Wieberg Creek
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| Raps:3-4, max ↨160ft
Red Tape:No permit required Shuttle:None Vehicle:Passenger Rock type:Basalt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Condition Reports: | 11 Apr 2025
"the flow dropped a lot in the last 5 days. Still no rope damage. I think the core shots in the beta were from bouncing on rappel. |
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Best season: | Dec-May
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Introduction
A low elevation, seasonal creek outside of BZ Corner, WA. The creek sports at least three rappels up to 160ft. With decent flow, the canyon can be really fun.
This is a good creek for the early season. There are no deep pools or swimming. Once the vegetation leafs out, there'll be more bushwhacking in the creek. Water levels will drop off significantly heading into summer. The two upper pitches may become completely dry; the spring-fed lower pitch may be running low.
- Watershed: 1.4mi^2.
Approach
Park at B-5000, but do not to block the gate. This land is owned by SDS logging and is open to hiking unless there is a fire ban (they have their own system independent of the state) - or signs are posted indicating active logging is going on.
Bushwhack Route
Walk up the road until you get to the first big right turn, and then hike up the ridge to about 1,900ft elevation. The ridge is a good place to suit up. When the trees open up into a rocky area, descend climber's left to R2, or keep following the ridge and work your way down to R1. Be aware: the hillside is a boulder field; don't knock rocks on anyone below you. Entering at a staggered diagonal is recommended.
Road Route
Follow the road up to Jct 2076, then take the side road (somewhat overgrown) over to the creek and drop in from above. This approach has minimal bushwhacking and may add +1 short rappel.
Descent
Special note: Both releasable and static blocks can get stuck on ring bolts. The last person (anchor manager) should check the block orientation carefully before rappelling. Alternatively, they should convert the rigging to a system less likely to get stuck (ex: knot block).
R1: 20' ramp
R2: 90' – Unlinked ring bolts DCR. There's an easy climb back to the top (loop wide around DCL) if you want to repeat the rappel.
R3: 100' – Unlinked ring bolts DCR. Pull the rope from across the creek where you have a clear view of the anchor.
R4: 160' – Tree DCR. Spectacular free-hanging rappel. From the anchor, route the rope on the creek side of the log.
- Beware: Multiple teams have reported rope damage on R4 . Causes may include bouncing on rappel and abrasion point about 30ft down. Consider creeping the rope.
Exit
From the base of the big falls:
Hike downstream ~0.25 miles until you reach a large, upright old-growth snag in the creek bed. Exit DCL, bushwhacking to find a faint overgrown road grade. Follow the mostly level grade around the nose of the ridge. This will intersect the original road used to hike in.
Alternate exit:
Continue downstream an additional 0.25 miles to Highway 141.
Red tape
Wieberg Creek is on land owned by SDS lumber. Be aware: the area may be closed during periods of active logging or high fire danger.
Beta sites
Trip reports and media
Wieberg Creek - Haruka-James Clay Lipscomb Facebook video
Background
Creek was first scouted by Ryan Ernst and Nick Lonstad in December 2016. Haruka and Ryan ran it later in October of 2017, then went back in December 2019 to replace the anchors.