|
| | | |
| |
|
| Canyoneering | 6.00 Miles |
|
| | Canyoneering | 6.00 Miles | 7 Hrs | | 0.86 mph |
| | | |
| | Intermediate Canyoneering - Difficult or dangerous; Tech Climb; rope reqd; descent anchor; exit technical; | | B - Up to light current; wading/swimming; possible wet/dry suit | | III - Normally requires most of a day |
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
none
[ show ]
| no partners | | Flying V Canyon, part 2 (VICTORY AT LAST!!)
04/25/2009
For those who don't remember my first trip, I was denied access into the upper canyon by a 30-foot pour-over with no safe bypass just when things were REALLY getting good. Thanks to spotting a creative alternate route into the lower segment of the canyon from a view pull-off along the highway, I was finally able to finish the trip. Individuals with advanced canyoneering skills can likely deal with this obstacle. The only segment that requires the use of rope and climbing gear is in the narrow upper canyon. While on this trip, I was not able to hike the last quarter mile up towards the steep pour-over due to my prior leg muscle injury acting up and overall fatigue from constant scrambling and the horrendous bushwhacking along the bypass route. I strongly suspect that there are multiple drop-offs within the deep and narrow quarter mile stretch below the first large pour-over. The canyon drops 230 vertical feet through that single quarter mile stretch. I would plan on bringing enough rope to handle multiple drop-offs up to 40 feet (+/-) just to be safe. The majority of Flying V Canyon consists of manageable obstacles that can be dealt with by scrambling and climbing. Hiking this canyon is no pleasure cruise. Everything about this canyon is extreme. The severity of the canyon itself, the obstacles, and even the bypasses are ominous. I did so much scrambling on this trip, that by the next day my upper body was as sore as my legs. This is not normal hiking! If things aren't already extreme enough, the point at which Flying V Canyon merges with the Salt River is nothing less than a three-way pitchfork over rugged and jagged cliff faces that are roughly about 40 feet above the river below. Picture in your mind what that would look like during a flash flood.
Alternate Return Route: Sawmill Canyon is only one mile downstream from Flying V Canyon. The majority of this one-mile stretch resembles what you can see in my pictures. You can scout out much of this stretch with binoculars from various view pull-offs along the highway. It is likely possible that someone could hike along the river to the closed jeep trail that accesses Sawmill Canyon. This would avoid having to climb back up Flying V Canyon. It would not be easy but neither is Flying V Canyon. Pick your poison. From Sawmill Canyon, you would hike up the closed road to the highway, followed by a short shuttle or hitchhike back up to your car.
Pour-Over Bypass Route: For those of you that, like me, do not have advanced canyoneering expertise, there's an optional bypass route just down from the main trailhead parking area. The route follows the bottom of an unnamed steep gulch that initially parallels the highway, and near the bottom takes a hard left bend into lower Flying V Canyon. Accessing Flying V Canyon via this route comes with a very high price of admission. The entire route consists of horrendous bushwhacking and nasty bypasses around sheer drops. I am frankly amazed that I actually made it down into Flying V Canyon. You have to really want to get down in there. I have wanted to complete this trip ever since I was last there. I don't deal well with having to turn around just when things are really getting good. I just had to go back! The route was so bad that I actually determined that it would be better to hike straight up to the highway on the way out. I spotted a manageable line heading out from the final bend near the bottom. It consisted of a steep shelf following a cliff with pinion pine and thick oak brush for support and footing followed by a decent ridgeline that worked its way up to a highway pull-off. You should have seen the looks from the tourists at the top. You would think they saw a ghost. At first I didn't know if they were going to make a run for their car or just simply stare at me in amazement. They just looked at me without saying anything. I think they thought I was crazy. What could have ever given them that idea? After a 1.25-mile walk along the highway, I was finally back at my truck. The entire bypass access was literally like living out an episode of "Man Vs Wild". Absolutely ridiculous! I must be crazy, because I don't regret any of it.
Hiking Flying V Canyon in its entirety is definitely worth the effort. The diversity along the route as it transitions from the more open upper segments to the deep and narrow gorge working its way down towards the Salt River is truly special. The narrow segment in the upper canyon is simply magical with the only audible sound being crystal clear water slowly pouring into beautiful pools and dripping from hanging gardens along the canyon walls. Flying V Canyon is one of those places that you really must see in person to appreciate what it has to offer. My photos are just a small taste of what you will find.
The first six photos have been duplicated for those who may have missed my prior trip and for the fact that this is now an official photo-set to document the entire canyon. The flow rate on the Salt River at the time of my trip was 840 CFS and measured at the "USGS Chrysotile Station, #09497500".
 |
| _____________________
| MATTHEW 11:28-30 / PSALM 84:1-2 |
| | |
|
|
|
Route Editor
Route Scout
