AtlasEscalante

Micro Death Hollow

verified Ungraded Unknown flood risk Escalante, UT

Two canyons in one entry: a 3B sneak exit at about 2.5 miles, or the full 4B line at 2.9 miles with 600 feet of climbing to get out. Both open with a 276 foot rappel off a tree.

Leave the R1 rope and webbing at the bottom of that first rappel; you come back past it on the way out and forgetting it is an expensive walk. The R rating is the pothole immediately below R1. It can go keeper, there is no good position for a partner assist, the far side slants back into the pothole and is slick, and the toss for a potshot is long with almost no room to wind up, which is why one party reported a climber's grappling hook working better. Carry pothole escape gear and ascenders and expect to use them. The second pothole is a deep swimmer but has a ledge to stand on and climb out. Cold water is the underrated hazard if you skip the wetsuit: be certain you can exit fast. R2 is 25 feet into a deep pool off a sandtrap; R3 runs 40 to 100 feet off an arch depending on how much webbing you will leave or whether you are ghosting. Both exits need some exposed class 3 scrambling, and high clearance gets you to the parking.

Logistics

ManagerBLM Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument
PermitNo permit required.
Distance2.9 mi
Technical1-3 rappels, longest 275.591 ft
SeasonSpring; Summer; Fall
Vehicle accessHigh Clearance
Coordinates37.7693, -111.4972

Sources