6 of us descended sections 2-4 (skipping out on the PG/R section 1 to give more time for the riparian section). Great Day. ENJOY!
Sharing this video as requested by RAM via Tre. The 370mb vid slightly exceeds the 10mb CC limit, so you can view here on YouTube:
Stevee B
@rawtrails care to expound on what was happening in the vid at 2:20 or so? Is this the start of the worst of it?
rawtrails
It actually started getting real fun after the first big downclimb/dark section around 1:15. At 2:20 you’re past some of the big silos but still have some exciting movement with lots of air beneath.
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Stevee B
Typo – Justin Healy, Ram…
Ram
I really wish I had heard from The other folks who went, but alas. Thanks for posting and giving me a buzz from my armchair. It really gives me a charge to hear about these bold descents, see pictures and videos too. Congrats again.
A couple of more pieces of the history to add to the post for posterity. If I had not wandered off to take a leak in just the right direction, I don’t find the exit between sections 2 and 3. That means I never would have had the nerve to head in knowing an escape existed. Or never figured out how to put together the 1,2,4 combo descent, predating the first full descent, by a year. If I didn’t know and fear that any canyon that goes X early on (2nd section) is liable to get a whole lot harder later. (True in Navajo, but not Wingate Sandstone) Then I would have found myself in deep poo, where I did not belong and way over my head. Great fun dipping my toes into this area, with a few sleepless nights mixed in.
The story of the first partial descent and the steps taken to get there
https://www.math.utah.edu/~sfolias/canyontales/ram/?i=bishop
Bishop and the X–Men
by Ram
The place intrigued—isolated from any trailhead with the lower canyon boxed in from all sides and spilling into the reservoir, providing no access back to land. What was up there? Some rumors abounded but nothing definite and no one claiming a descent.
After years of wondering, last April our Powell trip took the boat up Willow Creek with the purpose of measuring how much of a swim would be required to connect to a canyon that one could walk out to the road from. Answer was … 1.6 miles (and with the pool up a dozen feet, probably longer now). That is a long way to swim. There were spots to get out and rest and maybe stroll a bit to shorten it, but having swam the 375–yard swim out from Blastphemy on the trip, it seemed unreasonable. Our boat guy mentioned that he would be in the area come mid–May and that we should stay in touch.
Maybe, just maybe.
The May trip drew near, dates were assigned to varies segments of the trip, and we spoke to the boat guy. Sure he said, I will be in the Escalante that day. A date and time was set: 2–3 PM on the 14th, Mother’s Day, and he would give us a boat shuttle. Now we were forced to work the rest of the logistics. We planned on a car shuttle, out the 40 Mile/Willow system. We would have to find the entry and check out the rumors and the country, plan departure times, gauge equipment needed. Sigh, a day spent on logistics. It didn’t help that the weather had turned hot. Wyoming Dave and myself, in between partners, were elected to scout and explore and the 12th was the date.
Following the map, we looked for the road on the map. It turns out there were two roads an d the larger one is not on the map. So, we played dune buggy on the deep sand, scared to stop for fear of sinking to the hubs. The other road, the one barely visible anywhere but on the map, had deep sand and, when the day to do the canyon came, we walked it anyway hoping the desert would swallow it by it not seeing traffic. But we were stuck further from the canyon than planned and the day turned hot as we approached, the extra few miles stealing the time bought by an early start.
Eventually, we looked down on a slickrock wonderland, punctuated by Navajo domes. We weaved in and out and found our way to a point a tenth of a mile before where the upper canyon dives through the last of the Navajo and into the Keyenta formation. An area often having big drops. What we saw intrigued and frightened us. At a lookout 120 feet above a 90–degree turn in the canyon, we looked both up and down stretches of canyon that looked deep and challenging. Up canyon we saw a slot with what appeared to be fast dropping raps out of stemming–like environs coming from hidden chambers. Downcanyon, we saw a deep slot dive under huge boulders headed toward a final big drop of unknown height.
From our perch, Dave spotted one of the rumors we had heard. A few yards away in a tiny pothole on the edge of the drop, we found five, I said five, bolts. Not your mangy stardryvin deals either. These were burly ½ inch affairs drilled way into the rock with large hangers on them. No webbing was observed. And why 5 bolts? One could ask why any bolts too. The canyon was nearly over. Who came all the way down here and drilled? And what were they hoping to accomplish?
We climbed up and around on the rim and noted a huge amphitheater below what appeared to be the final drop. We found an exposed angle from which we could look at the final drop and estimate its height. We gave it a max height of 150 feet. One wondered if one could find an anchor, down so narrow a slot, spitting out such a steep drop. One wondered if one would find a bolt garden there too. Ummm …
It was time to work our way up the narrow upper canyon. We spied the up canyon slot and started to rim walk, at least where we could, and then got close to the slot where possible. What we saw was amazing. It looked like a super narrow slot, closing to under a foot or so, way off the ground? Hard to tell. In fact, when we entered the canyon just above here, we found that to be a theme. Was the slot 40 feet deep or 100? Now and again, it opened up to reveal big drops but, even when a few feet wide, it dove so far that a bottom couldn’t be discerned.
After bypassing a pothole side canyon, we sought and found shade behind an outcropping and ate and drank. Water was starting to run low. I strolled over to relieve myself and noted, with surprise, that what looked like a steep slickrock slope may, just may, provide access to the main canyon by the pothole canyon. Seemed worth a peek. I edged down now understanding why we hadn’t noticed it on the way to our break—steep. By weaving a bit, I kept it at exposed 5.1 or so and we were in. A look both up– and down canyon revealed serious territory, off–the–deck and not a break in sight. We went both directions and found the climbing strenuous but straightforward. We had found a low entry/exit. It would come in handy.
Out again, we followed the rims upcanyon, occasionally detouring around side canyons that entered usually into big, steep potholes. We noted that the section above was 100% stemming. A short break and another 2–tenths section would be 80% stemming and another 2–tenths section would be 60% stemming. Now realize, we are getting up into some pretty flat country and one would expect no stemming at all. But this baby wouldn’t relent. Even in shallow slots, it would force you off the ground part of the time. Why? Does it drop so fast as to dig? Is the rock extra soft? Both of these things? Something else at work? Anyway, we had cleared the top of the Navajo and, red–faced and dehydrated, we slogged up through the sand for another 1.5 hours in the sun, back to the car and our drinks. We had found out a lot. Enough to know that the place meant business.
— Day 10 —
Two days later, the group is assembled. Nat Smale, Stevee B, Wade Christenson, Justin Potholepisser, Bill Wolverton, and me. We set the car shuttle and hike. It is a lot easier when you are on the right road and it is the cool AM hours. We bypass many of the minor slots as we realize time will be a factor with the hard work ahead and the boat pick–up scheduled. We pick our entry. Nat and I go and set up the big rap entry off the bolts spied a few days before. The thought being that some of us, when they have had enough stemming, will exit along the way at the spots we have scouted and reenter lower down for the trip through. Did I mention that there was a LOT of stemming? A few tenths of a mile can take hours sometimes and it is never fast. Anyway, Nat and I return and rejoin the group and we are off.
Off indeed.
Almost immediately off–the–deck and never down again, we are forced so high that we are in the sun often and the temps reach the mid to high 90’s. We are sweating tons and salt stings our eyes. After several hours, we reach the final known exit. It is getting late. Steve decides to probe further on his own. We play rim team. He reports drops of 85 feet into complete blackness. He asks for a head lamp to be lowered. The spot is impossibly steep to access and could we find him, with a lowered headlamp, in the blackness of the inner canyon anyway. He decides to come back to the final exit. I am relieved. I spot him do a series of dyno moves 60 feet up and clutch my throat. This section, below where the rest of the group bailed, is way serious. On our way back to the rap–in spot, we note a down canyon section, with a room where the wall appears to sweep closed forcing one up to 80 feet maybe. What then? Maybe one can squeeze through lower and maybe it stays narrow enough to allow continued passage, but it’s that type of place one never imagines until one sees it, and then it invades your dreams … or nightmares.
We send a probe down the rappel, into the canyon, and down to the final drop. The canyon is opening. It is that point where a canyon releases you from its difficulties—but not this canyon! The slot stays formed in the bottom of the widening and deepening canyon. After a bit, word comes back that the final drop has been reached and anchors are there. We all rap in. Nat and I look up canyon a bit. I encourage Stevee to take a harder probe and he reports wonders—dangerous wonders—hard climbing, anchorless drops, and impossibly narrow corridors. We head down to the final rap, a total of a ¼ mile of slot bypassed. What secrets lie within?
On the way to the final rap, it narrows and one must squeeze, stem, etc. past 180–degree turns in amazing lighting. No easy ground here. I am sitting in one of those bends, a leg on each side, and I note a hole below me. A room through a bridge, 10 feet lower and large. In the bottom of the room is another bridge and the lighting reveals another room below it. I have never dreamed of such a place. The next piece of the bolt puzzle reveals itself. There are 5 bolts at the final drop, some of them huge eye bolts. Who did this and why? We do the rap, a lovely affair of 100 feet down a wall and into riparian paradise. We refill our water out of the spring and soak in the beauty. We note that there is no trail and not even much passage down canyon. This leads us to conclude that our bolting friends take the long cross country trip, do the 2 raps and canyon section in between, then jug back up and reverse their route back up to the road via a long sand slog. Ugh! A wonderful tenth of a mile, but talk about a little bang for your buck!! And why isn’t there much traffic up from the lake?
The reasons for the lack of traffic up canyon from the lake reveals itself quickly. We fight our way through thick brush, poison ivy all over the place. Finally the brush relents and we find a slabby stream of redrock and green pools, with a tiered canyon and orange, towering walls. It is sublime and you look around and are quickly rewarded by a fast trip to your butt. Boy, is this place slippery!! I found that I was so intent on my footing that I was passing the canyon afraid to look up. I would stop to look—the only way to do so and keep balance.
After 3 miles, signs of the lake abound. Around the corner we go and I find Bill up on the sand. He directs me through a debris–filled section of the lake and over the ridge to my dear friend Ivy, boat and all. We are both more tan than a month ago. The lake is 23 degrees warmer (73°) and we play ‘catch up’ with each other. Stevee is a good friend and he says hi. The others get intros and we are in the boat. He offers the cooler and this red–faced bunch drink, water, lemonade and soda. Nachos and Chips Ahoy disappear as if by magic. The boat moves slowly through debris. We are in the shade, sitting on padded seats, and it is like we were transported somewhere else. Stories make the rounds and it is like a whole different world.
Alas, we still have 7 miles to go and over 1,500 feet of elevation to gain. So out we go, enjoy a full dunking in the warm lake, and say our good byes and thank yous. We meet and say hello to Ivy’s sons and their girlfriends … girlfriends in bikinis … and I realize that I have been scratching against sandstone walls a little too much recently. The hike up Willow is a delight— waterfall, the huge Broken Bow Arch, pretty flowing stream, mixed with conversation—and the miles go quickly. Once back at the trailhead, Wade, Bill and Justin head out. Stevee moves into my car and starts playing with all the buttons. Nat, Stevee, and I decide to move up to Egypt for the night. We will start hiking the next day before 6 AM. We will be out more than 12 hours. A date with East Baker is planned. And so it goes.
We saw a lot of country that Mothers Day, but there is more to see. Bishop Canyon sits unfinished. If you decide to go, be careful. Very, very careful.
• Addendum •
A year and one day later, I introduced Steve ‘Spidey’ Jackson to Rick Green and told them there was this hard canyon I could show them. Wyoming Dave and I sat on rim for them and heard amazing commentary from below—hard exposed down climbs, dark slot requiring headlamps and forcing these two to crawl horizontally through for great distances. Most challenging of all were the two ‘silo series sections’ where they were 60–100 feet off the ground crossing one silo after another, sometimes fully extended, into off–width up climbs on the backside. After finishing the unexplored section, they jugged out at the bolts and all four of us did the two upper sections together.
This canyon is now rated as one of the two hardest and most dangerous ones known.
Ram
Ram
rawtrails said: ↑
Thanks so much Ram. It was an awesome day. We hiked for about 1.5-2mi (it seemed) in the riparian section before turning to ascend out before dark.
From the TH it took :45 to go set the rope for the ascent. Then we walked into section 2. 4:15 later we were at our fixed line before section 4. The x section in 2 was straightforward. Exit ramp at a pool on canyon left before the start of section 3, which begins w some PG then it gets into the goods. 60’ downclimb. Dark section. Sideways shimmies with headlamps. Crossing silos in the dark. At one point going high put us what seemed to be 75-80’ up. Shimmy down 25’ to more straightforward movements with less “crap your pants factor”. Another big downclimb. Amazing to be in there.
Two sets of 2 anchors allow you to fix a line in section 4 (20 and 30 feet respectively) and the final rap (120?) puts you in the riparian section. Returning up after exploring to ascend 120’, 60, and the 150’ to the rim.
Would love to hear more of the history. Thx for the comments and high fives
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It is about 3.5 miles down the Riparian to the pool so it sounds like you were about halfway, perhaps a bit further? As you saw, the upper part is a bit of a thrash. Once you hit high water, the quality drops significantly. Some “lower than high water places” are pretty. This one is not and there is a lot of it now with the low water. You stopped at a good spot, with less than a mile or so of the real quality below you.
On the first partial descent (TR to come) Stevee B entered the third section and did the PG, did the down climb, to the dark. He called up to us to lower him a headlamp. Unfortunately, it is adjacent a steep Navajo dome and we could not comply with his request. He says that the climb back up that first big down climb goes at 5.8, free solo in his case.
I do not recall the bolts, above the final rap bolts, at the end of section 4. We did not go back up section 4 and likely missed them down climbing in there. Spidey and Rick did not mention them either and they did reverse the 4th section to the jug out at the end of the 3rd section.
Ram
These are from the 2nd X- section. Remember this is the EASY part! Also the stroll over to the bolts looking at the third section from above
Mothers Day 2006
Photos by Wade Christenson
Nat here
Me
Bill Wolverton
Stevee leads the way
Stevee scouting the start of the 3rd section, maybe 100-200 feet before the drop into darkness. Taken from the exit slab
The exit slab between sections 2-3. Bottom of pothole side canyon in view left side
Early in the dark section below
The big flat section at the bend. Right side perhaps so narrow that escape would not be possible. Dark section below that. The left side the first and hardest of the silo sections and the “its hard” comment spot
Second silo series in foreground
Exit jug between sections 3 and 4
Last edited: Mar 26, 2017
Canyonero
Cool videos!
Ram
And the video they posted of it. An awesome video it is
Aaron’s comment on it
Video – I do apologize for not having the silo sections…next time!
Ram
Here is the CC post of the 2nd known descent, by Aaron Smith and Angus Weissner.
I will offer the early scouting and initial partial descents leading into the 1st full descent after some more of you modern folks pipe in
http://canyoncollective.com/threads/bishop-9-26-16.24553/
Bishop 9/26/16
Very little beta going into this canyon. We spoke to Rick Green who could tell us about the dark section(headlamp required), long silo section and that it was “spicy.” I had a write up that is now lost so I no longer have exact times but we hiked down to the exit point and set our rope to ascend out. Peter was using the day to scout a few things and hang out on the rim. Plan on about 1.5 hours to hike, find and set up the exit, add another 30-45 min to retrace and find the entrance to Bishop.
Angus and I hiked back to the head of Bishop with our Lep packs, geared up in standard X fashion and headed in. The initial upper section is quite tame and hardly worth mentioning. I would lean towards an R with fairly low stemming. Middle section gets more difficult with increasing exposure(R+/X-). I remember an open section with a large boulder and that from there the canyon quickly progressed.
High stemming, awkward climbs and everything else you would expect. There are three large drainages that enter from the LDC. As each of these enter you notice the canyon cutting deeper and features getting more bizarre as you go along. The difficulty also increases as you progress. I don’t remember any of these showing much if any promise of an exit unless someone else descended a drainage and set a rope.
Exposed stemming will lead you to an obvious point where the crack goes over a ledge and the bottom drops out leaving you in an elevator style shaft 40+ feet to the ground. I take the packs while angus anchors in to provide a hand line while I investigate. “Better than it looks” I shout back up to Angus. A short walk presents you with a rockfall with a small hole going into darkness. It looks like a cave. Above is a very difficult looking climb that we didn’t even attempt. I wouldn’t rule out a potential alternate route higher. It would be one of the most heady climbs we have seen thus far by looks alone and unexplored territory in the canyon. Headlamps go on, into the dark we venture.
The pinching and convoluted walls above prevent any light from entering. Walking/crawling at first but the canyon floor cuts away and now stemming in an otherwise pitch black environment. We both agreed only Sleepy Hollow has a dark section that compares. That itself is a distant second to the seriousness and amazement both felt in here. There is a turn or two that allows a very slight bluish hue of light into the canyon but not enough to navigate. There is difficult micro route finding in here through a black maze that pinches above and below at various spots. Bombays at times and a few unwelcome silos with unknown heights to cross. A few times were are shut down, have to retreat and find a higher route. I remember climbing into a passage with chest deep water that went for about 30 feet. The ceiling slowly comes to meet the water line confirming its a dead end. At some points we are barely squeezing through 25-50 ft sections. More of these go our way than not preventing some otherwise undesired retracing and climbs.
Light starts coming back into the canyon and a ground touch is made. A long up climb ensues that is exposed with moderate moves. Very difficult to say given the illusions of distance but I think 60ft is more on the conservative side. There is lateral movement during this up climb but looking back from the top, the starting point cannot be seen due to darkness. As you get to what you think is the top, a silo to the ground presents itself. Going another 5 feet up makes this crossing less sketchy. Either way I remember this transition to be very uncomfortable with potential falls on each side of you. To exit the silo you must transition by wedging yourself into a constricting of the walls to find safety from the void below. Beyond this constriction is another few silos with difficult moves. This was the hardest section up to this point in the canyon but would be trumped by the coming silos.
The next remarkable section is Silo Row. Convoluted walls, silos to the ground, sickening exposure and as Rick Green said, “spicy.” We found ourselves climbing down into silos to seek better features for crossing, climbing back out only to have another silo waiting. They are stacked on each other and relentless. Some silos must simply be crossed with wide uncomfortable stances. Every man for himself basically, mostly un-protectable. These are no doubt the highest and most serious silos we have ever encountered. They are a level up from any other canyon. Even PINTAC or Long Branch might have a comparable problem or two but never stacked so closely and consecutively. This area is short but takes a considerable amount of time.
In this section while attempting to get out of a silo and into the safety of the walls I made a miscalculation that left me in a precarious situation. What appeared to be a simple transition into a body wedge i found myself a foot lower than expected, 6 inches too wide for a solid wedge. I was left hugging a bulge with my back pressed against a wall that was sloping downwards and away from me. A foot placement I was counting on crumbled when pressed. It was also sloping more than it had originally appeared, now a slick and featureless wall. Below me is a now very apparent bombay. A position I could have held for perhaps 10 minutes max. A dynamic move had to be made. I’m 95% sure I can make this move, I look down and see an uncatchable fall that would only be slowed by bouncing off the curves of the walls that trailed 50+ ft below. I decide that 1/20 carries an unacceptable risk and call to Angus a few feet ahead to come back and provide some protection. He braced himself in a back to feet stem and provided a hand line which I used to improve my situation. This is why we both carry short coiled ropes in these canyons. Had I been the only one with a coiled rope, Angus would have been unable to help me.
I find “safety” on a tiny ledge perched high above. I look down at the hole I just escaped and became quite shook up. Peering into it and the open space below I start to ponder what exactly the hell we are doing in here. The idea of retreating is more illogical than pressing forward. I know that if there was an escape at that moment I would have taken it without hesitation. Its a dangerous thing for one to consider other options when you really have none. Angus and I make small talk, dinner plans of the evening and such. Smothered burrito with fries at Cowboy Blues sounds like our best bet, shower at the Outfitters afterwords. I focus on my breathing to prevent any more adrenaline from being released. As the catecholamines taper I move from the perch to cross the next silo and into a safer position in the next pinch. Wash, rinse and repeat.
The canyon eases slightly and begins to tease of the telltale signs that it is losing its ability to maintain its complexity. Subtle features start becoming apparent, things you notice in a X canyon after looking for them enough. Another turn and another silo section similar to the previous but not quite as bad…still very bad and only dwarfed by the previous run. My gopro battery has been dead for a while, I know I should change it to catch these sections but it isn’t a priority to me at this moment.
I start to notice a large wall visible DC right. I’m convinced this must be near our exit given the sharp turns and big walls we noticed while setting our ropes. We let out a few shouts to see if Peter can hear us. He yells back down and we know the end is near. One last turn, touch the ground, manage the boulder field and see our rope. After a rest we ascend the rope as we escapes Bishop’s last attempts to keep us locked inside. Peter greets us with smiles and jubilation. As for the rest of the day, we respected the plan made on that tiny little ledge far above the ground exactly as it was discussed. The burrito was excellent.
Canyonero
Thanks for sharing.
Ram
Because even now, it is a very long swim before a very long walk. Besides after the jug out it is a short and pretty walk in Navajo dome country
stefan
holy smokes! outstanding!!
Ram
Wonderful. Congrats.
I just sent this video to the first two to do the whole canyon, Rick Green and Spidey Jackson (2006). The canyon does not get done very often, in fact it may have been a decade before it saw a full 2nd descent. Now I see someone in there that I think has done it more than once? Tom? Who else has done it. Adam Smith? Angus? Anthony? Wayne? Who? I know there are a few more.
I am impressed that you folks rapped off the 4th section into the beautiful Keyenta section. Well, beautiful after a bit of thrash avoiding poison ivy. That meant they had to jug back up, what was it about 95 feet, then a few hundred feet of slot to the jug up about 135 feet? Then all the way up to the top. To fit that all in on limited November daylight? I praise your curiosity as much as your stamina. Should I mention tolerance of 80 foot ground fall potential and over and over again? Is it really that high? I would so love to be in the dark section, but NOT the Silo Series. I sat rim on the full 1st descent and I know that one can’t exit there. Too narrow above the dark methinks.
Please add detail of your experience and observations. Eyes gots to know more!!! I have collected a fair bit of the history that I am aware of. After all of you take some deserved bows, I will add some of that history to the thread. It is an interesting history.
I am very excited for all of you!
Ram
Angus
I’ve Run it twice. First time (second descent) with Aaron Smith, second time with Tom Collins and Adam Anderson. The second time, we did what I call the pawn entrance, which puts you right above all the best stuff, and leaves more time for doing the final rap and ascending back out. I recommend the pawn entrance if you’ve already done the regular entrance.
Ram
Hey Angus, did you really “run it?” At a 1/4 mile an hour?
So Angus is among the folks to do it twice. Kudos and thanks for notifying me that Adam Anderson has been also. I was hoping Tom Collins might pipe up as you confirmed he has done it twice, at least. Tom? Most folks I have talked with say they loved it, but were quite content to be “One and done” on it. Great skill, confidence, courage or perhaps it requires a bad memory for a second “run” through there.
Also are you referring to the “Pawn Entry” as being the slab next to the pothole side canyon that separates the 2nd form the 3rd section? Here? Origin of the name “Pawn” please.
RyanHone
Thanks Ram, I am also very curious to hear the history about this canyon. Love that stuff, here are a few more pics from our trip, a shot looking down from the last rope ascent, a shot of josh at the area we fixed a line at the end of section 3, a couple of the big down climbs, horizontal inch worming in the dark section, and the absolutely stunning riparian section. Would love to go back and finish the entire section 4 down to the lake. I hate unfinished business haha. Bishop is a one of kind place, it has it all. The dark section almost felt like we were caving haha, loved it!
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rawtrails
Thanks so much Ram. It was an awesome day. We hiked for about 1.5-2mi (it seemed) in the riparian section before turning to ascend out before dark.
From the TH it took :45 to go set the rope for the ascent. Then we walked into section 2. 4:15 later we were at our fixed line before section 4. The x section in 2 was straightforward. Exit ramp at a pool on canyon left before the start of section 3, which begins w some PG then it gets into the goods. 60’ downclimb. Dark section. Sideways shimmies with headlamps. Crossing silos in the dark. At one point going high put us what seemed to be 75-80’ up. Shimmy down 25’ to more straightforward movements with less “crap your pants factor”. Another big downclimb. Amazing to be in there.
Two sets of 2 anchors allow you to fix a line in section 4 (20 and 30 feet respectively) and the final rap (120?) puts you in the riparian section. Returning up after exploring to ascend 120’, 60, and the 150’ to the rim.
Would love to hear more of the history. Thx for the comments and high fives
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RyanHone
Great video, what a fantastic canyon!
rawtrails
Can’t change the Thumbnail. lol.