Tiger
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| | Difficulty:4B IV R (v5a2 IV) Raps:4-8, depending on downclimbing ablility, max ↨40ft
Red Tape:Permit required Shuttle:None Rock type:Sandstone | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Condition Reports: | 28 Apr 2018
"6 hours camp to camp (sneak route, skipping the upper downclimbing section) from our base camp at the end of Humble Beginnings (Ocelot). No difficult |
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| Best season: | Spring or Fall
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36.9310, -111.0143
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WaterflowIntroduction[edit]
Approach[edit]
Descent[edit]
The upper half of this route has 20+ drops, which are reminiscent of the South Fork of Maidenwater Canyon. Each drop starts at a large boulder then remains wide down to the floor. All of the drops can be downclimbed by the highly skilled. Some of the drops are 30 feet tall and require exposed starts. If your group lacks the required skill, you will need hundreds of feet of webbing to rig the difficult drops so BE SURE to have at least one very good downclimber in your group if you are going to attempt the top half of Tiger.
The beginning of the lower half of Tiger is marked by a short riparian section. If the canyon is full you will soon encounter a lot of cold water. It will be a few hours before you will have a chance to get warm again, so be sure that you are wearing enough neoprene. In addition to a full length wetsuit, neoprene gloves, booties, beanie are recommended. A neoprene vest might be required depending on the conditions.
After the riparian section there is a keeper pothole immediately followed by a spectacular room that contains three natural bridges. This sequence can be very challenging depending on the conditions. Be sure to bring a rope sheathed with webbing so that you do not leave grooves with a water anchor or SandTrap. Also, be aware that you might be forced to swim underneath a natural bridge in order to escape this room. Be ready for the unexpected here, this sequence changes dramatically after each flash flood.
After the bridge room you will encounter a very large pothole. If it is full, then simply swim across. If it is empty, then you must prepared for a fight. The exit lip is about 11 feet tall and overhung. A partner assist escape will not work here. Bring three Potshots and people that know how to use them.
After the large pothole is a 15 foot rappel that is easily anchored (or downclimbed by the very skilled). The 40 foot rappel into Lion is a few feet downcanyon from this and requires either a SandTrap or water anchor. The water anchor placement is tricky, and the only anchor option, if the canyon is full.
Time: We completed the full 6.7 mile loop of Tiger in 10.25 hours moving at a fast pace. The canyon was in tippy-top full conditions and was extremely cold. The daytime high temperature was about 55 degrees, however, Lion holds cold air very effectively. We estimate that the air temperature in Lion was about 30 degrees, perhaps 10 degrees colder than the water. IN A NUTSHELL, DO NOT UNDERESTIMATE HOW COLD THIS CANYON CAN BE, OR YOU COULD DIE.
Rappels: The rap into the arch room is about 20 feet, but might require 30-50 feet of rope travel. The rap after the big keeper is about 15 feet. The rap into Lion is about 40 feet off of a water anchor or Sandtrap. The bolted rap in Lion is about 30 feet.
Mandatory Equipment: Sandtrap, Sandtrap pullcord sheathed with webbing, water anchor, Fiddlestick, 3 potshots, 2 X 100 feet of rope, 100 feet of webbing (Much, much more webbing if your group does not have a good downclimber). Having one or two short ropes will help your group move more efficiently, something you will want if you start to get cold.
Neoprene: 5/4mm full length suits, booties, gloves, vest, hood, beanie. 7mm suits if you get cold easily.
Please play fair and do not add bolts to this route. We were able to ghost all of Tiger with moderate effort. There are bolts in Lion, which is considered the only trade route in the area, so don’t surprise some unsuspecting boater/canyoneer by removing bolts that currently exist … with the exception of the bolts at the end of the cathedral, those are frivolous and nobody would miss them.
Sneak Route[edit]
If you are looking for a shorter day, but still want to see the best parts of Tiger, you might want to consider the Sneak Route. You can simply walk in at 36 55' 43" N 111 02' 08" W. Entering here bypasses the 20+ downclimbs in Upper Tiger and drops you in before the triple bridge room (the main attraction). Budget 6-7 hours for the Sneak Route of Tiger.
Exit[edit]
Red tape[edit]
Hiking in this area requires a permit from the Navajo Nation. I recommend mailing your permit request a few weeks in advance, along with a very polite letter explaining your trip itinerary. Permit information can be found here:http://navajonationparks.org/permits.htm
Beta sites[edit]
Super Amazing Map : Tiger
https://amazingslots.blogspot.com/2017/05/west-canyon-beta-lake-powell.html
Trip reports and media[edit]
http://www.bogley.com/forum/showthread.php?75683-West-Canyon-Tiger-Route
http://amazingslots.blogspot.com/2017/04/west-canyon-return-to-tiger.html