23 Attachment(s)
3/17/18 - Crumbling Canyon - Spanish Fork Canyon
Attachment 89245
I was first told about this conglomerate slot canyon from one of my rock-climbing friends online. He sent me a PM (private message) on Reddit if I have heard anything about this particular canyon - I haven't.
He sent the beta for it which listed 4 rappels up to 45 feet and the gps coords for the entrance, drop-in, and exit. He also included two pictures. It definitely got my attention, compared to the other "slots" people have told me about in the Salt Lake Valley (for example, a person about 10 years back told me on the Zion Shuttle about this great "slot" canyon called "rocky mouth canyon". I googled it and came across Shane's website. It's just a waterfall in a tiny, tiny gorge. So, when I first saw these pictures it looked like the famous Box Canyon in Maple Canyon, near the Manti area. It "wasn't", he assured me when I asked him about it.
There was no name for it for what he could see, thus our name "Crumbling Canyon". And to be clear, this is NOT a first descent. The last rappel was bolted. My guess is that it was placed fairly recent. Maybe within the last 5-10 years. And so I know for sure, people have also explored it, rappelled it and name it. But what? No idea. Even a Google search of "Spanish fork rappelling" or "Spanish fork technical canyons" or "Spanish fork slot canyon" results in nothing. Perhaps private property is why it's not published?? It's not, I checked. I think most people just didnt know about it. Perhaps hikers have known about it for a long time, but they don't see it compared to our canyoneering "eyes". Any narrow passage gets our heartbeats up when we hear about one!
So, I'm sure as this grows in popularity it was also develop other names. I called it "Noob Canyon" because it was quite easy, fun, but short. If you are an experienced leader but want to take a bunch of noobs, this would be a good location to have some hands-on experience with what real canyoneering is somewhat about: bushwhacking, down-climbing, going through an *actual* slot canyon and a rappel (of 45 ft). This would be a treat for them. If you have kids who enjoy this stuff too, they will think it's the coolest stuff ever.
Now, I believe this is the closest "slot" canyon to Salt Lake City now. It is about a 25 minute drive from Provo.
From Highway 6 on this road, be sure to close the gate behind you. That's all what the sign says "please close gate". Please respect the area.
Attachment 89224
From the parking area (just find a spot that isn't block the road), head up the "road" for 0.15 miles until you see what I have called "the two towers". This small box canyon your entrance. Take this all the way through (with no technical challenges) up until you hit the ridge line to your north). It's steep and time consuming, but it no-time you will be there.
Attachment 89225
Look for the "The Two Towers" on both sides of the entrance canyon
Attachment 89226
Follow the box canyon up, which has no technical challenges, to the north to the top of the ridge.
Attachment 89227
Once you hit the ridge line, head east to the top.
Attachment 89228
Once at the top, head back down into the next drainage over to your east.
Attachment 89229
**We will warn you and say you that you must choose the best path for you and your group's ability.**
My rock climbing friend said that people would rappel into the canyon. We didn't. We down-climbed. And while it wasn't overly difficult, there were some exposure along with many tripping hazards (conglomerate rock). Be alert, especially if you have young kids. Perhaps pull out a 50-ft hand-line here or find a natural anchor to rappel into. Choose your own adventure!
Attachment 89230
Chris navigating us down a path.
Attachment 89231
The conglomerate slot. Hidden in plain sight. Look closely. About two hundred feet from the entrance.
Attachment 89232
At the entrance!
Attachment 89233
For us, we down-climbed the entire canyon except for the last rappel. If you want to down-climb, it's straightforward and easy. If not, this tree that guards the entrance could be used as a natural anchor to rappel from. Keep in mind, rappelling a large group will take a large amount of time. Consider down-climbing to keep people moving in that scenario. If not, do what's best for you and your group. (The picture below is kind of misleading, the down-climb is not pictured but is located to your right. It's a 6 ft down-climb onto a ledge, followed by another 6-ft down-climb.)
Attachment 89223
At downclimb #2. This was about 6ft and straighforward. Chris used a rope to lower his backpack.
Attachment 89234
At the bottom of downclimb #2.
Attachment 89235
Past this, walk another 30ft to the next downclimb (#3). This one is about 6 ft as well. Fun!
Attachment 89236
20 feet past the downclimb (#3) is a squeeze in the canyon in which you have to crawl under. Not tight at all.
Attachment 89237
"The Squeeze"
Attachment 89238
From here it was about another 50 feet to the end of the canyon, however there is a giant hole in the ground. Oh...it only drops 35+ feet to the canyon floor! So yes, be very careful in this area of your footing. Especially if you bring younger kids. They could easily fall through and bang their heads all the way down like a ping-pong ball. You *could* die if you weren't careful in this particular spot. And part of the rappel is a bombay section, which means while it might be narrow at the top, it opens up at the bottom and drops you however many feet. Don't be stupid and pay attention as you hook everyone up for the rappel.
Attachment 89239
The end of the canyon is marked by a single-bolt located on the left side of the canyon. The rappel was 40feet and our 100ft rope double-stranded reached the bottom with just the perfect amount. The rope pull was easy so no issues here.
Attachment 89240
Attachment 89241
Attachment 89241
This marks the end of the canyon.
Attachment 89242
From here, follow the drainage back for 0.30 miles back to your vehicle where you can recount your stories of heroism, bravery, courage, and to the clapping of "hundreds of spectators cheering you on" (canyoneering inside-joke). Or you could just tell them that you did an "ok" canyon.
Attachment 89243
Attachment 89244
At the end of the canyon. Follow the drainage back down the road for 0.30 miles back to your car. Simple as that.
Here's the GPS coords:
Turn off from Highway 6: N39°59'48.32", W111°24'21.19"
Park in this area: N40° 0'5.09", W111°24'25.28"
Entrance canyon: N40° 0'12.62", W111°24'20.55"
Ridge: N40° 0'24.83", W111°24'16.48"
Canyon: N40° 0'22.65"N, W111°24'12.81"
Exit: N40° 0'16.99", W111°24'11.76"
Stats:
1-2 hours needed
0.90 miles round-trip
1 mandatory rap at 40 feet. A 100-foot rope worked perfect
3 other drops could be raps, be they are easily downclimbed. They range from 6 feet to 12 feet.
No water encountered.
3/17/18 - Crumbling Canyon - Spanish Fork Canyon
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Udink
I've always heard it referred to as Horse C**k Canyon. Not sure why, though.
Attachment 89246
Lol. Nice.
I’m sure it’s a climbers name. We saw some climbers about a 1/2 mile away closer to the road on a cool looking crag. And all that conglomerates makes for some fun variety I’m sure.
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3/17/18 - Crumbling Canyon - Spanish Fork Canyon
Quote:
Originally Posted by
Sandstone Addiction
It has been called Horse Cock Canyon for at least as long as I've been around. Probably from turn of the century cattlemen. Certainly long before anyone tried to use gear to climb.
This might be the same slot The Dye Clan have on their website.
http://dyeclan.com/outdooractivities...eering/?id=408
Nice find. I was hoping someone would have some more info about it.
Looks like dye did it back in 2016 on their report.
When you search for horse cock canyon on Google, only one report comes up which is Dyes report. I’m surprised there are not more. And mountain project has a post about it for climbing too.
So now it has an official name lolz - “Horse Cock Canyon”. Better tell my mom the real name now. Lolz
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