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| Canyoneering | 3.80 Miles |
850 AEG |
| | Canyoneering | 3.80 Miles | 3 Hrs 20 Mns | | 1.34 mph |
| 850 ft AEG | 30 Mns Break | | | |
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| | Intermediate Canyoneering - Difficult or dangerous; Tech Climb; rope reqd; descent anchor; exit technical; | | A - Dry or little water; shallow or avoidable water; no wet/dry suit | | II - Normally requires a half day |
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| no partners | | We ran the west (left) fork of Blarney today. Our comments:
* Being on slickrock, there isn’t a trail to follow in the beginning. Bring a map or, better yet, a GPS device with nonot’s route on it.
* Elbow pads.
* Once up to the top of the slickrock between the two drainages (Blarney is on your right), follow the well worn path. Keep your map or GPS handy to make sure you drop into Blarney, not the canyon to your left (can’t remember how to spell it).
* The downclimb into Blarney is to the left (DC) of the head, about 20 feet. Best is to go down feet-first, belly facing the slickrock.
* The first-half of the first rap has you scraping down the flute with your right side touching. If you’re right-handed it will be nearly impossible to keep your brake hand back by your hip. Make sure you keep your brake hand from getting pinched. The second-half if the rap allows you to get off the wall and do a traditional rappel.
* Very shortly after the first rap the canyon narrows. We read that it’s an option to rappel the descent, but it it would be rather awkward. Instead, go down the rabbit hole on the right. Cup your eyes and look into the hole to allow your eyes to adjust to the darkness. Friction climb down.
* Knee pads!!!!!
* Use your back, elbows, knees, hips, booty, whatever ya’ got to downclimb/slide/wedge/stem down the descents.
* Do not wear clothes that you care about. They will be shredded.
* The chimney isn’t all that bad. Watch the YouTube videos that are out there.
* Elbow pads!!!!
* The second rap (if you didn’t rappel the aforementioned possible second rap) is one of those that you hook in, get your legs down over a chock stone, belly on the chockstone, and KEEP THE ROPE ON THE MIDDLE OF THE CHOCKSTONE. It could get pinched if it drops on either side of the crest and make retrieval difficult. Non-retrieval is an expensive option.
* After the second rap is a nice place for a break and a snack.
* Marvel at the little lizards that have incredible rock-climbing skills. They have Alex H. beat! 
* From here on out it is descend, descend, descend. Did I mention that you might want to invest in knee pads and elbow pads? Your underwear will be showing through the holes in the seat of your pants at this point. Wear your most colorful!
* I would say that Blarney is short (in number) for rappelling and long (in number) of slickrock friction descents. As of today, despite rain last night, there was very little water in the canyon. There were about three, maybe four, puddles that were easily stepped or stemmed over.
P.S. Be safe and have fun! |
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| Stephanie and Blake Barnard |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
