Huaponal
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| | Raps:5-6, max ↨55ft
Red Tape: Shuttle:Optional 5 min Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Limestone | |||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 25 Oct 2021
"Fun little canyon. Ive added a map of a loop that doesnt require a shuttle. There was some flow of cold water over the first rap but the flow after |
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25.0800, -100.2170
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Introduction[edit]
A surprising gem of a canyon located in a tiny hamlet high in the mountains. The first rappel is nearly always dry (except after a big rain), and you will be quite surprised just down-canyon when a large stream flows directly out of a cave on the hillside to provide a pleasant flow for the rest of the rappels. There is a nice 3-4m jump in the middle.
Its sister canyon Alamar is separated by a hill to the south and shares the same approach and exit hike, and is recommended to do both together in the same day.
Wetsuits are not required for this short canyon. The desert heat will keep you comfortable.
Approach[edit]
Drive out to the the coordinates in the description. The road is paved until the last 5 miles, and still is easily passable by passenger vehicles. There you will find two waypoints -- the "Driver's house" and the "Gringo's house". You can stop in at either house and ask if they will shuttle your vehicle back down from the start. However, there is often not anybody there.
The gringo works on the Mississippi River and is at home half the time, in the US half the time. There is no phone or email out here, and you just show up and see what you find. If there is nobody there, or nobody that knows how to drive, it will add about 40 min to walk 4km up the road, but the heat can be intense. The "Turn off" waypoint is the end of the road, and you will walk 20min downhill from here.
Descent[edit]
The canyon is all bolted. The first drop is almost always dry, but then a stream enters the canyon from out of the limestone rock and provides a healthy flow for the rest of the descent. There is a pool halfway down that is jumpable.
Mauricio said that one time they went to descend this canyon after a lot of rain and they encountered water flowing over the first rappel. Downstream the flow was so high that they could not complete the descent and the group turned back, and had to climb up the first rappel. If you encounter conditions like this at the first rappel, you might want to leave a rope just in case you have to turn back. There is no escape up the canyon walls after the first rappel.
Exit[edit]
After the 5th and final rappel, you can take harnesses off and follow the stream downstream on a horse trail. After a while it will emerge from the brush and become a dirt road. Be alert on your left as you pass below a steep hillside -- there will be a trail heading straight up from the road to the Gringo's house, if that's where you left your car.
Red tape[edit]
It's a good idea to check in at one of the houses and tell them what you're doing there, and they will likely store your vehicle and/or drive it back down from the shuttle.
Beta sites[edit]
Wikiloc.com : Cañón del Huaponal
Trip reports and media[edit]
Background[edit]
First descended in 2004 by Mauricio Garza of Aldea Matacanes
