Maple Canyon/ box Canyon

— In Yahoo Canyons Group, Spencer R Christian wrote: > I read somewhere recently about Box Canyon be a popular little canyoneering experience. I have hiked up to the waterful several times and always wondered what was beyoned. If someone on this list knows the route to take to get to the top of it will you please contact me off list. caverspencer@y…

Spencer Christian > 801-789-3316

Give Jason a call at Maple Leaf in Ephraim (he’s the guidebook author for the ice and rock climbs in Maple Canyon). He’s got a detailed map on the route.

Not “too” hard to figure out, though. There’s usually a fixed rope on the falls so you can hike into the upper box by just batmanning up (careful!). Kind of peter’s out in a short distance, though. Couple of steep spots (4 foot and 8 foot drop offs) that might be easy to negotiate (or not, easy in the winter when they’re frozen!).

Anyhoo, to drop in from the top, I seem to recall Jason sayin’ they drive a car up either upper Maple or the next canyon to the north to get access to the rim of the upper canyon. Walls are around 150′ to over 200 in that area, but, some lower angle slotty type approach options. Be darn careful (as in, real darn careful) with loose rock. Them cobbles pop out all the time and I’d be surprised if you rapped in to the canyon and didn’t dislodge a few. Very dangerous. Wear helmits, move folks out the way of the bottom of the rappel, etc., etc.

Also, if you look real closely (especially from across the rim or adjacent to the rim) at the top of some of the more “juicy” lookin’ water streaks, you’ll see fixed anchors (remnants of ice climbing). Most of these are pretty bomber, but, some are kinda dubious (especially any single anchors with the stud not all the way seated into the rock). Any of these might be good rappel in points.

‘Bout the only thing you miss out on just hikin’ up from the bottom (and going up the falls via the fixed rope) is the rappel in from the rim. My opinion, not worth the car shuttle (or chance of gettin’ clobbered by a cobble). And, if you hike up from the bottom you get to see the canyon twice! Low impact, please, its private land.

Neat place. Take a bunch of quick draws and do some routes whilst there, too!

Also kinda cool is the Hobbit Hole (by the Pipedream Cave, sport climbing that has to be seen to be believed its soooo steep) and a couple other neat slots and caves. Trash Compactor, right fork cave just prior to the Zen Garden, etc.

Brian in SLC