Coyote Canyon (Left Fork)
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| | Difficulty:3A III (v3a1 III) Raps:15, max ↨100ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Granite | |||
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| Condition Reports: | 5 Jan 2025
"This is a not to difficult and very well maintained canyon. The trails throughout are well tread and easy to follow. Since it was the weekend there we |
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34.1910, -118.0908
34.1842, -118.1014
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Introduction
This is the largest of the 3 Coyote Canyon forks. It drains all the Henninger Flats area. It has 3 drop-in points: Sneak, Standard and Extended. From the Standard drop-in point, the Left Fork sports 15 rappels, and a few easy downclimbs. It's an easier option compared with the Right Fork, and without the extended steep drop off the Mt. Wilson Road. In fact, from the road, dropping down just 30 feet next to the culvert pipe and you are at the first downclimb! Think of Coyote Left Fork (standard drop-in) as Bailey without the bolts.
Approach
ALL: Use the same approach options as per Eaton. STANDARD: Well before you reach Henninger Flats, stop a bit before the 3rd bench, as you will drop into the canyon off the Mt Wilson Tool road at 34.19097, -118.09075. On the West side of the 3rd bench (and the ridge straight South of it), look for the steel culvert pipe going under the Mt Wilson Toll Road and the obvious steep trail down just West of the pipe. The R0 downclimb is immediately below that. SNEAK: Drop-in off the switchback after the 1st bench at 34.18943, -118.09203. EXTENDED: Hike all the way up to Henninger Flats, over to the picnic tables on the West side, up to the main building and find the old nature trail on the South side of the building. Follow the trail down and across the canyon floor until you reach marker post #4, then descend down the steep slope (thick ground cover vines up canyon of that) to the canyon floor again.
Descent
EXTENDED There are 2 or 3 rappels (should have webbing anchors) and 2 or 3 downclimbs. If you doubt the downclimb, ghost off one of the nearby sturdy bushes.
STANDARD From the Wilson Toll Road (just before the culvert pipe and bench #3), head down the steep earthen slope to the bottom of the culvert pipe and "stacked" concrete beam wall. Just below that wall is another concrete beam wall that's easy to downclimb or rappel #0. Then you get to the first serious downclimb or rappel #1:
R0 15' down climb the concrete slats
R1 30' bush DCL (27NOV2022 black webbing), or downclimb
R2 40' bush DCL (12MAR2024 black webbing), or downclimb
R3 30' bush DCR (5NOV2022 black webbing)
R4 40' bush DCL (5NOV2022 black webbing)
R5 50' bush high DCR, (24DEC2022 long black webbing)
A couple low angle downclimbs follow
R6 30' bush DCR (24DEC2022 blue webbing)
SNEAK drop-in comes in here:
R7 10' bush DCL (26DEC2023 black webbing), or downclimb
R8 80' bush DCR, 2 stage (5NOV2022 rust webbing) --- now split R8a 40' and R8b 40' with BFR (26DEC2023 black webbing)
R9 70' bush DCR, also 2 stage (5NOV2022 rust webbing) --- now split with a sketchy rock cairn R9a 40' and R9b'; use with caution!
R10 25' bush DCL (5NOV2022 rust webbing)
R11 35' bush DCL (5NOV2022 rust webbing)
After which you come to the bamboo maze. There is a path cut through it. The Right Fork joins in this bamboo area. After which is the last 3 rappels (same as the Right Fork):
R12 25' bushes DCL 10 feet back from drop (11NOV2022 black & olive webbing) The big original anchor tree is dead and fell over here.
R13 40' tree 30 feet back DCL (24DEC2022 60 feet of 7mm black rope tied in a big loop)
R14 95' bush clusters DCR (11NOV2022 bush DCR with black webbing) Note: you are directly under the power line here. --- This could be split using a pinch point (needs to be dug out again) and one old smashed bolt (with bent hanger).
Exit
Hike out the canyon floor all the way to the Eaton trail, or until you can access a trail on the left side. Once at the Eaton trail, hike to where ever you parked.
Red tape
Beta sites
Trip reports and media
Background
It's clear that this fork below the Sneak drop-in has been run before, as there was 2 old webbing anchors (90's vintage webbing). Above that there was no sign of any anchors, which is surprising since this would seem to be the obvious fork of Coyote to run first.
