I am brand new to the PNW Canyoning group so hello to everyone!

I'm heading up to the Olympic Peninsula in early August of this year. Im trying to locate beta on some potential canyoneering trips to be had out that way. I've visited pnwcanyoneering.com and have done some creative Google-ing but have yet to find much beta for the area.

To be specific, we're a strong group (i.e. comfortable with swift water, long drops, climbing, long days, etc.). We have no specific location on the Peninsula in mind at this point, but would be interested in a wide range of trips, from short exciting routes to multi-day epics!

Any suggestions that can point me in the right direction are much appreciated. What are the gems? I am from Washington but started canyoneering while in college in Arizona so I'm not very familiar with the scene up there (yet).

Thanks in advance!

•  2
  New Members

Hi Chris,

The olympic peninsula is somewhat of a canyoning frontier. Shrouded in a
canopy of conifers, dense understory vegetation and often fog and mist.
The peninsula doesn't offer up its canyons so generously as those exposed
desert landscapes. :)

In terms of terrain and access the eastern flanks of the Olympics seem to
be more conducive to canyoning than the western peninsula which slopes
more gradually to the sea. I imagine there could be some great canyons in
the western peninsula, but would require backpacking up the west sloping
valleys to find them.

Ken's site (www.canyoneeringnorthwest.com) is the best and only beta that
I'm aware of for the Olympic peninsula. You might consider poking around
on this site as well: http://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/nws/.

If you're coming strictly for canyoneering routes with beta, you might
consider doing some of the canyons in the cascades or Columbia gorge as
well (or Vancouver island).

If you're coming strictly for the Olympic peninsula you might consider
trying some of the canyons listed on Ken's site as well as bringing some
good topo maps and seeing what else you might find out there.

craig

On Thu, 2 Jul 2009, Chris Erwin wrote:

> I am brand new to the PNW Canyoning group so hello to everyone!
>
> I'm heading up to the Olympic Peninsula in early August of this year. Im
> trying to locate beta on some potential canyoneering trips to be had out
> that way. I've visited pnwcanyoneering.com and have done some creative
> Google-ing but have yet to find much beta for the area.
>
> To be specific, we're a strong group (i.e. comfortable with swift water,
> long drops, climbing, long days, etc.). We have no specific location on
> the Peninsula in mind at this point, but would be interested in a wide
> range of trips, from short exciting routes to multi-day epics!
>
> Any suggestions that can point me in the right direction are much
> appreciated. What are the gems? I am from Washington but started
> canyoneering while in college in Arizona so I'm not very familiar with
> the scene up there (yet).
>
> Thanks in advance!
>
>

•  2
  New Members

Thanks for the information! As of now, we're looking at a longer backpacking trip on the western side of the peninsula. Thinking I'll check out some topos and see if it will be worth the weight to pack a rope, harness, etc.

Regardless of the canyoneering potential, I'm just excited to get back to the area.

Thanks again. I'll post some info/pics if I find any good routes.

Chris

--- In pnwcanyoning@yahoogroups.com, Craig Coonrad <coonrad@...> wrote:
>
>
> Hi Chris,
>
> The olympic peninsula is somewhat of a canyoning frontier. Shrouded in a
> canopy of conifers, dense understory vegetation and often fog and mist.
> The peninsula doesn't offer up its canyons so generously as those exposed
> desert landscapes. :)
>
> In terms of terrain and access the eastern flanks of the Olympics seem to
> be more conducive to canyoning than the western peninsula which slopes
> more gradually to the sea. I imagine there could be some great canyons in
> the western peninsula, but would require backpacking up the west sloping
> valleys to find them.
>
> Ken's site (www.canyoneeringnorthwest.com) is the best and only beta that
> I'm aware of for the Olympic peninsula. You might consider poking around
> on this site as well: http://www.waterfallsnorthwest.com/nws/.
>
> If you're coming strictly for canyoneering routes with beta, you might
> consider doing some of the canyons in the cascades or Columbia gorge as
> well (or Vancouver island).
>
> If you're coming strictly for the Olympic peninsula you might consider
> trying some of the canyons listed on Ken's site as well as bringing some
> good topo maps and seeing what else you might find out there.
>
> craig
>
> On Thu, 2 Jul 2009, Chris Erwin wrote:
>
> > I am brand new to the PNW Canyoning group so hello to everyone!
> >
> > I'm heading up to the Olympic Peninsula in early August of this year. Im
> > trying to locate beta on some potential canyoneering trips to be had out
> > that way. I've visited pnwcanyoneering.com and have done some creative
> > Google-ing but have yet to find much beta for the area.
> >
> > To be specific, we're a strong group (i.e. comfortable with swift water,
> > long drops, climbing, long days, etc.). We have no specific location on
> > the Peninsula in mind at this point, but would be interested in a wide
> > range of trips, from short exciting routes to multi-day epics!
> >
> > Any suggestions that can point me in the right direction are much
> > appreciated. What are the gems? I am from Washington but started
> > canyoneering while in college in Arizona so I'm not very familiar with
> > the scene up there (yet).
> >
> > Thanks in advance!
> >
> >
>

•  1
  New Members

Olympic peninsula backpacking = good! Have fun out there.

I made it out there over the weekend for some Class 1A bushwhacking and climbing over blowdown on the Big Quilcene. I posted a few pics here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/craig_coonrad/sets/72157620882462793/

PS: The big quilcene above the marmot pass trailhead appears to drop through an impressive and steep gorge. With excellent access but limited visibility from the trail. I'm hoping to get back out there soon with a rope to get a better view of what lies below.

--- In pnwcanyoning@yahoogroups.com, "Chris Erwin" <christopher.erwin@...> wrote:
>
> Thanks for the information! As of now, we're looking at a longer backpacking trip on the western side of the peninsula. Thinking I'll check out some topos and see if it will be worth the weight to pack a rope, harness, etc.
>
> Regardless of the canyoneering potential, I'm just excited to get back to the area.
>
> Thanks again. I'll post some info/pics if I find any good routes.
>
> Chris

•  1
  New Members