Sand Slide Slots (Lower)
| Rating: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| | Difficulty:3A III R (v1a1 IV) Raps:0
Red Tape: Shuttle: | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Location: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Condition Reports: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Best season: | Any;HOT in Summer
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Regions: | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
_Banner.jpg)
38.3552, -110.5658
Search nearby locations
Weather forecast
Waterflow
Introduction
If doing the Full-Monty, meaning ascending up Slot #5, descending #7, then hiking up again and descending #6, this is a 5-Star route IMHO. Slot #7 contains some high-stemming over Bombay Slot sections and chimneying down very smooth walls with not many features. The slightest slip in #7 in some spots would have immense consequences and could be fatal. #7 is obviously not for beginners. High-stemming experience is recommended. If ascending #5 and descending #6, this is a beginner-friendly route, but the rating would be 2-Star IMHO. #6 has some sustained stemming at a very comfortable width with very low consequences. There are two up-climbs at the beginning of #5 that may pose difficulty to a beginner but can be easily defeated with a hand line.
Approach
Easy hike down an old 4X4 road to the Dirty Devil River, then 1/2 mile level hike and a river-crossing. The river is usually knee-deep at most but extremely cold. On the approach, just before reaching the riverbed level, it is recommended to find a well-trodden cow trail and make a bee-line for the point on the riverbank that is directly across from the mouth of Slot #5. It is about 1/2 mile from the bottom of the old 4X4 road to the point directly across from the mouth of Slot #5. If you go to the riverbed level you will have to bush whack through Tamarisk and Willow for this 1/2 mile. Cross the river here at the point directly across from the mouth of Slot #5. It should take 45 minutes from the 4X4 Parking spot to the first up-climb in Slot #5.
Descent
Again, a warning that Slot #7 is not for beginners - much stemming experience is recommended before attempting this route due to the high consequences of a mishap. Skipping #7 and descending #6, is however, a beginner-friendly route.
Exit
From the mouth of Slot #6, head a couple hundred feet down river to make the crossing at a shallow spot. Then find the cow trail and go left until you run into the old 4X4 Jeep road you came down on. Returning involves this river crossing and then a 450 foot gain.
Red tape
Beta sites
RoadTripRyan.com : Lower Sand Slide Slots
Trip reports and media
Background
Note, as with any slot canyon, it is impossible to rate this route on the French rating system. If someone were to fall into the bottom of the slot in #7 and get wedged in, rescue time would likely be very lengthy as a cave-type rescue system would be needed.