Canyoneering Route Description
Duckett Slot - 3B II
Cedar Mesa, Utah.
10-03-10, 3 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 4 hours)
Time Required - 3 to 5 hours
Distance - 2.1 miles Total, 0.6 miles Technical
Rappels - 6 Rappels, Longest Rappel 35 feet.
Elevation Range - 4905 - 4520 Feet
Shuttle Required -No Vehicle -
High Clarence 4WD
Permit Required - No
Rappelling and anchor gear, Ropes and or pull cords for rappels up
to 35 feet, 50 feet of 1 inch webbing for sling placement. Wet
suits may be required depending on time of year. The canyon is
short but still holds some pretty chilly water. If the days are hot
you may be fine without one but if cooler out consider at least a
3mm suit.
Duckett Slot is a fun short canyon with high scenic value. You will
get a good taste of some down climbing and swimming through pools on
this route. Rap 1 drop line of rap 1 can be very entertaining if
you take the interesting option. Information originally came from
the Mini-Slot
Guide to the Colorado Plateau.
If you do not have a high clearance vehicle to get to Duckett Slot
there is always the option of parking by the highway and walking in
about 2 miles to the start of the route. Then rather than climb out
of the canyon at the standard exit you can continue to walk up White
Canyon back to the highway. The altered exit route would add about
0.7 miles to the route as well. So walking in from the highway and
exiting up White Canyon would add about 2.7 miles to the total route
distance. Not too bad since the Duckett Slot route is short to
begin with.
To keep the area around rap 1 clean, please use a retrievable anchor
or hike back over to the top of the rap after you have completed the
route to clean up your anchor materials.
Duckett Slot can change drastically with each major rain and flood.
The most obvious change is water level in the canyon. Sometimes the
pools may be low and a muddy mess, while others you will be greeted
with deep pools and some swims. The not so obvious thing to change
is all the gravel fill in the bottom of this slot. Water can wash
gravel in filling it up or wash it out making drops bigger and pools
deeper. Keep this in mind an be prepared for a little unexpected.
To get to the Trailhead
On highway 95 there is a bridge that crosses over the upper end
of Lake Powel named Hite Crossing. From the center of the
bridge at Hite Crossing Drive 13.5 miles southeast on highway 95
to the turn off (extSanJuan208a) for the San Juan County Road
208A (labeled on some maps as Horse Tanks Road). This is near a
point on the map labeled as Duckett Crossing. The turn off will
be on the right (west) side of the road.
Note:
Horses Tank Road does a big loop and meets back at highway 95
about 7.7 miles north of the point you are looking for. The
turn off you are looking for is not where Horses Tank Road meets
highway 95 5.8 miles southeast of Hite Crossing.
From the turn off for Co. Road 208a follow the road about 900
feet south then east as it turns to cross under the highway
through a cement tunnel large enough for only one vehicle.
Drive east under the highway through the tunnel to a ramp that
drops down the other side down to White Canyon. The cement rap
is steep and creates and angle where only high clearance
vehicles can get by. Even high clearance vehicles with a long
wheel base will have issues here. Be sure to evaluate this
before blindly driving over it.
After crossing under the
highway cross White Canyon and continue east on Co. Road 208a
which is up hill out of White Canyon. About 0.3 miles from the
tunnel will be an opening in a fence crossing the road (wDuckett-Gate).
Drive about 0.3 miles past the gate to the junction with an
un-named road the leads toward Short Canyon. At this junction
turn left (north) to continue on Co. Road 208a.
Continue on
Co. Road 208a for 1.4 miles after the junction to the parking
spot to start the Duckett Slot Route (PkDuckettSlot). This is a
non descript spot with no easily described markers. The water
course for Duckett Slot does show on topo maps and the park spot
is about 0.5 miles south west of where the water course for
Duckett Slot crosses the road you are on.
To leave the Exit Vehicle / Escape Pod
No exit vehicle is need. After getting back up to the road
after the route walk about 0.4 miles northeast back to the
vehicles.
GPS coordinate information listed at the bottom. For information about waypoint naming and map symbols, refer to the
Glossary page.
Click the links for maps of the route.
Map of the entire route.
The Approach:
From the parking spot for the start of the route (PkDuckettSlot)
walk north away from the road. About 350 feet away find a spot to
down climb about 15 feet to the next lower level. After dropping
down continue north about 700 feet to drop down into the drainage
for Duckett Slot (yDuckettSlotTp). There is nothing notable about
this spot. It is just an easy place to walk down to the drainage.
The Canyoneering / Technical Section:
Once in the drainage for Duckett Slot (yDuckettSlotTp), turn left
(west) and walk down canyon about 500 feet to the top of a drop
off. Rap 1 drops down over this ledge.
Rap 1 (dDuckettR1) is anchored from a large dead tree at the top of
the rap. To keep the area clean please use a retrievable anchor or
hike back over to the top of the rap after you have completed the
route to clean up your anchor materials.
Rap one has two possible routes down. The most interesting is a
surprise if you decide to take that route down. Rap 1 drops about
25 feet to the canyon floor. The ledge you rapped off of is a huge
over hanging ledge running across the canyon with hanging gardens
and seeps all around. The bottom of rap 1 is a scenic treat.
From the bottom of rap 1 walk about 600 feet down canyon to the
start of a narrow slot (wDuckettRP-01). Down climb into the slot
with 3 easy down climbs of about 6 feet each.
Rap 2 (dDuckettR2-3)
is about 50 feet down canyon after dropping down into the slot. Rap
2 is anchored from a choke stone and drops about 20 feet. The top
part of Rap 2 can be easily down climbed. The last part goes
vertical for about 8 feet dropping down to a pool. This last part
could get deeper if more gravel gets washed out.
A faster option
than rappelling rap 2 would be to give a hand line to the first
person down to down climb then that person can give a thigh belay to
assist the rest of the group.
Rap 3 is about 30 feet down canyon
of rap 2 and drops about 15 feet to a pool. Rap 3 is similar to rap
2 in that the first part is easily down climbed and the last part
would be a challenge to get down. All but the last person down can
use a meat anchor to rappel off of. The last person can throw the
rope over one of a couple large choke stones over head and rappel on
one strand while someone at the bottom provides a counter balance on
the other strand.
Rap 3 may also be down climbed by the first
person using a hand line from above. They can then assist others
with the last part of the down climb. The bottom of the drop is
under cut so a standard thigh belay may become awkward.
Down
canyon of rap 3 are some tight narrows that you will need to stem
along the top of. The narrows widens out near the end allowing
travel on the floor again before ending with a right turn and a drop
of about 5 feet. The drop is under cut so there will be little
footing as you climb down. But there is a great jug to hold onto
RDC. People in the 6 foot range can belly over the drop and hold
onto the jug and be able to set themselves firmly on the ground.
After the down climb are a couple pools to wade through before
things get tight again. Stemming up over the floor is again needed
to keep from getting stuck below. Near the end of this tight
section is a pool that you can stem over if you can stem in the now
wider walls. If it gets too wide for you over the pool you will
need to drop in and deal with water and mud.
Continue down canyon
through a few more pools and a couple easy down climbs of 8 to 10
feet before getting to rap 4.
Rap 4 (dDuckettR4) is about 500 feet
down canyon of rap 5. Rap 4 is anchored from a choke stone and has
an awkward start before dropping 15 feet to a pool below. If the
pool below rap 4 is full you will need to swim but the exit should
be pretty simple. If the pool is low you may only have to wade but
getting up the steep down canyon side may be a muddy slick mess.
After rap 4 the canyon is a little wider for a short distance before
reaching another tight section. Stemming over this section avoids a
few very nasty pools at the bottom and provides great views down
canyon while you are up along the top. The tight section ends with
a long pool at the end that can be stemmed and down climbed around
by some. Others will need to climb down and swim the pool. Next
the canyon widens out a little again before reaching rap 5.
Rap 5
(dDuckettR5) is about 400 feet down canyon of rap 4. Rap 5 can be
rappelled or down climbed with a little care.
To down climb Rap
5, start down the top portion which is an easy slope to down climb
until reaching a short drop to the pool below. At the top of this
vertical drop to the pool you can carefully climb around a ledge RDC
and follow the ledge all the way around the pool. If the pool is
full the consequences are a splash and a swim, but if the pool is
dry climbing around on the ledge could result in a fall of about 10
feet if you slip.
To rappel down Rap 5 anchor from one of the
rocks near the top of the drop and rap down about 20 feet to the
pool or maybe 35 feet if the pool is dry.
After rap 5 the canyon
opens up a lot. One of the rocks you will pass looks like a top
that is ready to be spun.
About 400 feet down canyon of rap 5 is
the start of another narrow section to drop into (wDuckettRP-02).
Down climb to a water filled pot hole and work around the ledge RDC
to get around it. Getting over to the ledge RDC just before
dropping to the pothole can be a bit awkward.
About 100 feet down
canyon after getting into the narrows will be a stem style down
climb of about 35 feet. At the bottom of the down climb is a pool
you will need to wade or carefully climb around it on the ledge LDC.
Rap 6 (dDuckettR6) is on the other side of the pool after the down
climb. Rap 6 is anchored from a choke stone and drops about 25 feet
over a huge overhanging ledge that spans across the canyon. At the
bottom of rap 6 you are under this huge ledge with hanging gardens
and seeps all around. Take some time to enjoy this impressive
alcove. There is more greenery and seeps than at the bottom of rap
1.
After rap 6 the canyon is wide and is an easy walk down
canyon. Soon the canyon widens out a lot and has a sandstone floor
with a few pools to walk around.
The exit out of Duckett Slot (yDuckettSlotBt)
and into White Canyon is a little over 500 feet down canyon of rap
6. Start down an easy sloped down climb of about 15 feet. At the
bottom of the down climb is a small alcove with a sloped down climb
on the other side that drops down to White Canyon. The drop down
the last slope is about 20 feet and can be slick. A hand line is a
good idea for all but the last person.
The Exit:
When you reach White Canyon at the Exit of Duckett Slot (yDuckettSlotBt)
turn left (south) and begin walking up canyon in White Canyon.
There are a couple scenic treats along the way.
Walk about 0.5 miles winding up canyon in White Canyon to a large
ravine joining in from the left (east). When you get to the bottom
of the ravine (wDuckettRP-03), start working your way up it.
Start up from the bottom along a sloped ramp on the right. As you
get further up the ravine continue up the right side going up some
very steep slick rock. If the grade is too step for your comfort
zone you can go left and go up an easier grade out and around the
left side. Going around left will add a little distance to your
route though.
At the top of the exit ravine (wDuckettRP-04) walk over the flat
desert about 0.2 miles to the road. Try to avoid walking on the
crypto biotic soil by following any cattle or use trails you find.
When you make it to the road walk about 0.4 miles north east along
the road (Co. Road 208a) back to your entry vehicle.
Downloadable GPX files
available at
BG-Gear Store
(easier than manual entry and a great way to support
Bluugnome).
Waypoint naming convention and map symbol information can be found on the Glossary page.
Elevations are approximate.
BEFORE
manually entering coordinates set your system to WGS84 datum and Lat/Lon hddd.ddddd° coordinate format.
Inconsistent datum's and coordinate formats will result in location errors.
Click to show / expand the list of waypoints below........
| Duckett 1 - Drive to Trailhead |
- extSanJuan208a
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.74375
W -110.28081
Elev: 4,660 Feet
Turn off of highway 95 for the San Juan County Road 208A. The dirt road exits on the west side of the highway then loops around under the highway through a tunnel to follow the 208A road east from the highway.
- wDuckett-Gate
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.74321
W -110.27622
Elev: NaN Feet
A fence or gate crossing the road.
- ExtShortCynRd
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.74394
W -110.27151
Elev: 4,745 Feet
Turn off onto an un-named road toward Short Canyon.
- PkDuckettSlot
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.75926
W -110.26173
Elev: 4,905 Feet
Park here for the start of the Duckett Slot route.
|
| Duckett 2 - Appraoch and Canyon |
- PkDuckettSlot
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.75926
W -110.26173
Elev: 4,905 Feet
Park here for the start of the Duckett Slot route.
- yDuckettSlotTp
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.76190
W -110.26260
Elev: 4,850 Feet
Top entry for Duckett Slot. Nothing notable here just a spot to drop easily into the drainage for Duckett Slot.
- dDuckettR1
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.76124
W -110.26392
Elev: 4,830 Feet
Rap 1 - Duckett Slot. Ancored from a large dead tree by the rap. Rap drops about 25 feet with an interesting route to rap down if you choose it.
- wDuckettRP-01
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.76087
W -110.26592
Elev: NaN Feet
Start of a narrow slot section.
- dDuckettR2-3
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.76081
W -110.26623
Elev: NaN Feet
Raps 2 and 3 - Duckett Slot.
Rap 2 anchored from a choke stone and drops about 25 feet.
Rap 3 anchored from a choke stone over head with a meat counter balance and drops about 15 feet.
- dDuckettR4
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.76016
W -110.26772
Elev: NaN Feet
Rap 4 - Duckett Slot. Anchored from a choke stone and drops about 15 feet to a pool below.
- dDuckettR5
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.75980
W -110.26895
Elev: NaN Feet
Rap 5 - Duckett Slot. Anchored from rocks and drops about 35 feet to a pool but can be down climbed by following a ledge RDC that starts part way down the drop.
- wDuckettRP-02
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.75961
W -110.27025
Elev: NaN Feet
Start of another narrow section.
- dDuckettR6
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.75957
W -110.27079
Elev: NaN Feet
Rap 6 - Duckett Slot. Anchored from choke stones and drops about 25 feet over an overhanging ledge with hanging gardens and seeps under the ledge.
- yDuckettSlotBt
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.75909
W -110.27246
Elev: 4,530 Feet
Bottom exit of Duckett Slot where it meets White Canyon.
|
| Duckett 3 - Exit |
- yDuckettSlotBt
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.75909
W -110.27246
Elev: 4,530 Feet
Bottom exit of Duckett Slot where it meets White Canyon.
- wDuckettRP-03
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.75548
W -110.27344
Elev: NaN Feet
Start walking up the ravine on the left (east).
- wDuckettRP-04
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.75577
W -110.27184
Elev: 4,730 Feet
Top ofthe exit ravine.
- PkDuckettSlot
Lat/Lon (WGS84): N 37.75926
W -110.26173
Elev: 4,905 Feet
Park here for the start of the Duckett Slot route.
|