rcwild
06-26-2008, 08:39 AM
NOTE: If you have corrections, additions or current conditions for this canyon, please post as a reply to this thread. If you have a trip report for this canyon, please post it in the Blogs section.
Blue Moon (aka Weehawken) is an untamed canyon southwest of Ouray draining the crags off of Mount Ridgeway, Teakettle Mountain and Potosi Peak. Its beauty is stark and surreal. The canyon lacks color - grey rock and green trees are all you will see. Due to extreme avalanche hazard the ice pillars that form each winter in Weehawkin Creek have seen few if any ice climbing ascents, particularly higher up. As a result this canyon has a nice "untouched wilderness" feel. Depending on the winter snow pack, several snow tunnels may appear in the canyon. These are formed by avalanches off Potosi throughout the winter - the snow collects in the canyon, and the creek carves tunnels underneath. These tunnels are dangerous (cave-ins and falling debris are common) and caution is recommended. They can usually be bypassed but also make interesting explorations in their own right. But be careful, you won't have an ice axe and crampons along on a canyoning trip.
Rating: 3CR III
Time Required: 8 to 10 hours round trip.
Longest Rappel: <100 ft.
Permit Information
No permits are required.
Camping/Lodging
The town of Ouray offers numerous hotel and motel options. The Amphitheater campground just south of town is a great central location. There are additional Forest Service campgrounds in the area offering primitive camping facilities but very little free camping in the area.
Preferred Season
July into October depending on the level of spring runoff and the first snow storms of winter.
Water Concerns Walking, rappelling and down climbing through waterfalls.
Special Challenges
Weather common to this alpine setting, afternoon thunderstorms during the monsoon season, loose rock and exposed downclimbing. Loose rock commonly found in this alpine setting, exposed down climbing in places, snow climbing experience required for exploration of snow bodies and tunnels found in the upper sections of the canyon.
Equipment Suggestions
Standard wet canyon kit including wet suit, helmet, slings and rapid links. Enough rope to do 100' rappels.
Topographic Maps
Hiking Trails of Ouray County & the Uncompahgre Wilderness, USGS 1:100,000 Montrose, USGS 7.5' series Ironton.
Directions to Trailhead
Take Hwy 550 south out of Ouray and turn right at the Box Canyon sign onto the Camp Bird Road, County 361; keep left and take the higher bridge over the Uncompahgre Gorge. Look for the Weehawken Creek trailhead sign off the right side, 2.7 miles from the highway and 0.7 mile beyond the second bridge. There is primitive camping (fee required, limited sites) across the street from the trailhead. The campground's name is `Thistledown'
Trailhead UTM Grid Coordinate
Approach
Hike steeply up the Weehawken Creek trail for roughly 2.5 miles until you reach the Weehawken Mine turnoff (it is signed). Take the Weehawken Mine trail. The trail becomes very faint and may disappear entirely. It eventually crosses some mine tailings, and ends at a rusted old mine cart and old cabin foundations. Head to the canyon rim from this point (100' away), generally southwest of the cabin ruin. You should find steep dirt slopes leading to the creek. Downclimbing this slope is difficult due to steep terrain, rockfall hazard and the loose nature of the slope. Rappelling instead is recommended. Rappel from a tree down the dirt slope. You will come close to the bottom of the slope with a 200' rope if you rappel down the right side, when looking south, but must downclimb the remainder (potentially dangerous). If you rappel down the middle of the slope you can stop at a tree half way and re-rig your rope for a second pitch. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ENTER THE CANYON ABOVE THE WEEHAWKEN MINE! There is a drop upstream from the Weehawken mine, but it extremely dangerous because of rotten rock and poor anchors. Rappelling in from the Weehawken mine area is by far the safest option. As a diversion, after entering the creek, hike upstream to the base of this upper falls. This way you see everything without risking a dangerous rappel.
Canyon Entry UTM Grid Coordinate
Description
History
Mike and Dianne Dallin first scouted this canyon in 2003, spent several days trying to descend it, but had to wait over winter and return in 2004 before tagging a complete descent. In all 7 days were spent in the canyon scouting, placing anchors and exploring before it was finished. It derives the name Blue Moon for two reasons:
1) One of the seven days fell on the same day as an astronomical blue moon, and
2) Due to the temporary nature of the snow tunnels.
Exit
Continue boulder-hopping down Weehawken Creek until you reach the road. Climb up to the road, and hike north (downhill) along the road back to the Weehawken Creek trailhead.
Canyon Exit UTM Grid Coordinate
Blue Moon (aka Weehawken) is an untamed canyon southwest of Ouray draining the crags off of Mount Ridgeway, Teakettle Mountain and Potosi Peak. Its beauty is stark and surreal. The canyon lacks color - grey rock and green trees are all you will see. Due to extreme avalanche hazard the ice pillars that form each winter in Weehawkin Creek have seen few if any ice climbing ascents, particularly higher up. As a result this canyon has a nice "untouched wilderness" feel. Depending on the winter snow pack, several snow tunnels may appear in the canyon. These are formed by avalanches off Potosi throughout the winter - the snow collects in the canyon, and the creek carves tunnels underneath. These tunnels are dangerous (cave-ins and falling debris are common) and caution is recommended. They can usually be bypassed but also make interesting explorations in their own right. But be careful, you won't have an ice axe and crampons along on a canyoning trip.
Rating: 3CR III
Time Required: 8 to 10 hours round trip.
Longest Rappel: <100 ft.
Permit Information
No permits are required.
Camping/Lodging
The town of Ouray offers numerous hotel and motel options. The Amphitheater campground just south of town is a great central location. There are additional Forest Service campgrounds in the area offering primitive camping facilities but very little free camping in the area.
Preferred Season
July into October depending on the level of spring runoff and the first snow storms of winter.
Water Concerns Walking, rappelling and down climbing through waterfalls.
Special Challenges
Weather common to this alpine setting, afternoon thunderstorms during the monsoon season, loose rock and exposed downclimbing. Loose rock commonly found in this alpine setting, exposed down climbing in places, snow climbing experience required for exploration of snow bodies and tunnels found in the upper sections of the canyon.
Equipment Suggestions
Standard wet canyon kit including wet suit, helmet, slings and rapid links. Enough rope to do 100' rappels.
Topographic Maps
Hiking Trails of Ouray County & the Uncompahgre Wilderness, USGS 1:100,000 Montrose, USGS 7.5' series Ironton.
Directions to Trailhead
Take Hwy 550 south out of Ouray and turn right at the Box Canyon sign onto the Camp Bird Road, County 361; keep left and take the higher bridge over the Uncompahgre Gorge. Look for the Weehawken Creek trailhead sign off the right side, 2.7 miles from the highway and 0.7 mile beyond the second bridge. There is primitive camping (fee required, limited sites) across the street from the trailhead. The campground's name is `Thistledown'
Trailhead UTM Grid Coordinate
Approach
Hike steeply up the Weehawken Creek trail for roughly 2.5 miles until you reach the Weehawken Mine turnoff (it is signed). Take the Weehawken Mine trail. The trail becomes very faint and may disappear entirely. It eventually crosses some mine tailings, and ends at a rusted old mine cart and old cabin foundations. Head to the canyon rim from this point (100' away), generally southwest of the cabin ruin. You should find steep dirt slopes leading to the creek. Downclimbing this slope is difficult due to steep terrain, rockfall hazard and the loose nature of the slope. Rappelling instead is recommended. Rappel from a tree down the dirt slope. You will come close to the bottom of the slope with a 200' rope if you rappel down the right side, when looking south, but must downclimb the remainder (potentially dangerous). If you rappel down the middle of the slope you can stop at a tree half way and re-rig your rope for a second pitch. DO NOT ATTEMPT TO ENTER THE CANYON ABOVE THE WEEHAWKEN MINE! There is a drop upstream from the Weehawken mine, but it extremely dangerous because of rotten rock and poor anchors. Rappelling in from the Weehawken mine area is by far the safest option. As a diversion, after entering the creek, hike upstream to the base of this upper falls. This way you see everything without risking a dangerous rappel.
Canyon Entry UTM Grid Coordinate
Description
History
Mike and Dianne Dallin first scouted this canyon in 2003, spent several days trying to descend it, but had to wait over winter and return in 2004 before tagging a complete descent. In all 7 days were spent in the canyon scouting, placing anchors and exploring before it was finished. It derives the name Blue Moon for two reasons:
1) One of the seven days fell on the same day as an astronomical blue moon, and
2) Due to the temporary nature of the snow tunnels.
Exit
Continue boulder-hopping down Weehawken Creek until you reach the road. Climb up to the road, and hike north (downhill) along the road back to the Weehawken Creek trailhead.
Canyon Exit UTM Grid Coordinate