Conditions:Muir Ravine (East)-20190430062009

Latest:	28 Apr 2019 (6 yrs, 2 mos ago)

Reported by:	Willie92708 (1003 reports)
Quality:	Good
Waterflow:	Low
Wetsuit:	Rain jacket
Water temperature:
Difficulty:	Special challenges
Time:	11 hours

Team: 2 people

Trip report URL:

Comments: East Muir is quite the adventure! We did the car shuttle as my friends wife dropped us off at the Wilson Saddle. We hiked Inspiration Point and beyond to the ridge East of East Muir Ravine. We hike down the ridge following the old telephone poles and a fairly decent use trail to a more level area at ~3900 feet (34.21212, -118.09354). From there we followed an animal run into the brush and started cutting our way back and forth along these runs fairly quickly gaining a smaller tributary drainage into East Muir Ravine.

From there it's mostly hiking down steep dirt and scree until we got to our first short rappel R1 at 3421021, -118.09443, and followed by 3 more. At the bottom of R4, there is a large scree / talus field and another major tributary connection at 34.20927, -118.09452. Down from there the canyon starts picking up moisture and eventually a small spring at 34.20737, -118.09431 and R5, we dubbed the "bear den" rappel. A short ways below that is R6 over a giant boulder that hides a larger spring. From there down it's much wetter canyon.

By R7 it's become a "jungle" with thick water plants and canyon kelp. Pruning is not needed at this point, but travel care is needed, because the solid ground is buried under all the plants. At R8 we see the first signs that others have been here before as we find old BW webbing around a large tree limb well out of the watercourse canyon right in a slopey clearing with just leaves and rocks on the ground. R8 is also blind to the bottom and 80 feet?

Below that is some down-climbs on slimy rocks, and we avoid one spot cutting through vine canyon right. R9 is a 8 foot rappel over a mossy rock with plenty of water. R10 is a much longer (80 feet?) version of the same. Soon thereafter we can see the opposite side of Eaton canyon IMG_4701 so we know we are getting close to the finish, or at least in distance.

At R11 we find massive amounts of old webbing buried in the gravel and tied around a tree near the watercourse, but providing a poor pull line for the next long rappel down a plant thicket over a low angle cascade waterfall. Instead of re-rigging this anchor, I climb up to a tree canyon right that has a large limb way up high that make for an excellent straight shot for the rope down R11 (120 feet?)

R12 and R13 are similar rappels easily rigged high up on large tree next to the watercourse. At R14 we get to many pieces of webbing tied together to make a 50 foot anchor extension. One piece that around a large tree limb is dated 1/08 and the tree has grown over the webbing so well that it cannot be pulled out (see picture). Looking around for a better anchor point, we also discover the mother of all poison oak vines nearby growing up the right canyon wall.

I moved forward on rope rigged directly to that large tree and through the ticket of canyon kelp to check out the drop, since the plants are so dense, I cannot see when I will step off the drop. When I get close to the edge, I realize this is the final drop over the massive chockstone (RopeWiki banner picture) and that we need a good location for rope pull issues. Canyon left there a good sized tree growing on a ledge just 6 feet above the canyon floor, and it's easy enough to climb up to this tree without worry of falling over the drop. This tree is perfectly placed for good rope pull and ease of getting on rappel, and only the rigger need climb up to the tree.

R14, the final rappel, is 5 star! Over the giant chockstone, into free hang and the waterfall shower, surrounded by the dark and wet canyon walls. It's quite unique for SoCal. At the bottom with rope pulled and packed we were 8 hours into the trip. From there we spent 3 hours doing the rest of Eaton and back to my truck.

Anchors: Since all the rappels use medium to large trees or sizable bushes, we "ghosted" everything (except R3, red sling, no quicklink) by using my FiddleStick. Although I had a combination of new webbing with me totaling 200 feet and many quick-links, we did not need or use any of that webbing. Using the FiddleStick also prevents damaging the tree bark when pulling the rope, because only a few feet of rope actually is pulled around the tree. If you have not used one, I highly recommend getting one (or the Smooth Operator), learning how to use it, if you want to do this canyon. It will make your rigging easy!

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
14 Jun 2020	Good	Very Low	None	Normal	6 hours	1 people Advanced	Jcsjcs (121 reports)
Comment: Took the Lone Tree trail up to Muir East. Drop-in was very brushy at first but soon eased to a set of fun downclimbs. A small stream started lower down. I did a total of three rappels, all with the Fiddlestick, and downclimbed everything else. The final rappel into Eaton is one of the most beautiful I've seen with a free-hanging section as you descend past a cave hidden behind the waterfall.
28 Apr 2019	Good	Low	Rain jacket	Special challenges	11 hours	2 people	Willie92708 (1003 reports)
Comment: East Muir is quite the adventure! We did the car shuttle as my friends wife dropped us off at the Wilson Saddle. We hiked Inspiration Point and beyond to the ridge East of East Muir Ravine. We hike down the ridge following the old telephone poles and a fairly decent use trail to a more level area at ~3900 feet (34.21212, -118.09354). From there we followed an animal run into the brush and started cutting our way back and forth along these runs fairly quickly gaining a smaller tributary drainage into East Muir Ravine. From there it's mostly hiking down steep dirt and scree until we got to our first short rappel R1 at 3421021, -118.09443, and followed by 3 more. At the bottom of R4, there is a large scree / talus field and another major tributary connection at 34.20927, -118.09452. Down from there the canyon starts picking up moisture and eventually a small spring at 34.20737, -118.09431 and R5, we dubbed the "bear den" rappel. A short ways below that is R6 over a giant boulder that hides a larger spring. From there down it's much wetter canyon. By R7 it's become a "jungle" with thick water plants and canyon kelp. Pruning is not needed at this point, but travel care is needed, because the solid ground is buried under all the plants. At R8 we see the first signs that others have been here before as we find old BW webbing around a large tree limb well out of the watercourse canyon right in a slopey clearing with just leaves and rocks on the ground. R8 is also blind to the bottom and 80 feet? Below that is some down-climbs on slimy rocks, and we avoid one spot cutting through vine canyon right. R9 is a 8 foot rappel over a mossy rock with plenty of water. R10 is a much longer (80 feet?) version of the same. Soon thereafter we can see the opposite side of Eaton canyon IMG_4701 so we know we are getting close to the finish, or at least in distance. At R11 we find massive amounts of old webbing buried in the gravel and tied around a tree near the watercourse, but providing a poor pull line for the next long rappel down a plant thicket over a low angle cascade waterfall. Instead of re-rigging this anchor, I climb up to a tree canyon right that has a large limb way up high that make for an excellent straight shot for the rope down R11 (120 feet?) R12 and R13 are similar rappels easily rigged high up on large tree next to the watercourse. At R14 we get to many pieces of webbing tied together to make a 50 foot anchor extension. One piece that around a large tree limb is dated 1/08 and the tree has grown over the webbing so well that it cannot be pulled out (see picture). Looking around for a better anchor point, we also discover the mother of all poison oak vines nearby growing up the right canyon wall. I moved forward on rope rigged directly to that large tree and through the ticket of canyon kelp to check out the drop, since the plants are so dense, I cannot see when I will step off the drop. When I get close to the edge, I realize this is the final drop over the massive chockstone (RopeWiki banner picture) and that we need a good location for rope pull issues. Canyon left there a good sized tree growing on a ledge just 6 feet above the canyon floor, and it's easy enough to climb up to this tree without worry of falling over the drop. This tree is perfectly placed for good rope pull and ease of getting on rappel, and only the rigger need climb up to the tree. R14, the final rappel, is 5 star! Over the giant chockstone, into free hang and the waterfall shower, surrounded by the dark and wet canyon walls. It's quite unique for SoCal. At the bottom with rope pulled and packed we were 8 hours into the trip. From there we spent 3 hours doing the rest of Eaton and back to my truck. Anchors: Since all the rappels use medium to large trees or sizable bushes, we "ghosted" everything (except R3, red sling, no quicklink) by using my FiddleStick. Although I had a combination of new webbing with me totaling 200 feet and many quick-links, we did not need or use any of that webbing. Using the FiddleStick also prevents damaging the tree bark when pulling the rope, because only a few feet of rope actually is pulled around the tree. If you have not used one, I highly recommend getting one (or the Smooth Operator), learning how to use it, if you want to do this canyon. It will make your rigging easy!