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Canyoneering Route Description

Hades Canyon Dante's Variation - 4A IV
Death Valley National Park, California.

Pictures 03-07-10

Quick Facts

03-07-10, 5 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 13 hours)
02-19-12, 10 people, 1 Day (ravel time in route 10.5 hours)

Time Required - 12 to 14 hours
Distance - 3.6 miles Total, 2.8 miles Technical
1.0 miles technical for the Dante’s Variation and 1.8 miles of technical to finish the remainder of Hades Proper.
Rappels - 27 Rappels, Longest Rappel 200 feet.
Longest vertical rap is 185 feet.  The 200 feet is for the rap with the longest rope travel as it drops over stages.
Elevation Range - 5680 - -255 feet below sea level.
Shuttle Required -Yes 41 Miles Vehicle - Passenger Permit Required - No

See the Canyoneer Trip Report Explanation Notes page for an explanation of how the technical mileage or the gear used list is determined.

Gear Used for Canyon

Rappelling and anchor gear, Ropes and or pull cords for rappels up to 200 feet and 150 feet of 1 inch webbing for sling placement.  I am not sure if this route will be done frequently so a lot of webbing is recommended.

General Comments

The Dante’s Variation of Hades Canyon will make for a long day.  The route starts by dropping west directly off the Dante’s View parking area.  There is no trail or easy start down from the parking lot, just lots of steep loose rock (the first 0.4 miles drops about 1200 feet over scree and talus).  After a fair amount of dealing with no so fun descending loose steep terrain, the route takes on a typical canyon feel.  

The alternate route drops into Hades Canyon between raps 1 and 2 in Hades.  When you finally reach Hades it may feel like you’ve already done a canyon for the day.  That’s when you have almost the entire technical portion of Hade’s left to go.  

This route is arguably a level 3 canyon.  The reason I have it listed as a level 4 is because of the anchor building issues for the final rap sequence of the alternate route just before getting down into Hades Canyon.  See the note in the route description just before rap 13.  

A thank you goes out to Rick Kent for inviting us along on the first descent of this route!  This was a very fun route.

Getting to the Trailhead and Exit Vehicle (Escape Pod) Parking

To get to the Trailhead

After placing your exit vehicle drive 16.6 miles north on Badwater road to the junction of highways 178 (Bad Water Road) and 190.  From the junction drive east on highway 190 about 10.7 miles to the turn off for Dante's View.  Follow the signs to Dante's View which is another 13 miles.

To leave the Exit Vehicle / Escape Pod

From the junction of highways 178 (Badwater Road) and 190, drive 16.6 miles south on highway 178 to Bad Water parking area.  Continue south on Badwater Road for 2.3 miles to the center of the alluvial fan for Hades (pkHadesBt).  Park here to leave the exit vehicle.

Maps

Click the links for maps of the route. Map of the entire route.
Map of the technical section.

GPS Waypoint Information

Details

The Approach:
From the north end of the Dante’s View parking lot (tMntPeryUseTrl) turn west and start down the steep slope down from the parking lot toward the salt flats.  The canyon in the distance below you, running from right to left, is Hades Canyon.  This alternate entry will join Hades Canyon.  

At about 400 feet from the peak you will find a mind blowing collection of trashcans, tires, oilcans and lots of golf balls (yHadesDantesTp).  There is a lot of garbage that has either been blown off of or thrown off of Dante’s View.  You will continue to find golf balls a lot further down canyon as well.  I chose the garbage cans as an arbitrary point to mark the top of the technical section of the route.

The Canyon / Technical Section:
Soon the route drops into a shallow but steep drainage.  This is the drainage you will stay in for the entire route down to Hades Canyon.  Although you climb around the first couple drops.  

Another 500 feet down is a hole dropping vertical (wHadesAltRP-01).  This hole is surrounded on all but one side with rock that makes a natural barrier.  The one side that is open allows only a partial view down the hole.  If you lean out (Not Recommended) you can see the hole is only about 2 feet in diameter and drops very deep completely vertical.  This hole may be missed since it has a natural barrier around it.  Don’t be surprised if you pass right by without seeing it.  

Shortly after passing the hole the route levels off a little and travel down becomes a little easier.  

About 900 feet down canyon of the hole is a drop in the wash (wHadesAltRP-02).  This drop may be set up as a rappel in the future, but the terrain made it a simple solution to just climb around it LDC.  Climb up left (south) up out of the wash to a small ridge.  Then drop down to what feel like the next wash south of the one you were just in.   

Rap 1 is a little over 500 feet down canyon of this drop mentioned in the last paragraph.  Between here and rap 1 are a couple other drops in the canyon that were also bypassed LDC.  The route through here gets a little convoluted and is difficult to describe.  Bypass a couple other drops by climbing up and around LDC.  The climb around routes are full of loose scree, talus and crumbly rock.  

Rap 1 (dHadeAltR1-2) is about 500 feet down canyon of the start of the drops that are bypassed.  Rap 1 is anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 45 feet.  It looked like it may be possible to bypass rap 1 down a chute LDC.  But would involve traversing some distance to get to the chute.  

Rap 2 is about 70 feet down canyon of rap 1 with a 12 foot easy down climb between.  Rap 2 is anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 50 feet down a slightly sloped wall.  At the bottom of Rap 2 are a lot of soft shrubs that cover all of the area at the bottom of the rap.  They are soft and provide a fun end to the rap.  They feel like a big soft bed as you lay in them at the bottom of the rap.  

Rap 3 (dHadeAltR3) is about 200 feet down canyon of rap 2.  Rap 3 is anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 50 feet.  Rap 3 can be optionally bypassed RDC if desired.  

Rap 4 (dHadeAltR4) is about 200 feet down canyon of rap 3.  Rap 4 is anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 70 feet down a vertical pour off.  

Rap 5 (dHadeAltR5) is about 275 feet down canyon of rap 4.  Rap 5 is anchored from a large multi colored (red, orange and white) rock embedded in the wash and drops about 75 feet.  

Rap 6 (dHadeAltR6) is about 125 feet down canyon of rap 5 with a 6 foot down climb just before reaching rap 6.  Rap 6 is anchored from a large rock placed in a small pothole about 15 feet back from the top of the rap.  Rap 6 drops about 35 feet giving a total rope length of 50 feet back to the anchor.  

About 50 feet down canyon of rap 6 is a down climb of about 12 feet.  The down climb looks difficult from the top but as it turns out it is quick simple.  The drop is inset enough to allow stemming along the down climb.  

Rap 7 (dHadeAltR7) is about 125 feet down canyon of rap 6.  Rap 7 is anchored from a pinch point between a huge boulder and the canyon wall RDC about 20 feet back from the top of the rap.  Rap 7 drops about 55 feet giving a total rope travel of about 75 feet up to the anchor.  

Shortly after rap 7 is a 10 foot down climb along a fluted slightly sloped drop.  

About 150 feet down canyon of rap 7 are 2 drops of about 30 feet.  The drops are bypassed by traversing RDC then down a side chute.  The traverse is a bit sketchy so care should be taken.  

Rap 8 (dHadeAltR8-9) is about 250 feet down canyon of rap 7.  Just before reaching the top of rap 8 is a down climb of about 8 feet to the top of rap 8.  At the bottom of the down climb are some interesting lines in the rock LDC that look like the rock is made of puzzle pieces.  Rap 8 is anchored from a rock placed behind a small bush (a cairn anchor might be a god idea here in the future).  Rap 8 drops about 35 feet.  

Rap 9 is about 60 feet down canyon of rap 8.  Rap 9 is anchored from a rock embedded in the wash.  Rap 9 drops about 160 feet and is a very cool rap with the colorful rock and the huge alcove feel at the bottom.  

Down canyon of rap 9 the canyon opens up and provides easy wash walking for a ways.  About 300 feet down canyon of rap 9 is a drop that is bypassed LDC.  

Rap 10 (dHadeAltR10-11) is about 450 feet down canyon of rap 9 with a couple short down climbs just before reaching rap 10.  There is little anchor building material right at the top of rap 10.  If more is needed it has to rolled, pushed or carried over the short down climbs prior to Rap 10.  Rap 10 is anchored a cairn anchor and uses about 155 feet of rope as it drops over a series of ledges along water pour offs.  Along the way down Rap 10 are a couple short sections of free hang.  

As we started down rap 10 on the first descent it began to rain.  Rap 10 started to cascade with little water falls.  It was quite beautiful.  Luckily the rain stopped shortly after so we could dry off and warm up.  

Rap 11 is near the bottom of rap 10 with a short down climb to reach the anchor.  Rap 11 is anchored from a cairn anchor and uses about 110 feet of rope as it drops over 3 stages of 15 feet, 30 feet and 15 feet.  Pulling directly from the bottom of rap 11 does not offer a good pull line and makes for a difficult pull.  The easiest option is to get up and a ledge about 30 feet down canyon RDC of the bottom of the rap.  This offers a clean pull line.  

Rap 12 (dHadeAltR12-14) is about 100 feet down canyon of rap 11.  Rap 12 is anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 60 feet with a pothole ledge about 10 feet down.  

Be careful on raps 13 and 14.  This section is the reason I have rated this canyon as a level 4 rather than a level 3.  There is no anchor building material at the top of rap 14.  It has all been washed over the rap from water flow during rains.  It may be possible for future water flow to wash out the anchor we placed at the top of rap 14.  If you rap off of rap 13 then pull the ropes, you may find no anchor and no anchor building material if it has washed away.  There is sand and gravel near the top of rap 14 where a dead man anchor could be built but that too may get washed away some day.  

On our descent we all carried, pushed and rolled lots of rock material up and over to a drop RDC of rap 13 then rolled them down toward rap 14.  The rocks would either shatter or stop on one of 2 ledges along the way before reaching rap 14.  I rapped down the side ledges using Ron as a meat anchor to get what was left of the rocks down the last of the ledges to rap 14.  While this was happening Rick was waiting part way down rap 13 before continuing down.  It was not a good idea to throw rocks down rap 13 since it was over 4 stages and twisted through a narrow slot.  

Be sure to look for anchor possibilities at the top of rap 14 before sending everyone down from rap 13.  If there is no anchor building material you may need to shuffle it down there as we did.  

Rap 13 is at the bottom of rap 12.  Rap 13 is anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about over 4 stages as it drops down to rap 14.  I am not sure of the total length of rap 13 but I think it is less than 100 feet.  Rap 13 drops over the 4 stages and winds around corners in a narrow slot.  

Rap 14 is right below rap 13.  Rap 14 is anchored from a cairn anchor that is built from material thrown down from rap 13.  The cairn anchor is slightly around a rock corner about 15 feet back from the rap.  Rap 14 drops a total of about 165 feet but looks huge from the top of the rap.  The first part of rap 14 drops about 140 feet starting down a narrow fluted section then going wide flat and vertical.  With a little water flow occurring, the rap is slippery and you can almost ski down the wall without moving your feet while rappelling.  At the bottom of the first part is a shelf.  To get down the second part it is safer to climb about 8 feet up to a notch RDC (rappellers left in this case) then drop down an additional 25 feet.  

About 100 feet down canyon of rap 14 is a smooth drop off of about 8 feet.  If the drop does not look desirable it is easy to bypass it up and over LDC.  Just after the drop it is about 50 feet over into the main Hades Canyon (jHadesDanteVw).  At the junction you are down canyon of rap 1 and well up canyon of rap 2 in the main Hades Canyon (Hades proper).  

Note:
This concludes the description for the alternate canyon entry into Hades.  You are now in the main Hades Canyon (jHadesDanteVw)between raps 1 and 2.

Continue down Hades proper:
From the junction (jHadesDanteVw) turn left to continue southwest down canyon.

About 200 feet down canyon of the junction is a drop of about 15 feet with and easy sloped down climb LDC in a slot.

Shortly after is another sloped drop that is down climbed LDC along a slope.  This second sloped down climb has some very slick rock but the slope is gentle enough there is no issue with getting down safely.  If you feel like playing there is a section that will allow a pretty fun slide down.  

Next is a down climb of about 10 feet along a slanted crack RDC.  

After a section of easy wash walking is a down climb of about 10 feet down a crack RDC with an overhang at the top of the down climb.  

Another section of easy wash walking ends at a drop of about 25 feet.  This drop is bypassed by climbing up and around RDC about 50 feet back up canyon then dropping down a short scree slope to the canyon floor below the drop.  This drop is a little over 200 feet from rap 2.  

Rap 2 (dHadesR2) is about 0.4 miles down canyon of the junction with the alternate entry route.  Rap 2 is anchored from a red rock at the top of the rap which contrasts with the light gray rock around it.  Rap 2 drops about 60 feet with a small ledge about 15 feet down.  The last part of Rap 2 is slightly sloped and drops along a crack.  

Rap 3 (dHadesR3-4) is about 400 feet down canyon of rap 2.  Rap 3 is anchored from a choke stone under foot next to a large boulder.  Rap 3 drops about 30 feet to a large ledge below.  

Rap 4 starts from the ledge just below rap 3.  Rap 4 is anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 80 feet with a ledge about 10 feet down.  The first 10 feet down to the ledge is an easy down climb.  Take a moment to look at the swirls of pink in the wall as you descend the second part of rap 4.  

Down canyon of rap 4 is mostly easy wash walking.  About 0.2 miles down canyon of rap 4 is a down climb of about 8 feet then a huge boulder in the wash just down canyon (wHadesRP-02).  There is a narrow opening LDC of the huge boulder allowing an easy walk around.  Then more easy wash walking continuing down canyon.  

Rap 5 (dHadesR5-6) is about 0.3 miles down canyon of the huge boulder in the wash.  Rap 5 is anchored from a large rock in the wash about 20 feet back from the rap.  The drop for rap 5 is about 35 feet with a small pocket in the wall part way down.  The rap is done about 15 feet RDC of the main pour off for the drop.  

Rap 6 starts from the huge shelf below rap 5.  Rap 6 is anchored from a very large rock embedded in the wash about 30 feet back from the lip.  Webbing is strung all the way over to the lip of the rap so the ropes are not too short.  Rap 6 drops about 180 feet down a sheer wall.  The view from the top of rap 6 gives that definite Big Air feel.  Unfortunately the canyon turns LDC after the rap so it is not possible to look too far down canyon from the top of rap 6.  

Rap 7 (dHadesR7-8) is a little over 300 feet down canyon of rap 6.  Rap 7 is anchored from a large rock a short distance up a slope above the rap.  To get to the anchor, scramble up about 15 feet LDC of the wash up onto a sloped rock area.  Rap 7 drops down a series of ledges, the tallest of these is about 60 feet.  The total rope travel from anchor to the bottom is about 135 feet.  Below rap 7 is a very large gravel filled shelf.  

Rap 8 starts from the shelf below rap 7.  Rap 8 is anchored from a cairn anchor and uses about 175 feet of rope as it drops down a series of ledges.  The highest ledge along Rap 8 is only about 40 feet.  

Below rap 8 is a long section of easy wash walking with a few short gentle sloped drops mixed in.  

Raps 9 – 13 are stretched over about 800 feet of the canyon.  

Rap 9 (dHadesR9-11) is about 0.5 miles down canyon of rap 8.  Rap 9 is anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 140 feet with a ledge about 20 feet down.  Below the ledge rap 9 drops vertical down a wall with a few layers of color.  The lower portion of the rap is a little more colorful.  

Rap 10 is a short distance down canyon of rap 9.  Rap 10 is anchored from a cairn anchor and drops about 60 feet with a ledge about 20 feet down before continuing vertical.  

Rap 11 is a short distance down canyon of rap 10.  Rap 11 is anchored from a cairn anchor and uses 200 feet of rope as it drops over a series of ledges.  Two 200 foot ropes just barely reach the bottom of rap 11.  Just in case your ropes are a bit shorter it is a good idea to keep a watchful eye out so you do not rap off the end of the rope.  

Rap 12 (dHadesR12-13) is a short distance down canyon of rap 11.  Rap 12 is anchored from two choke stones.  Rap 12 uses about 125 feet of rope as it drops over 2 stages.  The first drop on rap 12 is about 50 feet then a long vertical section followed by a 30 foot drop.  Just before the second drop on rap 12 is a set of pitons RDC.  No need to use these pitons, just rap on by.  

Rap 13 is just around the corner below rap 12.  Rap 13 is anchored from a couple pitons RDC about 15 feet back from the rap.  Rap 13 uses about 145 feet of rope as it drops over a series of ledges.  

About 80 feet down canyon of rap 13 is a drop of about 10 feet.  Someone has tied webbing around a rock to allow this drop to be a rappel.  There is no need to rappel as this is a very easy down climb.  It just looks difficult from the top.  

A short walk down the wash after the down climb is a aerial fuel tank that has been dropped into the canyon long ago.  

After a couple sloped easy down climbs and some wash walking is rap 14.  

Rap 14 (dHadesR14) is about 200 feet after the dropped fuel tank.  Rap 14 is anchored from a rock embedded in the wash just above the rap.  Rap 14 drops about 60 feet (plus about 10 feet of rope back to the anchor) down a sloped wall next to a slanted crevice RDC.   

Rap 14 is optional.  Rather than rappel it is a relatively easy down climb by stemming down along the crevice RDC of the drop.  It looks difficult but is not.  Some of the rock along the down climb can be a little slick so keep that in mind if you decide to down climb.  

A couple hundred feet down canyon is a sloped down climb (yHadesBt).  Beyond this down climb it is a long easy wash walk out to the alluvial fan.

The Exit:
After the easy down climb below rap 14 (yHadesBt), continue about 0.2 miles out to where the canyon opens up onto the alluvial fan.  Once the canyon opens up onto the alluvial fan hike across the alluvial fan to your car.  Continue southwest about 0.5 south west to your car at (pkHadesBt).

GPS Waypoint Information

Back to the Canyoneering Trip Report List page.

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