginner to Advanced | EMoorcroft (450 reports),Cooper smith (30 reports),Dyln cole (71 reports) | ||
Comment: Webbing stands good, followed the 4th class crack and had a great day. Made it through at a casual pace with a big group in 5 hours, stopped in between rappels to enjoy the beautiful alcoves.
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| Amazing | | | | 7 hours
| 5 people Intermediate to Advanced | RFontaine (270 reports) | |
Comment: Time includes bouncing (rappelling/ascending) the first two drops of Deadman’s Hollow on our way over which added 2hrs to our day. This was a very worthwhile side quest, highly recommend checking it out if you like ascending! I took us down the B-line approach again dropping directly off the ridge from a tree on the bench just below. Downclimb from ridge to first bench at earliest opportunity, then traverse far left over to a large juniper slung with webbing. This option is much better than going way around and downclimbing all the way to the redrock and adds another large, quality freehanging rappel. The 220 is always fantastic as are the other rappels. Great day out with awesome humans!
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| Amazing | Dry
| None
| Advanced  | 5 hours
| 6 people Intermediate to Expert | RFontaine (270 reports),Ffelix (1 reports) | |
Comment: Ryan: "A really great full featured route for Sedona. Fun approach with plenty of scrambling, a few 5th class moves required. Once again, we B-lined it down to the big bench by rappelling rather then going way around for the downclimb. Webbing replaced on last anchor, all others look good. 5.5hrs"
But the route is excellent. The route-finding is part of that and did not take away from the experience in any way. Quite the contrary. If you want a more traditional canyon experience you should probably steer clear of this one, which is more like mountaineering."
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| Great | Dry
| None
| Normal  | 7 hours
| 5 people Beginner to Advanced | Celes (26 reports) | |
Comment: Our group consider the approach rating to be debatably higher than PG. There were a couple of class 4 climbs and the ridge ascend was definitely exposed. Not to say it was not a fun time because it totally was! The overhanging rappels were worthwhile too. The drop in route was a bit questionable on the map; we pretty much just bush-whacked our way down to the red sandstone platform when we got close. Otherwise anchors weren't hard to find. Existing webbing texture all felt smooth and supple.
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| Good | | | | 5 hours
| 2 people Advanced | EMoorcroft (450 reports) | |
Comment: All anchors looked good. Black webbing on the first and last rappel is barely fading but may need replacement in the near future. Everytime I question whether the Rapps are worth the approach. The answer is always yes. Route finding skills will improve your experience.
Enjoy
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| Amazing | | | | 5 hours
| 20 people Beginner to Advanced | RFontaine (270 reports) | |
Comment: Brandon Levander Memorial Trip. We had a staggering 20 people attend this trip yet somehow managed to fly through this route in 5.5 hours!!! I led a few of us down the optional “approach rappels” while the others took the original downclimb route. R1 webbing is fresh. We set 2 ropes on each rappel, fiddled everything and were very efficient. Super awesome day with a bunch of fantastic people! Thank you all for coming out to celebrate the life of Brandon, someone who did so much for the canyoneeing community and one of the first to descend this route.
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| Amazing | | | | | 16 people Brand new to Advanced | EMoorcroft (450 reports) | |
Comment: Awesome day. Bolts all look super solid. Big group, so we frog lept, doubled up, and used Fiddle stick on the big rappels.
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| Amazing | | | | 7 hours
| 2 people Intermediate to Advanced | RFontaine (270 reports) | |
Comment: Another great trip to King's. The approach is one of my favorite in Sedona, pretty, engaging, and plenty to see!
Once we got to the top of the final ridge overlooking the layer where the first rappel is, instead hiking around and downclimbing out of the way as the KML would have you do, we ghosted off trees straight down to the first rap. There are many different trees to use and many different lines to take. This is a much more enjoyable way to get back to the slick rock layer in my opinion. The aforementioned down climbs are shitty and take you out of the way. The rappels on this route are all top notch, just too bad the resort is in constant view in the backdrop... R1 webbing is sunburnt but not crispy yet. We took our sweet time on this one enjoying the day!
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| Great | | | Normal | 6 hours
| 6 people Advanced | EMoorcroft (450 reports) | |
Comment: A trickle of water on the route made for a great day. R1 had been extended but we removed excess webbing. R2 was moved out of the watercourse so we put it back in the original location. R3 and 4 anchors looked great. Everyone really enjoyed the approach and route.
Fiddle stick on the big rappel. It should be noted that there is a large boulder rdc at r2 that is loose and creeping near the edge. Under 6 hours car to car at a good pace.
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| Great | Dry
| | | 6 hours
| 4 people Intermediate to Advanced | RFontaine (270 reports) | |
Comment: Such a fun canyon famous for it’s big rappels one after another! The ridge line approach is always worth doing. We ghosted 2 rappels to get down to R1 immediately upon cresting the last ridge, instead of going around way out of the way and downclimbing. We felt it was more enjoyable that way. Anchors are in good condition.
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| Good | Dry
| | Normal | 6 hours
| 6 people Advanced | Nclegg (407 reports) | |
| Great | | | |  9 hours
| 4 people Intermediate to Advanced | RFontaine (270 reports) | |
Comment: Beautiful alcove system, some of the best rappels in Sedona! We took our time at a very leisurely pace with lots of stops. We ghosted 2 additional rappels before R1 to get from the Coconino sandstone layer down to the red rock bench where R1 was, as soon as it was in sight. This made more sense and was more direct rather than bushwhacking and downclimbing in a round about way. There are plenty of solid trees to choose from to ghost off of. We replaced the sunburnt webbing on R1 and R4. Hung out below R1 for awhile to enjoy the ruins and practice ascending. Finished the route at sunset which was a total treat!
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| Good | | | Normal | 5 hours
| 3 people | EMoorcroft (450 reports) | |
Comment: Anchors are getting faded from sun exposure. New webbing by spring 2023, but looks good for Fall.
5.5 hours car to car. Route Finding from deadmans hollow to r1 can be challenging. Keep trending west until you see a nice break on the overhung coconino section.
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