Conditions:Panameta Canyon-20250501064133
Latest: |
27 Apr 2025 (5 mos ago) |
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| Reported by: | Stber321 (42 reports) | |
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| Quality: | Amazing |
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| Waterflow: | Deep pools |
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| Wetsuit: | Thin wetsuit |
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| Water temperature: | ||
| Difficulty: | ||
| Time: |  4 days
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Team: 6 people with experience level Beginner to Intermediate
Trip report URL:
Comments: A beautiful canyon with chilly pools (wish I had more than a thin shorty for running this on our cold snap day) and a spectacular approach via 150 mile+packraft+Matkatamebia. On our first day up Matkat, we intended to camp at the drop in for Panameta but were turned away at the giant chockstone in the zebra-striped rock layer. Grand Canyoneering suggests a partner assist here, but you can see in the photo below, floods have scored out the entire floor down to a deep rocky hole. It is now a scary ~5.8 or 5.9 free solo. We explored the nearby side canyon and found only a 60' dryfall and scorpions.
The next day, unable to gain the bench, we returned for another look at the area. With a group member fool-hearty enough to try the move, we hoisted packs with a sort of reverse guided rappel around the crack and were on our way to into a city of skinny wild Burros!
Unfortunately the Burros have decimated the ecosystem, plowing over all the plant life (and their funny calls though the night make it difficult to sleep), but make trails that rival official NPS maintained routes. My impression is they seem to be doing too well for themselves in a sort of sad Malthusian sense.
The slide sequence at the begining was great fun! I've never played in such aquatic limestone before!
Our rope was briefly stuck on the 3 pool sequence but pulled easily with a 3-to-1 system anchored off the bolt for the next rap (you may need > 100ft to pull this off). We felt compelled to back up one of the pinch points with a cairn and move the rock chock on the final rappel into a better crack.
Took us 10 hours from the giant chockstone back to the Colorado, on a 4 day trip.
All condition reports
| Date | Quality | Waterflow | Wetsuit | Difficulty | Time | Team | Reported by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amazing | Deep pools
| Thin wetsuit
| | 4 days
| 6 people Beginner to Intermediate | Stber321 (42 reports) | |
Comment: A beautiful canyon with chilly pools (wish I had more than a thin shorty for running this on our cold snap day) and a spectacular approach via 150 mile+packraft+Matkatamebia. On our first day up Matkat, we intended to camp at the drop in for Panameta but were turned away at the giant chockstone in the zebra-striped rock layer. Grand Canyoneering suggests a partner assist here, but you can see in the photo below, floods have scored out the entire floor down to a deep rocky hole. It is now a scary ~5.8 or 5.9 free solo. We explored the nearby side canyon and found only a 60' dryfall and scorpions.
The next day, unable to gain the bench, we returned for another look at the area. With a group member fool-hearty enough to try the move, we hoisted packs with a sort of reverse guided rappel around the crack and were on our way to into a city of skinny wild Burros! Unfortunately the Burros have decimated the ecosystem, plowing over all the plant life (and their funny calls though the night make it difficult to sleep), but make trails that rival official NPS maintained routes. My impression is they seem to be doing too well for themselves in a sort of sad Malthusian sense. The slide sequence at the begining was great fun! I've never played in such aquatic limestone before!
Took us 10 hours from the giant chockstone back to the Colorado, on a 4 day trip. | |||||||
| Amazing | Deep pools
| Thin wetsuit
| Normal | 4 days
| 4 people Beginner to Advanced | SjShattuck (4 reports) | |
Comment: All anchors in great condition. Several cold swims - we had 3/2 and 4/3 wetsuits, and were slightly chilly but mostly fine. Absolutely stunning canyon, and easier than expected based on the description in Grand Canyoneering.
In the trip, we did 150, Matkat, Panameta, and Olo in a 4 day trip, each day quite long except the day hiking out where we finished around 3pm. Brought 130' webbing and 18 rap rings. Ended up only needing to build one anchor at the first drop into Olo, using 30' of webbing. Everything else was good to go, though I expect that can change pretty quickly. | |||||||
| Good | Deep pools
| Full wetsuit 
| Normal |  9 hours
| 6 people Brand new to Advanced | Erichransom (20 reports) | |
Comment: Amazing canyon with cold swimmers and long approach from the river. Donkeys on the mesa!
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