Sad Cow Disease Canyon | Burr Trail

Canyoneering Sad Cow Disease Canyon - Burr Trail Canyoneering Sad Cow Disease Canyon

Burr Trail

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Overview

RATING: 3 A/B

Fri

Sunny, with a high near 52. East southeast wind around 3 mph.

52 | 27

Sat

Partly sunny, with a high near 54.

54 | 29

Sun

A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 52.

52 | 35

Mon

A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 47.

47 | 30

Tue

A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 49.

49 | 31

View Full Weather Details
SEASON: Spring, Fall (Hot in summers)
RAPPELS: 2 to 30 m ( 99 ft. )
WATER: Generally little. Can be a few waist to chest deep wades after recent heavy rains.
FLASHFLOOD: Moderate/High

Fri

Sunny, with a high near 52. East southeast wind around 3 mph.

52 | 27

Sat

Partly sunny, with a high near 54.

54 | 29

Sun

A chance of rain. Partly sunny, with a high near 52.

52 | 35

Mon

A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 47.

47 | 30

Tue

A chance of rain and snow. Partly sunny, with a high near 49.

49 | 31

View Full Weather Details
Excellent narrows early on, rappel 2.

Excellent narrows early on, rappel 2.

Deep, dark, and narrow in Sad Cow Disease Canyon

Deep, dark, and narrow in Sad Cow Disease Canyon

Sad Cow Disease Canyon is the great canyon with the depressing name! Though it does not look particularly long on the topo map, the canyon is surprisingly action packed. Expect deep dark slot sections, downclimbs, and an exceptionally scenic day. It is a treat! The canyon is excellent, and Little Death Hollow Canyon used for the approach and exit is always lovely.

This is a solid intermediate level canyon in my mind. The downclimbs all seemed quite reasonable but with some exposure and skills needed that might leave a beginner feeling over their head. Even with good leadership, I would recommend all members of the party have some experience. Belaying all of the downclimbs would be tedious and time consuming. The approach/exit trail is well worn and fast hiking, though it is still about a 10-mile day roundtrip.

Note: I had heard rumor the canyon involved some easy but high stemming. At 6’2” with a 33” waist and 42” chest, I found the canyon to be a reasonable fit. There were a couple of places I stemmed very briefly over a log or chockstone, but with good route finding, was able to squeeze back down to the canyon floor in short order. I was never high off the ground and all the narrow chimney downclimbs were reasonable at my size.

Not recommend for claustrophobic people, or people that are of particularly large size. Those around my build will need good “narrows” route-finding skills to find easy paths through a couple of spots.
Looking down rappel 1, it gets dark and deep fast.

Looking down rappel 1, it gets dark and deep fast.

Beautiful sculpted corners.

Beautiful sculpted corners.

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