Scimitar Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3A II PG (v4a1 II) Raps:3-6, max ↨160ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:High Clearance Rock type:Tuff | |||
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| Condition Reports: | 5 Dec 2024
"rapped in from a big tree (with existing webbing) RDC right into the chamber with the cairn for the big rap. this rap is ~85. Probably a more pleasan |
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35.7306, -106.6512
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Introduction[edit]
A stunning tuff canyon with a big free-hanging rappel into a vast chamber-like chasm. amazing hallways and short slot sections follow this before a tough but short scramble out. The PG rating is for all the loose material on the exit.
Approach[edit]
drop into side drainage from parking spot (might be better parking further south on this road but would have to either backtrack or drop in further downcanyon) and follow this till it hits scimitar. topo around to the left until you can drop into the main canyon or rap in from a big tree before this (Alt R1) that will drop you in at the R3 cairn. bushwhacking through annoying gooseberry unavoidable in the approach drainage.
Descent[edit]
R1: 30' tree canyon center
R2: 30' multi-stemmed bush RDC
Alt R1: a big tree outside of the canyon RDC. this will drop you straight down to the chamber with the R3 cairn
R3: 160' robust cairn
R4: 30' multi-stemmed bush LDC
R5: 25' cairn (possible DC)
R6: 10' pinch point at edge (hard start, possible DC)
Exit[edit]
carefully work your way through more ornery gooseberry, staying in the center of the drainage. leave the drainage where indicated on the kml and work your way up the slope RDC, avoiding looser sections and sequencing your team in the sketchier sections. Some class 4 scrambling will get you up the more vertical upper tuff bands if you choose the right spots to ascend.
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
http://www.dougscottart.com/hobbies/SlotCanyons/Scimitar.htm
Trip reports and media[edit]
Background[edit]
First (Known) Descent, in May 2019, by Kevin Childress, Jake Freimanis, and Ben Chesebrough, involved a carefully balanced three boulder cairn anchor above the 160ft rap, and a well balanced backpack anchor for the final raps. Subsequent visits have increased anchor quality substantially to the level of "marginally acceptable" (Read: Better than a tumble weed).