Conditions:MMI Canyon-20231023171307
Latest: |
20 Oct 2023 (1 yr, 9 mos ago) |
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| Reported by: | Tcarlisle (77 reports) | |
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| Quality: | Ok |
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| Waterflow: | Dry |
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| Wetsuit: | ||
| Water temperature: | ||
| Difficulty: | Special challenges |
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| Time:
"hours50minutescartocar" is not declared as a valid unit of measurement for this property. |
 2 hours
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Team: 3 people with experience level Intermediate to Advanced
Trip report URL:
Comments: -
CONDITIONS
Approach: From the approach from the parking area there isn't a define path or use trail. We crossed open desert trying to minimize our footprints as we followed the faint beginnings of the MMI drainage. Once the drainage became more defined it is a short trip to the head of MMI canyon with a small down climb to the first anchor.
Water Exposure: The canyon is dry, no water or mud present.
Anchors & Rappels: We used three anchors in the canyon, but looks like that number can vary. We did notice a bolted anchor high up on the south rim that we did not inspect or use. We surmise it was put there to bypass the trick boulders rap, but that is just a guess.
For our descent we used the following anchors:
R1: Anchored from a tree or cairn down a low angle slab that likely could be downclimbed. R2: Anchored from a sling around a large boulder. This rappel goes through a boulder filled ravine and is a tricky rappel. A guided rappel can work here, but you'll question the upper anchor as is looks precarious; howerver it seems wedged in pretty good. R3: This is anchored from a tree quite a ways back and will require about 50 feet of webbing to build an anchor that will reach over the edge. The edge is also severely rope grooved--from below it looks like a comb--and would be very easy to stick a rope here. Make sure the quick link goes over the edge and test the pull here.
Exit: Once finished with the last rap, the rest of the MMI drainage is a hike-a-canyon section to the Exit Options. Shortly after the last rap there is a section of canyon with a lot of poison ivy present. Great care is needed to pass this section without brushing up against the ivy--even to the point of flattening a pathway with rocks. Furthermore, there are also brushy plants in this section with leaves that look like holly and each point on each leaf has a spike. I don't know what the plant is named but "Holly from Hell" is a good candidate. Trying to get through this section while avoiding the poison ivy means you will get accosted by the other sharp plants, but that is a much preferable alternative to a poison ivy rash. Fortunately the poison ivy is present only in a short section of the canyon--for now. Make sure you know how to identify it before doing this canyon.
STATS
- Group Size: 3 canyoneers
- Skill Level: Intermediate to advances
- Total Time: 2 hours 50 minutes car to car
- Weather: Sunny, clear sky and clear forecast. Temps in the high 70's to mid 80's. Too hot for October. Did the Climber's Exit in the dark with headlamps.
- Route: MMI exiting the Climbers Exit and Covert Arch Trail.
All condition reports
| Date | Quality | Waterflow | Wetsuit | Difficulty | Time | Team | Reported by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ok | Dry
| | Special challenges | 2 hours
| 3 people Intermediate to Advanced | Tcarlisle (77 reports) | |
Comment: -
CONDITIONSApproach: From the approach from the parking area there isn't a define path or use trail. We crossed open desert trying to minimize our footprints as we followed the faint beginnings of the MMI drainage. Once the drainage became more defined it is a short trip to the head of MMI canyon with a small down climb to the first anchor. Water Exposure: The canyon is dry, no water or mud present. Anchors & Rappels: We used three anchors in the canyon, but looks like that number can vary. We did notice a bolted anchor high up on the south rim that we did not inspect or use. We surmise it was put there to bypass the trick boulders rap, but that is just a guess. For our descent we used the following anchors: R1: Anchored from a tree or cairn down a low angle slab that likely could be downclimbed. R2: Anchored from a sling around a large boulder. This rappel goes through a boulder filled ravine and is a tricky rappel. A guided rappel can work here, but you'll question the upper anchor as is looks precarious; howerver it seems wedged in pretty good. R3: This is anchored from a tree quite a ways back and will require about 50 feet of webbing to build an anchor that will reach over the edge. The edge is also severely rope grooved--from below it looks like a comb--and would be very easy to stick a rope here. Make sure the quick link goes over the edge and test the pull here. Exit: Once finished with the last rap, the rest of the MMI drainage is a hike-a-canyon section to the Exit Options. Shortly after the last rap there is a section of canyon with a lot of poison ivy present. Great care is needed to pass this section without brushing up against the ivy--even to the point of flattening a pathway with rocks. Furthermore, there are also brushy plants in this section with leaves that look like holly and each point on each leaf has a spike. I don't know what the plant is named but "Holly from Hell" is a good candidate. Trying to get through this section while avoiding the poison ivy means you will get accosted by the other sharp plants, but that is a much preferable alternative to a poison ivy rash. Fortunately the poison ivy is present only in a short section of the canyon--for now. Make sure you know how to identify it before doing this canyon. STATS
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| Good | Dry
| None
| Normal  |  4 hours
| 2 people Advanced | MMclimbhigh (24 reports) | |
Comment: All anchors in good condition. The last rap has serious rope groove issues. Perhaps the NPS should address this? Be sure to extend the webbing ALL THE WAY out to the edge. Courtesy anchors work well here. Fun climb out.
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| Great | | | | | CanditionBot (2103 reports) | ||
| Great | | | | | CanditionBot (2103 reports) | ||
| | | | | Candition.com (287 reports) | |||
Comment: Most recent conditions reported at Candition.com, see Trip Report for full details.
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| Great | | | | | CanditionBot (2103 reports) | ||
| Great | | | | | CanditionBot (2103 reports) | ||
| Ok | | | | | CanditionBot (2103 reports) | ||
| Great | | | | | CanditionBot (2103 reports) | ||
| Ok | | | | | CanditionBot (2103 reports) | ||
| Great | | | | | CanditionBot (2103 reports) | ||