Canyon IV May 23

This would be our recovery day between the previous day's 9 hour trip and our committing two-day trip that would follow. We opted for a slow start to the day, taking our time relaxing through the morning. Eventually we got motivated to drive back out onto the dirt roads. Fortunately this canyon was rather easily accessible, a short straightforward drive and then a short walk to the start of the slot. We knew it had 6 rappels up to about 80ft that would lead to a final terminal rappel on the order of 200ft (followed by a very long exit) so we brought ropes and gear to be able to fix lines down to the top of the final drop and then ascending back up the way we came. This would allow us to see the canyon in a few short hours rather than adding a toasty multi-hour exit. Though this meant we didn't technically "complete" the canyon we would get to see all the stunning scenery the slot had to offer.

The slot started shallow and wide through a series of straightforward downclimbs and large potholes to bypass. I took few photos in this section because the light was particularly harsh. Gradually the walls increased in height overhead and the slot narrowed. Between the sunny day, the midday hours, and the well sculpted walls we were treated to some of the best lit canyon sections I had even seen with varying degrees of golden light surprising us at every turn. We had a few downclimbs to contend with but mostly we were focused on the shifting light, snapping lots of pictures.

The canyon got better and better onward with more twists and turns and soon we reached the first of several very picturesque natural bridges (two views: frontispiece and below). The few hundred feet that followed were very scenic, and for the most part the light cooperated. Past another downclimb was an interesting room with not one but two natural bridges, one and the other, and then a third that we would be rappeling through. I switched into photograph mode hoping that I would snap a few stunners out of many attempts to carefully frame the sights. Onward we went down this 40ft rappel and through the bridge room below.

Natural bridge 1

Natural bridges 2 and 3

Rappeling through bridge 4 

Below was more beautiful twisting slot including a few dark corners. This pleasant walking section ended all too quickly at a second short rappel. A short distance further was the third rappel where the canyon really started to drop.

The second rappel (and below)

Looking down rappel 3

Looking up rappel 3

The third, fourth, fifth, and sixth rappels were so close together that we actually rigged them all using one long rope. I could tell the fourth and fifth rappel both would have a difficult overhanging lip on ascent and so I scouted ahead while Keith waited behind. This was probably for the best as these last rappels did not add much other than the chance to see the final window out of the slot. 

The final corner before the end-of-the-world rappel

I awkwardly ascended up the overhanging lips of the last rappels and then Keith and I worked our way back up. Between the different direction of travel and passage of time the light had shifted. Some of the previous views with perfect golden light were gone, but now other spots had improved light. Because of this I took nearly as many photos as the way down. Keith got some good photos too (photos of me taken by him). 

It was about three hours round trip back to the car. For such a short slot it really was photogenic with some unique features and we probably got pretty lucky with the lighting conditions. We still had hours of daylight to burn but with strengthening wind we had nowhere better suited to hang out than the juniper at the parked car. Keith read a bunch while I did my best to nap away the time until dinner and better organize gear for the following day. So far the canyons had been great. My mind played at what we might encounter in the big brother two-day canyon we would head into the next day.