Questionable Decision Canyon
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| | Difficulty:4A IV R (v5a1 IV) Raps:6-12, max ↨180ft
Red Tape: Shuttle: Vehicle:Passenger | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 5 Apr 2025
"Really fun beautiful canyon with alot of variety and fun challenges for the experienced canyoneer!. Set shuttle at exit and approached from Rainbo |
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| Best season: | Spring or Fall
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36.0758, -115.4815
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Introduction
By a wide margin, the most technically challenging, most strenuous, and most rewarding canyon in the Las Vegas area. This route should not be attempted by anyone unless they can complete Old Bill with ease in under 9 hours because if you need to finish the lower rappel sequence in the dark it is likely that you will stay overnight on the wall - route finding down this wall in between multiple fins with countless rope-eating cracks and chicken heads does not seem realistic in the dark. According to Rick Ianiello (author of Las Vegas Slots) this is one of the best canyons in the Las Vegas area, and one of the most difficult. Difficult route finding with some class 5 climbs and difficult descent with tight rappels and high stemming involved.
Approach
The recommended approach is to access from the bottom hiking up First Creek, a non technical canyon. You will start on a decent trail and then once deep in the canyon off trail following cairns. Follow the route shown in the map, traverse the ledges and climb up to the top of the ridge then go to the first rappel. This approach hike should take between 3.5-4 hours. If you need more time on the approach you should consider retreating.
The canyon can also be accessed from the top, hiking in from Rainbow Springs, but it requires a lengthily shuttle.
Another approach option is to hike up the east face of Indecision Peak (the mountain on the south side of First Creek opposite of Mount Wilson), and then hike a short distance west along the ridge to the drop in point. Indecision Peak is accessed by turning south off the First Creek trail immediately before entering First Creek Canyon, following a ramp that heads south (along the east side of the mountain), and then turning around at the end of the ramp and heading northwest to the summit. This approach is clean and avoids the frustrating bush-wacking and boulder hopping in First Creek.
Descent
Lots of rappels, lots of high stemming and lots of chances to get the rope stuck. The upper slot section can be completed in 60-90 minutes. The first drop is a great 80-foot chimney downclimb followed by stemming over some potholes and more chimneys.
At the Last Rappel Sequence rappel CANYON RIGHT, and look for intermediate anchors wrapped around some trees. If you rappel LEFT you may not be able to retrieve the ropes.
Exit
Once back into First Creek follow the cairns to the trail and then back to the car.
Red tape
Beta sites
- Las Vegas Slots Facebook Beta
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Las Vegas Slots Book by Rick Ianiello : Questionable Decision Canyon -
CanyonCollective.com : Questionable Decision Canyon
