Shadow Creek Canyon
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| | Raps:9 + 1 jump, max ↨100ft
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| Condition Reports: | 6 Sep 2020
"Second descent?. This canyon was a backup plan that turned out to be a gem. Excellent conditions, though very smoky due to the Creek Fire. Water i |
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| Best season: | Jul-Oct (avg for this region)
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37.6969, -119.1230
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WaterflowIntroduction
Shadow Creek is a gorgeous little canyon in the eastern Sierras above Mammoth, and is well worth a visit.
Caution: All anchors are natural. Due to the high flow this canyon sees during spring snowmelt runoff, parties descending this canyon should arrive prepared with the gear and skills to rebuild all anchors, including hardware.
Approach
From Agnew Meadows, take the Shadow Lake trail north along the obvious valley. You will encounter several trail junctions - follow signage for Shadow Lake. Past Olaine Lake on your left, the Shadow Lake trail veers left up a series of switchbacks and climbs steeply out of the valley. Continue up the trail to the outflow of Shadow Lake.
Descent
This canyon is fed by outflow from Shadow Lake, and was observed to have strong and not inconsequential waterflow as late as early September in a relatively low snow/rainfall year.
Most of the canyon is escapable via short climbs/scrambles back up toward the approach trail. Below R8, the canyon narrows significantly and anchor options become scarce. It would be wise to verify that viable anchor options exist at R9 before pulling the rope from R8, as the shelf above R8 is the last chance to bypass this section.
All rappel lengths are approximate:
* R1 35' ghost from tree canyon right
* R2 30' from pinch point canyon left
* R3 30' from slung log canyon center through rabbit hole
* R4 40' from slung boulder canyon right
* R5 70' from pinch point in watercourse
* J1 15' from ledge canyon right into hallway (possible downclimb below)
* R6 25' from slung log canyon left through rabbit hole
* R7 60' from slung log canyon right
* R8 90' two-stage from pinch point canyon right
* R9 100' from knot chock/rock chock in crevice canyon left
Exit
Take the path of least resistance cross-country back to the approach trail.
Red tape
Beta sites
Trip reports and media
First Descent Trip Report and Photo Album:
Background
First Descent (Probably) on 9-10-16 - Team made by: Scott Swaney, Rick Ianniello, Daniel Elson & Herve Mazoyer.