84x4bronco
08-11-2009, 06:05 PM
A nice upstream wash route in a tributary of Fish Creek
Rating: 2A I
Time Required: 2-4 Hours
Longest Rappel: 50 feet (optional upon return)
Permit Information
None Needed
Camping/Lodging
Day trip from phoenix along SR88.
Preferred Season
Winter, Spring, Fall. Summer is hot hot, but it can be tackled before noon if you get an early start. partial shade throughout the morning after the first third of the canyon.
Water Concerns
None- though there may be a potential for a practice keeper during monsoon season.
Special Challenges
Lots of Up climbing/Down climbing challenges.
Equipment Suggestions
small pack, optional 100ft rope, PANTS; lots of cat claw in the area.
Topographic Maps
USGS 7.5' Mormon Flat Dam
Directions to Trailhead
Head East on SR88 about 4 miles east of tortilla flat. you will cross the Fish creek bridge, and there will be a place to park on the left (north) side of the road about a quarter mile up. park here. leave the parking area to the southeast, where you will find a boulder filled wash on the other side of the road. enter here and begin your trekupstream.
Approach
leave the parking area to the southeast, where you will find a boulder filled wash on the other side of the road. enter here and begin your trek up stream.
Description: Standard Route
Head upstream, ascending giant piles of boulders and bushwhacking through cat claw and scrub oak. most of the route remains somewhat entertaining, especially when the house sized boulders begin to appear. some boulders have stemmable sections up to 50 feet tall. keep an eye out for a large pothole on canyon right on your way in. during wet weather, this pothole may be a good practice station for those keepers farther away from the valley! you will notice that the canyon starts to flatten out and curve right as you reach the top of the cliff bands. it becomes less interesting at this point, and appears to brush out pretty badly farther upstream.
Exit
Return the way you came. optional rappels off of the two large sets of boulders. you'll know which ones.
Rating: 2A I
Time Required: 2-4 Hours
Longest Rappel: 50 feet (optional upon return)
Permit Information
None Needed
Camping/Lodging
Day trip from phoenix along SR88.
Preferred Season
Winter, Spring, Fall. Summer is hot hot, but it can be tackled before noon if you get an early start. partial shade throughout the morning after the first third of the canyon.
Water Concerns
None- though there may be a potential for a practice keeper during monsoon season.
Special Challenges
Lots of Up climbing/Down climbing challenges.
Equipment Suggestions
small pack, optional 100ft rope, PANTS; lots of cat claw in the area.
Topographic Maps
USGS 7.5' Mormon Flat Dam
Directions to Trailhead
Head East on SR88 about 4 miles east of tortilla flat. you will cross the Fish creek bridge, and there will be a place to park on the left (north) side of the road about a quarter mile up. park here. leave the parking area to the southeast, where you will find a boulder filled wash on the other side of the road. enter here and begin your trekupstream.
Approach
leave the parking area to the southeast, where you will find a boulder filled wash on the other side of the road. enter here and begin your trek up stream.
Description: Standard Route
Head upstream, ascending giant piles of boulders and bushwhacking through cat claw and scrub oak. most of the route remains somewhat entertaining, especially when the house sized boulders begin to appear. some boulders have stemmable sections up to 50 feet tall. keep an eye out for a large pothole on canyon right on your way in. during wet weather, this pothole may be a good practice station for those keepers farther away from the valley! you will notice that the canyon starts to flatten out and curve right as you reach the top of the cliff bands. it becomes less interesting at this point, and appears to brush out pretty badly farther upstream.
Exit
Return the way you came. optional rappels off of the two large sets of boulders. you'll know which ones.