Conditions:Untrimmed Bush-20210709235924

Latest:	23 Mar 2021 (4 yrs, 5 mos ago)

Reported by:	Mfeingol (52 reports)
Quality:	Poor
Waterflow:	Very Low
Wetsuit:	None
Water temperature:	50F deg C
Difficulty:	Special challenges
Time:	4 hours

Team: 2 people with experience level Beginner to Intermediate

Trip report URL:

Comments: Avoid.

The entire canyon is full to the brim with tumbleweeds. They are dense, sharp and unforgiving, making this canyon a highly unpleasant and exhausting experience. The amount of tumbleweed makes movement difficult, particularly upcanyon, and even something as simple as accessing your backpack safely is a challenge.

The last two rappels are multi-stage, about 100 feet each, and needless to say with all the tumbleweeds pulling ropes is a nightmare. Somewhere between the second and third rappel there is water. The canyon floor is not level. There appear to be numerous potholes and irregularities. However, with the entire canyon stuffed with tumbleweeds, it's hard to even see where you're stepping. If you don't sprain an ankle or break any bones, consider yourself fortunate.

All anchors were in place and operational. Of note: the webbing on the second rappel is showing signs of age and possible rotting due to continuous exposure to spring water. I would have replaced it, but the chockstone around which the webbing is wrapped was buried in dirt, so a shovel would have been required to do the deed. We risked it since we were running out of daylight, had no digging tools, and the webbing still seemed solid after several hard yanks. YMMV.

Bottom line: if you decide to come in here and see any tumbleweeds at all... go back and call it a day. The approach downcanyon is pleasant and only has a few tumbleweeds, but the narrows are holding all of them. Unless you know the canyon flashed recently, and somehow that managed to clean out the tumbleweeds, just go do something else.

All condition reports

Date	Quality	Waterflow	Wetsuit	Difficulty	Time	Team	Reported by
23 Mar 2021	Poor	Very Low	None	Special challenges	4 hours	2 people Beginner to Intermediate	Mfeingol (52 reports)
Comment: Avoid. The entire canyon is full to the brim with tumbleweeds. They are dense, sharp and unforgiving, making this canyon a highly unpleasant and exhausting experience. The amount of tumbleweed makes movement difficult, particularly upcanyon, and even something as simple as accessing your backpack safely is a challenge. The last two rappels are multi-stage, about 100 feet each, and needless to say with all the tumbleweeds pulling ropes is a nightmare. Somewhere between the second and third rappel there is water. The canyon floor is not level. There appear to be numerous potholes and irregularities. However, with the entire canyon stuffed with tumbleweeds, it's hard to even see where you're stepping. If you don't sprain an ankle or break any bones, consider yourself fortunate. All anchors were in place and operational. Of note: the webbing on the second rappel is showing signs of age and possible rotting due to continuous exposure to spring water. I would have replaced it, but the chockstone around which the webbing is wrapped was buried in dirt, so a shovel would have been required to do the deed. We risked it since we were running out of daylight, had no digging tools, and the webbing still seemed solid after several hard yanks. YMMV. Bottom line: if you decide to come in here and see any tumbleweeds at all... go back and call it a day. The approach downcanyon is pleasant and only has a few tumbleweeds, but the narrows are holding all of them. Unless you know the canyon flashed recently, and somehow that managed to clean out the tumbleweeds, just go do something else.