Willow Canyon/Bear Canyon Loop 3A III

[rcwild]

A nice canyon with 3 or more rappels.

For more detailed information: Arizona Technical Canyoneering (http://www.canyonsandcrags.com/servlet/the-55/Arizona-Technical-Canyoneering/Detail) by Todd Martin

Rating: 3A III
Time Required: 6-10 hours
Longest Rappel: 100 feet

Permit Information
A $5 fee may be required.

Preferred Season
Spring, Summer, Fall

[dancrev]

Hattie and I went through this canyon yesterday, 16 May 2010. There are natural anchor options everywhere, but most of the drops have been bolted (why?! - if we could have removed them we probably would have). The first rappel has a set of bolts in the watercourse on the right, but the tree up and on the right is still sturdy - we used the tree. The downclimb from the chock bolder at the bottom looked sketchy, so we pulled the rope and made rap #2 from a pinch point between the boulder and canyon (others have been doing so as well). Rap #3 is the 100' rappel which has a bolt anchor on the right. We climbed under the bolder at the top of the falls and rappelled off a tree on the right (watch out for the cacti on this one). At the bottom of this rappel is a downclimb on the right or optional sloping rappel. We rappelled (#4), and it took the entire 220' rope and maybe 10' feet of extra pull cord to complete. The final rappel into the grotto has bolts at the top, but we climbed up and to the left and found the vegetated rappel (#5) off of a tree (although someone had used a boulder near the edge). From the bottom of this rappel you will be maybe 20' above the canyon floor. From this point a trail heads down canyon that will keep you on the left side and high. It keeps you above the confluence with Bear canyon and ultimately drops you into Bear canyon above the waterfall that you would otherwise need to climb. Most of the pools were full, and the technical section had a small amount of flowing water. We stayed mostly dry on purpose, but this looked fun for warmer weather days!

[84x4bronco]

agreed with the natural anchors.

but man... when that canyon is flowing, those bolts put you in some sweet waterfalls.:)

the last one into the plunge pool is one of my favorite rappels out there. you can basically treat it like a slip 'n' slide while you let the rope run through your hands.