Triple Bypass in Upper Ticaboo 09/07/2013

[french_de]

Triple Bypass in Upper Ticaboo Canyon.

Bypass No. 1
This was our second attempt of this canyon. Our first time out here two years ago ended with my “Off Road” Nissan Xterra high centered on a boulder in a wash as we tried for the higher Upper Ticaboo road. The roads out there in the Upper Ticaboo area have some rough stuff. We didn’t take the high road in Upper Ticaboo this time and opted for the lower, right hand road access. There is more of a hike up to the top this way but the vehicles were happier.

Bypass No. 2
When we first scouted this canyon a couple of years ago we discovered that the first two rappels at the top of this amazingly sculpted canyon are optional because there is a scramble route around the drops on a ridge high on the left (LDC). . So our approach this weekend landed us on a ridge on the right side looking down canyon just below the second optional rappel. To get into the canyon here requires a rappel and we anchored off a Navajo sandstone double hueco and with a 200 foot rope descended 175 feet to the canyon floor. Specifically we dropped in here
12 S 535644.26 m E, 4174833.54 m N

Bypass No. 3
Below the 175 foot drop and around the corner is a series of 9 water filled potholes ending with a 197 foot drop into a chamber. This chamber contains some more pools, a shaded alcove and walls sprinkled with hanging plant life. The 9-series potholes’ water was blackish, had thick algal surface scum, was teeming with a multitude of insects and swimming larvae and had an inner city gutter drain like odor. Our thoughts were immediate….. We did not want to disturb this rare, precious and sensitive mini ecosystem with our thrashing and a possible contamination by some of our own foreign microbes. Besides, there was a really cool bypass rappel on right that put us into the same wonderful chamber just below the 9-series potholes. We used a 200 foot rope for that bypass rappel and used the anchor off of a big white choke stone that we slid/down climbed to. To reach that bypass rappel point we backtracked a couple hundred yards up canyon and climbed up the ridge on the right and slid down to the big stone.

Now you would think with these bypasses - what fun is that!?

Well, there is so much more to this canyon.. There are a couple of cleaner, cool water potholes to swim thru. There is natural bridge to rappel thru with a swimming pool at its base. There is big, amazing, twisted and sculpted scenery at every turn. There is more hanging plant life to admire. There are two scenic rappels at the end of the canyon. The final one has a lot of free hang to it. And, to top it off, a great climb out up an old cowboy trail back up to shelf spring. At this point the thought of what we missed with the bypasses became just a distant memory.
This is an amazing canyon and an amazing place.

Thanks - Doug French

I’d like to thank Ryan at Average Joe Road Trips for providing beta on this route.

I also would like to thank all my canyoneering partners Carl, Kai, Kari, Mark, Monica, Dave and Paul who made this trip so much fun.

More pictures and video can be found at Paul French’s site

https://picasaweb.google.com/116140885698375242336/UpperTicabooCanyon

My pothole movie


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=siwjMy36nMo

Pictures from the trip

The Gang
69317

Xterra on the Rocks - Pic from 2 years ago. Scoping the upper upper road
69318


Hike up
6931969320


Bypassing the top optional rappels
69321693226932369324

Heading to the Potholes Nine
6932569326

Big Decision - Bypass rappel or Potholes Nine Uuummm....
6932769328693296933069331

ByPass Entry to the right of Potholes Nine
69332

Down the slide

693336933469335

The Bypass rappel
693366933769338

Cool stuff down canyon
69339693406934269343693446934569346693486934969350 693516935269354693556935669357693586935969361

Some more pictures from the Ticaboo area
693626936369364

[nat]

Awesome TR! Looks like an excellent adventure, away from the trade routes.

Nat

[Eric Holden]

Great pictures!

[Slot Machine]

Awesome! That first glance down at that arch had to make you smile. What a cool surprise.

[french_de]

Awesome! That first glance down at that arch had to make you smile. What a cool surprise.
Yes it was. That pool was a nice way to cool off with the short swim. From the top of the rappel we could not see what we were dropping into. One had to rappel over the edge a ways before the bridge came into view.

[jman]

Thanks for sharing Doug! Looks like another fun adventure with your crew (always look forward to em btw).

Just curious - I've never been to the Ticaboo area (hopefully next year along with the Dantes)...anyways, any suggested areas if one was to camp in that area?

[french_de]

Just curious - I've never been to the Ticaboo area (hopefully next year along with the Dantes)...anyways, any suggested areas if one was to camp in that area?

There are a few OK but open(no shade) places along the road to camp. The first 3 miles in have 2 or 3 flat spots right off the road to camp.

We found a pretty decent place that was far enough away from the main road, had plenty of room for a trailer and three vehicles, had a some wind protection and some good tent spots.
Precisely here: 12 S 533136.83 m E, 4170317.49 m N

Closer to the Dante's there a couple of nice spots but the further you go out that way the rougher the roads go. 4WDHC for sure.

This would be a nice spot to camp 12 S 541427.74 m E, 4171804.24 m N although it could get a little windy.

There is also a little room to camp at the Dante's TH.

[jman]

There are a few OK but open(no shade) places along the road to camp. The first 3 miles in have 2 or 3 flat spots right off the road to camp.

We found a pretty decent place that was far enough away from the main road, had plenty of room for a trailer and three vehicles, had a some wind protection and some good tent spots.
Precisely here: 12 S 532006.59 m E, 41707060.17 m N

Closer to the Dante's there a couple of nice spots but the further you go out that way the rougher the roads go. 4WDHC for sure.

This would be a nice spot to camp 12 S 541427.74 m E, 4171804.24 m N although it could get a little windy.

There is also a little room to camp at the Dante's TH.

Awesome! Ill mark those down. Thanks doug

[davehuth]

Just curious - I've never been to the Ticaboo area (hopefully next year along with the Dantes)...anyways, any suggested areas if one was to camp in that area?

I will also add the Starr Springs BML camp site to this list. This sits on the south slope of Mt Hillers (the southern most peak of the Henrys). There you have trees, water and outhouses. This is a great place in the hotter parts of the year. It is pretty close to the Ticaboo Mesa turn off of Hwy 276, 10 or so miles.

[davehuth]

I will also add the Starr Springs BML camp site .

That is BLM... Here is one link for Starr Springs: http://publiclands.org/explore/site.php?id=1046 A potential issue with the Dante trail head is that it is the trail head, and the spot where groups take their ORVs to look out over Lake Powel.

[accadacca]

Epic report french_de! :2thumbs: