Buckskin Gulch
- Thread starter Chuck the Mauler
- Start date
Chuck the Mauler
Formally known as "kcwins"
- Joined
- Aug 20, 2014
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- 459
Looking at the map it appears that you drop in to the Buckskin at The Dive. Is that correct? Is it marked or should I drag my GPS along and use the coordinates you give here? How was the scramble down? Concerned for my wife who may not be adventurous enough to do a class 3 scramble..... Or did I miss something. As I recall reading somewhere, getting out of the Buckskin at the Middle Exit route wasn't easy.
Michael
Alien from over the pond...
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2012
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- 1,042
Yes correct. We dropped in to The Dive below the parking area and TH. GPS can be helpful - some times.
Follow the wash downwards. The lower end was cairned and the crack too.
The scramble down was fair. That was our first scrambling down in to a canyon. The first in our life in the age of 49.
The only tricky thing is the loose sand on the fins if you've passed the crack. Good teamwork is the key.
This pic is from our WP-Lee's Ferry trip 2012
..sorry, bad light
Topo in detail
Follow the wash downwards. The lower end was cairned and the crack too.
The scramble down was fair. That was our first scrambling down in to a canyon. The first in our life in the age of 49.
The only tricky thing is the loose sand on the fins if you've passed the crack. Good teamwork is the key.
This pic is from our WP-Lee's Ferry trip 2012
..sorry, bad light
Topo in detail
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2012
- Messages
- 655
My 2 cents...
I love utilizing the Middle Route and have recommended/used it a couple a times to get around the permit for in-canyon camping (and easy access to a car camp.) Note -- you are required to get ALL the way up on the true rim to camp this way to be legal. It's also worth noting that I've seen rangers walking up the Buckskin before checking permits, so be legit.
BUT... having said all that, I would not recommend the route to anyone who is not truly advanced at navigation and/or anyone new to slickrock scrambling or afraid of heights. Finding the right spot can be tricky the first time and when the decent is covered in sand, as it is frequently, the route can be downright scary (and dangerous.)
- Jamal
I love utilizing the Middle Route and have recommended/used it a couple a times to get around the permit for in-canyon camping (and easy access to a car camp.) Note -- you are required to get ALL the way up on the true rim to camp this way to be legal. It's also worth noting that I've seen rangers walking up the Buckskin before checking permits, so be legit.
BUT... having said all that, I would not recommend the route to anyone who is not truly advanced at navigation and/or anyone new to slickrock scrambling or afraid of heights. Finding the right spot can be tricky the first time and when the decent is covered in sand, as it is frequently, the route can be downright scary (and dangerous.)
- Jamal