Silver Canyon
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| | Difficulty:3A IV (v3a1 IV) Raps:7, max ↨150ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger | |||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 24 Oct 2021
"We veered slightly left at the "traditional" drop-in point and followed a gully one to the west of the one shown on the KML. This was pretty decent; s |
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34.2680, -118.2218
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Introduction[edit]
The original beta for this canyon has changed considerably. Keep this in mind if you decide to run this canyon and it hasn't yet been updated here.
A beautiful lush canyon on the North side of Mount Lukens. Since the 2009 station fire there are a bit of dead trees that have slid down into the canyon. It usually has water flowing year-round and is therefore quite lush. It has quite a different feel than the other drier canyon in Big Tujunga. The canyon is super overgrown and has not been visited in a number of years. Our party have installed two new rappel stations in Feb 2020 at R1,R2 and R6. If you decide to go run this canyon, make sure you have plenty of protection against the poison oak.
Silver can be done year round, although in the summer you will probably want to get pretty early (pre-dawn) start on the hike up to Mount Lukens. Otherwise the approach and upper part of the canyon can be quite hot.
- As with all the Big T canyons your help is needed to keep access open. This entire area is still seeing a slow recovery from the old station fire which means lots of invasive plants and overgrowth in general can quickly close off access to these areas and/or make your time in them miserable. Consider adding a pair of hand shears and/or small bypass loppers to your gear list when descending these places.
Educate yourself on how and why [1] BIG TUJUNGA CANYON RESTORATION
Approach[edit]
Descent[edit]
Rappel 1: 120' beautiful multi-stage rappel (banner picture) anchored from a tree DCL about 25' out of the watercourse.
Rappel 2: 110' anchored from a big tree DCR 15-20' up a steep crumbly slope. Clip in to this one while you rig the rope! Take a moment on rappel and enjoy the babbling water and lush riparian environment.
Rappel 3: 120' tree DCL (Brennen's beta) or 150' tree DCR (anchor built October 2021).
Rappel 4: 60' (optional and can be bypassed on the right with moderate DC)
Rappel 5: 50' (optional and can be bypassed on the right with moderate DC)
Rappel 6: 100' (from the tree root on the right side of the granite wall)
Rappel 7: About 150'
Note: if you drop into the canyon via the main drainage from the Mt Lukens ridgeline (labeled as "alt drop in?" on the map), there will be several additional rappels up to ~50'. Lots of downed trees and brush to navigate through as well until you get to the technical section of the canyon.
Exit[edit]
As you come out of Silver you will emerge into Big Tujunga Canyon. On your right is the Grizzly Flat trail heading up. Keep going straight and then left heading downstream. There is a trail on the RDC side of the creek. It doesn't seem to be really maintained and finding it the dark unless you're familiar with it could be difficult. Follow this trail back to your car.
Red tape[edit]
Beta sites[edit]
Chris Brennen's Adventure Hikes (St Gabriels) : Silver Canyon- Super Amazing Map : Silver Canyon
Trip reports and media[edit]
![[1]](http://ep.yimg.com/ay/yhst-136001134851880/forester-8-1-4-by-pass-pro-forged-pruner-pr7240-3.jpg){kind=link}
https://skydizzy.blogspot.com/2020/02/silver-canyon-3a-iv.html
Background[edit]
First canyoneering descent by Clancy Rowley, David Wales and Chris Brennen on September 23, 2000.