This past weekend Tyler and I found (amazing right now with our schedules) a single day to get a canyon in. We opted to run through the Squeeze. However, this time we started at the Hidden Splendor airstrip.
Having done this canyon just once before, but from the Factory Butte Trail-head/Moroni Slope entrance, we agreed the Hidden Splendor approach is much better. We got to see much more canyon. In addition, we got through in just over 9 hours. We encountered a lot of footprints. This place definitely gets visited. However on this day, we never saw a single person anywhere.
Getting ready to rap into an arch section
The weather forecast was kind to us this day. All the sites predicted a zero percent chance of rain (whatever that means). The night before were heavy rains and blowing wind. And with an early 4 am start, the clouds were still bleak in blocking out the stars. A bit disconcerting, as this is one place you don’t want to be in with rain.
The approach was non-eventful, the pictograph panel was easily found. In about 2 hours we had hiked from the airstrip and were already heading down the canyon. Water pockets showed up here and there. Mid and lower canyon there were a few spots up to neck deep, maybe one swimmer. We were glad to have our wetsuits. We only got a bit cold (hands mostly) at the keeper section as that slowed us down. Plus, it was still windy.
We built just one deadman anchor, but realized after it may have been possible to carefully downclimb that section. Many anchors we skipped as well. Keeping it challenging, while still being careful to not roll an ankle or worse.
Setting up the ropes to help climb out of a semi-keeper
After the final rap, we followed the “Muddy Creek” back up to the airstrip.
Background shows the final slot rap of Segers Canyon
This canyon remains one of the best. A true classic. Lots of raps. Some tight narrows in the upper section. Some difficult climbs. Lots of semi-keeper escapes. Plus, a keeper thrown in. And it is long! What more could you ask? Not very difficult when you have a leader or two with the proper experience with pothole escapes, a bit of anchoring skill, and probably most important: being in good physical shape.
Floating disconnect from the rap. Swimmer here I believe.
Thanks Tyler for going again, especially as schedules aren’t as kind as they were in our years past.
After a crawl
One of many climbs up and out
Lots of debris
Rap into the keeper
Looking down into the keeper. Water was neck deep
Up high and to the right is where we rapped into the canyon the first time
Looking forward after just getting out of the keeper
Rope bag splash down!
Is this the 71st or 72nd climb out?
Scott Byington
As of June 5th, there was a little more water but not by much.
ratagonia
“This canyon remains one of the best. A true classic. Lots of raps. Some tight narrows in the upper section. Some difficult climbs. Lots of semi-keeper escapes. Plus, a keeper thrown in. And it is long! What more could you ask? Not very difficult when you have a leader or two with the proper experience with pothole escapes, a bit of anchoring skill, and probably most important: being in good physical shape.”
Through industrial-scale bolting, the difficulty of this canyon has been close to eliminated. The character of this canyon would be quite a bit different if the canyon was in its natural state, and many anchors had to be developed on the spot.
Jus’ sayin’…
There is a reason it is “not very difficult”, because it has been artificially changed to BE not very difficult.
Tom
Mountaineer
I’ve been thinking about the psychological aspect of this. It has been argued, “just don’t use the placed bolts if you don’t want to”.
Removing dependency on the bolts would make it much more difficult. However, when you are in the moment they are hard to ignore. Why so I wonder? I’ve sought out doing “no kidding” for precisely the challenge. Why not Segers, and opt out of their use instead?
ratagonia
Chicken and Pig story. It is different, when you are committed like the Pig, rather than like the Chicken (in a ham and eggs breakfast).
EvergreenDean
Wow, quite a difference from April. I really like this canyon when wet.
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Blake Merrell
I miss that canyon. Thanks for the walk down memory lane
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Mike Zampino
I was thinking while reading your TR how things change and that starting out you and Tyler probably wouldn’t casually do this one on your own. He’s a definite Rock Star and you aren’t too shabby yourself. Nice TR!
Mountaineer
Thanks Mike. You are both rock stars at this stuff. Sharing the memories with friends and family is where life happens.
EvergreenDean
What day were you in there? We were in the Squeeze Friday. Might have been our tracks. We had two groups staggered totaling 13 folks.
Alias_Rice
Nice write-up. We went through this weekend and had a blast. What a fun canyon with a lot of thinking to do for our novice group. We had a little more of an issue with the keeper than you did. I think we were feeling a little over confident since we got to that point without much issue and had got through the 2 keepers in Pothoez a few weeks ago fairly easily. Anyway, we had a good lesson about the importance of having enough wait on the exit ropes and what happens when someone slides back into cold water and has to wait for a new escape plan to be executed.