Hog 2
Last Candition: May 25, 2013
We did not complete the canyon. However, want to share the following. We encountered the first rap, which is a 132 foot rappel off a Deadman. It had the core of a rope sticking out of the rapide and I did not like the angle of the sandstone where the Deadman was buried. Very small area with a ton of exposure. We opted to climb around the first rap following the directions from a well known website that said it was left of the rap LDC. Well, that was wrong. The down climb is right of the first rap LDC. By the time we figured it out, it was too late in the day to descend.
Anchors in good shape. Very little water and avoidable.
Approached from the HogSprings Rest Area. Mostly avoidable swampiness on approach. The main exit (not the shortcut exit) gully has a lot of loose rock. The anchors in the canyon were sound. Rap 1 deadman/cairn anchor was showing signs of light wear and will need to be replaced sometime soon. All other rappels had solid anchors. Some mud, but all small pools were avoidable.
The canyon is basically dry. The only water is in a pothole directly below one of the rappels--I think it was 2--but can be avoided if you descend and swing over about a foot or two to reach the rock on the edge of the pothole. Didn't check the pothole depth.
The anchors a simple slings around boulders, but all is in good shape.
The standard exit up the gully is dry as well.
Dry, anchors in good condition. Fun canyon.
Dry, anchors fine. We replaced some webbing.
very fun. anchors were fine, one avoidable pool after 2 or 3rd rap. some mud. birthing canal is the bomb dont rap it its a very fun downclimb.
Avoidable ankle deep water, even at "birth canal" at the end. This was even after very heavy rains the night before, showing water in cracks outside the canyon boundary.
Anchors in good shape. Fun slot sections. Very short canyon.
Would rate slightly above beginner friendly, due to exposure at the beginning and end to get to the birth canal.
Road out to the Hogs is in good shape. Hog2 is almost completely dry, all water is avoidable. No snow in the area.
Bone dry. Webbing in good shape. Good canyon with 2 noobs. Lighting in the birth canal was incredible mid afternoon.
One long, shallow, easily avoidable pool at the beginning. Otherwise dry. Webbing on anchors is starting to get a little worn. Fun canyon in ideal dry conditions
The road was in pretty good shape. I took a Honda Accord, and only scraped once. I took a shovel and dug out a sandy spot halfway in.
Great little canyon! Very little water, anchors were in good condition. The drop out of the birth canal was a little interesting without water, and low sand.
Second Hog of the day. Took 3 of us 2:15 to descend from head of canyon to bottom. Minor, avoidable water in a couple spots. Some at the bottom of last rap. Anchors in good shape for now.
Same as Brian reported. 2-3 small pools that were avoidable. Dry at the bottom of the last downclimb. Anchors were in good shape.
All water easily avoidable. All anchors solid. No mud. The final dark spooky downclimb opens into a tricky 8 foot bombay; top belay recommended for the first person down.
Completed this route along with Hog 4 (MIss Piggy) same day. Only 2 spots with avoidable water about midway down. The pothole at the bottom of the 3rd rap still had some avoidable water. If it dries on out, it would not present an escape problem, currently. At rap 2, instead of going over the top of the large boulder in the pinch, you can take off your pack and slide down under and even wait until then to get onto rappel with the rope already preset. Going over the top of the boulder, we found that it could move some though it's likely not going anywhere soon.
Important note: If using Bluugnome directions, the bypass for the first rap is LDC (left down canyon) which would be the East side of the main drainage. Not RDC as described.
Dry. There is mud at the end of the exit downclimb that will likely get all over you.
Nice canyon. The best part is surely the elevator at the end. The deadman anchors are well built and the webbing is in real good shape. Combine this with Miss Piggy for a nice day with average speed canyoneers.