The Squeeze in San Rafael Swell BLM, UT

Canyoneer The Squeeze San Rafael Swell BLM, UT

Class 2 4B (100 ft max) 11.2 miles 1600 gain 8-11 hrs Loop Sep 28, 2019
Effort
Beauty
Personality
Solitude

The Squeeze GPX Track

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This is a technical canyon. If you are unfamiliar with how to build anchors or the gear required for canyoneering do not attempt this route.

Last year when we attempted The Squeeze, we got rained out just before entering the narrows. Muddy Creek and start of The Squeeze were very full of water, but this year we had barely any water throughout the entire day. Today Muddy Creek was mostly dry, and the potholes within The Squeeze posed little difficulty because we never got encountered water above our waists. Note that this is apparently normally not the case, and the potholes and other obstacles could end up posing significant difficulty.

We headed down Muddy Creek and followed a closed mining road to an old miner cabin. From here we continued on social trails, crossing Muddy Creek a bunch of times through the sheer and imposing cliff walls formed by Muddy Creek. Eventually the cliffs appeared more chossy and broken on the right. This weakness is the ascent route. Locate a ramp that passes a creepy pictograph and switchbacks a couple times up the face using natural ledges. We continued on a wide ledge around the cliffs and headed generally northwest along a sometimes difficult to follow social trail. We stuck to the base of a major cliff face as we continued to wrap around to the south. The landscape opened up and we headed south where we entered a drainage that brought us into The Squeeze.

The Squeeze quickly became a favorite for me, with lots of fun obstacles to escape semi-keeper potholes, only a few of them likely posing a threat when at full keeper mode. There were at least three natural bridges within the canyon. There were three longer rappels, but overall the obstacles could be hand-lined or partner assisted. Almost toward the end, the canyon opens up for a bit, where we thought the fun was over, but it narrows up again for some more obstacles and a final rappel into a lush grotto. The grotto exits into Muddy Creek, which we followed back.

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Starting down Muddy Creek.
Starting down Muddy Creek.
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Miners cabin.
Miners cabin.
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We took social trails on either side of Muddy Creek, crossing it occasionally.
We took social trails on either side of Muddy Creek, crossing it occasionally.
The weakness in the cliffs used to ascend out of Muddy Creek is ahead on the right.
The weakness in the cliffs used to ascend out of Muddy Creek is ahead on the right.
Starting up the ramp to gain the ascent route.
Starting up the ramp to gain the ascent route.
Above Muddy Creek on natural ledges.
Above Muddy Creek on natural ledges.
Scariest-looking petroglyphs ever along the way.
Scariest-looking petroglyphs ever along the way.
View south into Muddy Creek.
View south into Muddy Creek.
We followed this major ledge as it hugged the cliffs on the left.
We followed this major ledge as it hugged the cliffs on the left.
View down Muddy Creek.
View down Muddy Creek.
View back, still hugging the cliff face more or less.
View back, still hugging the cliff face more or less.
Eventually after wrapping around the cliff face, the landscape opened up and we descended into The Squeeze, visible center.
Eventually after wrapping around the cliff face, the landscape opened up and we descended into The Squeeze, visible center.
Drainage leading into The Squeeze.
Drainage leading into The Squeeze.
The Squeeze was great from the start, lots of pretty features.
The Squeeze was great from the start, lots of pretty features.
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One of the keepers. Madeline set up a handline for the fun of it.
One of the keepers. Madeline set up a handline for the fun of it.
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Another keeper.
Another keeper.
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The big keeper.
The big keeper.
View from within the big keeper.
View from within the big keeper.
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Lots more fun obstacles.
Lots more fun obstacles.
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The Squeeze opens up, but it's not done.
The Squeeze opens up, but it's not done.
More fun obstacles before the final rappel.
More fun obstacles before the final rappel.
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Last rappel into a mossy grotto.
Last rappel into a mossy grotto.
View back toward the final rappel.
View back toward the final rappel.
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Heading north back up Muddy Creek. It felt like a long hike back for some reason.
Heading north back up Muddy Creek. It felt like a long hike back for some reason.
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Hire me or show me some love!

Hire/refer me as a web developer or send me a few bucks if you find my site useful. I’m not sponsored, so all fees are out-of-pocket and my time preparing trip reports is unpaid. I really appreciate it!