Slideanide Constrychnine Ultimate Loop
A figure eight that strings the two best Poison Springs canyons together and upclimbs a third to connect them: six miles, a 180 foot rappel, and about 1,200 feet of climbing to get back out.
The five to seven hour estimate assumes you downclimb Slideanide top to bottom without rigging anything, so add time if your group wants rappels. The approach is fifteen minutes. The final sequence in Slideanide has a few awkward moves and is dark enough that a headlamp helps even at midday. The connector canyon is the physical part: two slot sections with an open stretch between, and you gain the upper slot either by climbing a steep varnished dike or by taking the corner and running the face. The crux of the route is the exit, a low fifth class chimney and gully with loose rock, across from the end of Constrychnine on the west side; the holds are deep once you find them, and a slab ramp on the left goes easily with a partner assist. Two other short fifth class sections are handline territory for some groups. If you finish with hours to spare, the exit passes near the head of Arsenic and you can descend that on the way out. Reported car to car times are five hours for an experienced party and six for a group of five that included a beginner with a solid head.
Logistics
| Manager | BLM Henry Mountains Field Station |
|---|---|
| Permit | None required |
| Distance | 6mi |
| Technical | 3+ rappels, longest 180ft |
| Season | Fall, Winter, Spring |
| Vehicle access | Passenger |
| Coordinates | 38.10193, -110.5205 |
Sources
- manager: https://www.blm.gov/visit/poison-spring-canyon
- nearest town: https://www.blm.gov/visit/poison-spring-canyon
- desc: https://ropewiki.com/index.php?title=Slideanide_Constrychnine_Ultimate_Loop&action=raw
- notes: https://ropewiki.com/index.php?title=Slideanide_Constrychnine_Ultimate_Loop&action=raw