Vencejo canyon
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| | Difficulty:3A I (v3a1 I) Raps:5, max ↨90ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Rock type:Entrada Sandstone and Todilto Gypsum | |||||||||||||||
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36.4366, -106.7114
36.4359, -106.7072
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Introduction
This is a cool slot between Golondrinas and little golondrinas canyons along the rio chama. It is a pretty little adventure off of the river and its main perks are that it has great anchors, no rappelling through Todilto alabaster/gypsum, a few neat downclimbs and wont hold your river party up too much.
Approach
This canyon could possibly be accessed from Peso Springs rd/FR505 or Chama Vista Rd/FR503 by car and then walking down to the river with no permits required. This description is for the approach from the river since we floated in on the Chama. Walk towards the canyon from the river and head north up a ramp to get above the cliffs the canyon is carved into. The further north you travel the less steep and exposed this is but the more you will have to walk back along to get to the canyon. Once on top of the cliffs sidehill through the todilto formation until you reach the canyon. We had to cross through one other drainage to get there. Once you can see the canyon there is a low angle chute through the todilto formation down to the first rap.
Descent
Start with downclimb down the low angle alabaster chute. Rap 1: 80' off a boulder down into the entrada sandstone, the landing you see when you first look down is not the bottom, the canyon twists 90 degrees to the left part way down - scenic! Rap 2: 50' off of a tree - go on the RDC side of the boulder on the rappel, the LDC was loose Rap 3: 60' off a tree Rap 4: 30' We downclimbed this one but there is lots of sand for sand anchor or rocks for a cairn Rap 5: 90' very pretty and straight forward
Exit
Simple 5 minute walk back to the river!
Red tape
If you are going to float the river you need a permit which can be obtained through a lottery here: https://www.recreation.gov/permits/621743?gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=22510447360&gclid=Cj0KCQjwxvjRBhC2ARIsAI7KJa2Xv-3LDpK_HpHyHlxMxC2BVwAAAuIh6zbuCvcLlL__9CB1EX4TMa4aAqPyEALw_wcB
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Trip reports and media
https://www.strava.com/activities/18642909898