Conditions:Warren Creek-20230704221146
Latest: |
16 Jul 2023 (1 yr, 11 mos ago) |
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| Reported by: | K arc (376 reports) | |
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| Quality: | Good |
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| Waterflow: | Moderate Low |
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| Wetsuit: | Thin wetsuit |
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| Water temperature: | ||
| Difficulty: | Normal |
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| Time: |  10 hours
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Team: 5 people
Trip report URL:
Comments:
Long shuttle and longer creek, but nice to tick off another canyon destination in the "back Gorge." Time is car-to-car, not including time spent setting up & taking down the shuttle. Google Maps should not be relied on to get you to the Warren Lake Trailhead. A number of logging roads around the Kingsley Reservoir have been gated, forcing us to backtrack and try another tact.
From prior groups reports, descending from Warren Lake is largely dry and very brushy, so we opted for a direct descent down a ridgelet through steep, but open forest. We encountered one section of bad vine maple, but once through that the vegetation opened out and it was surprisingly smooth sailing all the way through the technical section (barring, of course, random minor landslides and climbing through blowdown). A lot of short picturesque waterfalls, and then, suddenly, the canyon narrows up and becomes very committing with rock walls shooting skywards. The final sequence was excellent with some fun rappels, but watch out for rockfall hazard.
Below technical section, there's a nice walk-thru narrows, but then the canyon degenerates. It's a 1.5mi splash-whack (bushwhack sometimes in water) all the way down to the bridge on the Starvation Ridge trail. Expect it to be long, strenuous, and hot. All obstacles can be scrambled around, but easier to rappel a few of them and cool off in the pools. Exited at the trail and did not run Hole-in-the-Wall falls per time.
Quite possible upper Warren Creek has not been run since 2017.
All condition reports
| Date | Quality | Waterflow | Wetsuit | Difficulty | Time | Team | Reported by |
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| Good | Moderate Low
| Thin wetsuit
| Normal | 10 hours
| 5 people | K arc (376 reports) | |
Comment: Long shuttle and longer creek, but nice to tick off another canyon destination in the "back Gorge." Time is car-to-car, not including time spent setting up & taking down the shuttle. Google Maps should not be relied on to get you to the Warren Lake Trailhead. A number of logging roads around the Kingsley Reservoir have been gated, forcing us to backtrack and try another tact.
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| Great | Moderate
| | Normal |  3 hours
| 2 people Advanced | EMoorcroft (450 reports) | |
Comment: An awesome and unique little outing. We took our time and really enjoyed the moderate flow. Anchors in great shape.
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| Great | Moderate Low
| Thin wetsuit
| Normal |  2 hours
| 4 people | K arc (376 reports) | |
Comment: Super fun shortie outing in the Columbia Gorge. Can't think of too many other canyons where you get to rappel down a tunnel with flowing water. Easy rope pull from the bolts.
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| Unknown | Extreme 
| | | | Tiffanie (139 reports) | ||
Comment: Water levels were much too high. Reference picture has been added for more accurate water gauge analysis
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| Great | Moderate Low
| Rain jacket
| Special challenges  | | 2 people Intermediate to Advanced | K arc (376 reports) | |
Comment: True static ropes should be used in the tunnel. Even low-stretch statics will extend under load and can result in a very uncomfortable / awkward start to the rappel. Would be much better to install bolts at the mouth of the tunnel. Beware a large pothole being carved out by the creek right before the mouth of the tunnel. Eventually the creek will probably blow out underneath the concrete cap around the mouth of the tunnel. Water levels were good. Have a plan before you enter the tunnel as communication inside is nigh-impossible.
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| Great | Significant
| Full wetsuit
| Special challenges | 4 hours
| 5 people Intermediate to Expert | Tiffanie (139 reports) | |
Comment: Flow was significantly lower than when we went about a month ago. You can rappel directly in the flow while in the tunnel and stemming is not needed for those who are confident on rappel. Adding bolts at the end of the tunnel would significantly speed up the time to run the canyon but either way, this canyon continues to be deliver the fun! We were able to actually rappel the waterfall after the tunnel to the end this time because the flow was sporty, but not dangerous like the previous time.
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| Great | Significant
| Full wetsuit
| Normal | 3 hours
| 2 people Intermediate to Expert | Tiffanie (139 reports) | |
Comment: From the base of the falls, the waterfall seemed “do-able” but the conditions were definitely high water. The water shoots out of the tunnel and plunges into a narrow slot, makes a short turn, and continues the drop. Dropping into the entrance of the tunnel was a unique experience but the experience in the tunnel is exhilarating and also dangerous. At these water flow levels, you may be able to rappel the first ¼ - ½ of the tunnel and you will quickly find out you cannot rappel in the watercourse. The last section of the falls require stemming above the water. Be careful at the last section of the tunnel as there are some “gaps” in the cement where you can drop into a crack. After experiencing this high flow, we decided to rappel outside of the watercourse for the rest of the drops by going around a tree (DCR) which prevented us from rappelling in the water.
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