Psychological Damage Canyon
An X rated stemming canyon above Smith Fork, first descended in May 1999 as Bunfodder and renamed after a 2005 party joked about the psychological damage of an unplanned night in it.
The first thing RopeWiki says is that Psycho D is not Pothoez. The two drainages sit right next to each other and join just above the confluence with Smith Fork, and Pothoez is a class 4 canyon while this is X. Getting that wrong is how a party ends up committed to X stemming it cannot do. Climb-Utah rates it 4A X III, calls it one of the most difficult slot canyons on the Colorado Plateau, and asks that every member of the group be a strong canyoneer and rock climber, with the flat note that errors in technique or judgment will likely mean serious injury or death. Flash flood danger is rated moderate. The trailhead is out toward Bullfrog Marina and the canyon can be reached by land or by boat.
Logistics
| Manager | BLM Henry Mountains Field Station (Hanksville) |
|---|---|
| Permit | None required |
| Distance | 4.5 mi |
| Time | 5 hr-8 hr |
| Technical | 4 rappels, longest 70 ft |
| Season | Any;HOT in Summer |
| Vehicle access | High Clearance |
| Coordinates | 37.5995, -110.6494 |
Sources
- manager: https://www.blm.gov/office/henry-mountains-field-station
- permitType: https://www.americancanyoneers.org/access-north-wash-ticaboo/
- desc: https://ropewiki.com/index.php?title=Psychological_Damage_Canyon&action=raw
- notes: https://ropewiki.com/index.php?title=Psychological_Damage_Canyon&action=raw
- notes rating: http://climb-utah.com/Powell/psychod.htm