Mind Bender

Lots of sand on the roads on the way there. One unavoidable waist-deep pool. Very hot on the exit. Lots of rocks for the final anchor. Webbing in good condition.

Fantastic canyon romp!!!! Short approach and sunny skies make for a nice day. We replaced all anchors as recent flash flooding has taken its toll on them. not a lot of water in the narrows except in a pothole right before the pool area. pool itself was only crotch deep, more shallow left (looking dc) final anchor was a deadman we dug up and added redundant webbing to. spectacular rap to finish. moki exit is clean. 6 hrs car to car with 6 people (1 new canyoneer)

All drops were already anchored and all anchors in good shape including deadmans. Water in one spot mentioned in previous report now to mid thigh. Could almost jump now to a mud spot on that drop. 5.5 hours car to car for group of 5. This is a beginner friendly canyon except for perhaps the last rappel - very spectacular. Not many physical or technical difficulties other than those found at the drops. Easier than Not Mindbender.

First time to any of the Mindbender assortment. Water to the waist at the left-side down-climb rappel otherwise just shoe-top water.

That final rappel is a thriller. Be sure to carry down or throw your rope & pull cord WAY OUT away form the wall or they can get hung up in trees.

Pay attention when the beta says the exit '1/2 mile past junction with North Fork'. We breezed by and were head scratching more than a mile past the exit alcove wondering where it was. We walked by there deep in a 6-8' high willow thicket and missed it all together. The walk back revealed an obvious 'ahhh haaa'.

Road was easily passable by Subaru or even 2WD cars. If you have the cars to do it, set up the shuttle 1 mile past the drill pad. That is a 'long mile' to walk at the end of the day.

Beauty and the little thrill at the exit climb are high points of this canyon.

Had a great day in the canyon. Two extra rappels than specified in Kelsey description. Fish or Pika hook mandatory on one; difficult retrieval of hook. Made it through without wet or drysuits but got surprised with a mandatory 25 foot swim. This was after a rap into a wider part of the canyon so body temp required quickly in the midday sun. Highly recommended; suffer out the exposed campsite at the end of the road for the exceptional views.

All anchors were a mess - five pieces of webbing in some places. Reworked and cleaned up all the anchors. Canyon pretty much dry. Last anchor really good and had long enough webbing, for once.

All the anchors were fine, the big rap had two huge cairns in place. One pool to wade through, at the bottom of an exposed downclimb that we chose to rappel. Used a guided rappel to keep the kids dry.

The exit climb was dry and straightforward.