Middle Canyon
ACA Canyon
Rating – 3A III
See youtube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIPSCUh6PaM
Experienced Canyoneers
Only
requires a full range of technical rock climbing
equipment as well as multiple ropes…!!!
NEVER ENTER ANY
SLOT CANYON WHEN HEAVY RAIN IS IN THE FORCAST…!!!
Above is a Daniel Creveling photo of Doug Scott with in the “narrows” of
Middle Canyon Slot
Shown above is Daniel Creveling one-fourth of the way down the first 120’ rappel
and the next photo is Dan standing 120’ below and “off rappel”
Daniel Creveling and Evan Rose carrying ropes thru Middle Canyon
Slot
Dan and Evan at the
“Chalkstone” of Middle Canyon Slot
The crux of Middle Canyon Slot is from 120
to 200 feet deep and a little over a half mile long... Dan looks pretty small
in this photo...
Evan... in the
midst of it...
Below is the final 70’ rappel
The photo above is of the rappel to exit
Middle Canyon Slot. An ascent-climb up
this face allows one to enter Middle Canyon Slot from Gallina
Canyon below. We have not done this
climb as we were descending Middle Canyon on a tight time frame... but we
believe this climb to be perhaps a 5.8 pitch of 70’ in height.
My friend Jay Foley of Taos Climbing School
enjoys hiking up beautiful Middle Canyon above the slot canyon section
beta facts:
name- Middle Canyon
depth of slot portion- 120 to 200 feet
elevation- 7000’at the top down to 6700’at the bottom
GPS coordinates- ±36°22.626’N 106°44.758’W at the top and ±36°22.810’N 106°44.345’W at the lower end
flow- intermittent
season to visit- drier months of the year, like
May, June, September, October and November… NEVER ENTER ANY SLOT CANYON WHEN HEAVY RAIN IS IN
THE FORCAST…!!!
accommodations- NONE –Chama Canyon Wilderness Area
ownership- Santa Fe National Forest
access- is from above on Forest Road #8… see the
map below
nearest town- Gallina is
about 12 miles south of here
fun fact- this amazing slot canyon is locked
in on both above and below by very high and technical, sheer sandstone faces
essay bro
Middle Canyon Slot is one of the more
difficult slot canyon to visit in New Mexico. It takes all day. Daniel Creveling,
Evan Rose and Doug Scott did the first descent of the Middle Canyon Slot on May
18, 2015. The crux of this wonderful
slot canyon is a strong half-mile long.
However, the return hike is downstream in Gallina
Canyon turning right to ascend up Gallegos Canyon...via the route shown on the
map below. This return hike is explained
in full detail on the Gallegos Canyon Slot webpage: http://www.dougscottart.com/hobbies/SlotCanyons/GallegosCan.htm
...this entire round-trip is 10 to 11 miles in length and involves 1900’
vertical.
Click this link to
access a detailed topo map that shows this entire area: http://www.dougscottart.com/hobbies/SlotCanyons/Gallina.htm
Enhanced USGS topo map by Doug Scott
The Red Lines depict
sections of “slot canyons”
________one mile_______
Click this link to
access a detailed topo map that shows this entire area: http://www.dougscottart.com/hobbies/SlotCanyons/GallinaCanyon.htm
Back to New Mexico
Slot Canyons
Send questions and comments to dscott@themarblesculptor.com