Canyoneering Route Description

Limbo Canyon - 4A III R
Ticaboo Mesa, Utah.

Quick Facts

03-03-12, 3 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 5.5 hours)
03-08-15, 7 people, 1 Day (Travel time in route 6.4 hours)

Time Required - 6 to 7 Hours
Distance - 2.6 miles Total, 0.4 miles Technical
Rappels - 5 Rappels, Longest Rappel 120 feet.
Elevation Range - 4965 - 4115 Feet
Shuttle Required -No Vehicle - High Clearance (possibly 4WD if road conditions are bad) Permit Required - No

Gear Used for Canyon

Rappelling and anchor gear, Ropes and or pull cords for rappels up to 120 feet and 50 feet of 1 inch webbing for sling placement.  Wet suits may be needed on cooler days when the canyon is full of water. If you are not cold tolerant and expect water in the canyon a farmer john would be nice since most of the water is only waist deep if present.

This canyon also requires potshot and back pack anchors for some of the drops.  Bring potshots or the like along with the knowledge to use them.

General Comments

The Dantes are a collection of Canyons offering short and challenging routes in the Ticaboo Mesa area.  More than one of the Dante Canyons can be done in a day if a longer day is desired.  The canyons in the Dante system go by the names Purgatory (aka Dave's Not Dead), Inferno, Limbo and Paradiso.

Natural anchors are used in the Dante's.  While enjoying the Dante Canyons, please pay close attention to how you set up anchors and try to minimize or eliminate creating more rope grooves.  Over the years only minor rope grooves have been inflicted on the canyon walls.  Please try to follow in the foot steps of those before you and keep rope grooves to a minimum.

Note / Navigation Warning:
The exit route up out of the Dante Canyons is difficult to explain (written or verbal).  Be aware you may have some route finding to do on your way up out of the system.  A GPS may be helpful if you plan to use the GPS coordinates on from this route description.

Another fun note is the large wash that Purgatory dumps into is sometimes referred to as Bright's Wash, named after William Bright.

Limbo Canyon offers a little more challenge than a typical rap and go canyon.  Some of the drops will require potshots or backpacks as anchors.  The layout of the drops is fairly forgiving and is a good place to practice these techniques.  It is a good idea to have someone along on the trip that has used this style of anchoring in the past.

The R rating for Limbo Canyon is due to the mandatory silo crosssing.

There is a mandatory silo crossing just after rap 2.  For most people a back on one wall and feet o the other is sufficient reach to cross this silo.  The silo crossing is not technically difficult but is a definite mind game as you look over it and realize you have to cross it.  You will be about 30 feet off the deck while crossing part of this silo with now way to add realistic protection.  Be prepared for this scenario before you decide to do Limbo Canyon.

Some of these raps can be down climbed but are safer with a rope so they have been called raps.  On the flip side some of these down climbs will be safer with a hand line.  Depending on what your group does the rap count may be different for you. 

Warning!!:
Don't pull ropes over rock features that can be used as anchors. They will eventually get sawed off.
Warning!!
It does not take very much rope movement to quickly saw through sandstone!  After only a few people saw a rope over a small feature, it can easily break off and be gone for ever.  If you a sandstone feature as your anchor leave a webbing anchor and rapid on it so the rope does not saw on the rock.  Or if the drop is short enough and geometry is correct flick the rope off of the fin from below.  DO NOT just pull your rope along the feature to retrieve your rope!

This is a good example of why it is important to THINK about what your ropes do as you descend a canyon. Picture taken 03-03-12.

I mention this because someone on a decent of Limbo Canyon did exactly that.
A rock fin that is commonly used as an anchor is now cut almost in half and will soon be gone forever if this continues to happen.

Driving Directions

To get to the Trailhead

Note:
There is a maze of roads on Ticaboo Mesa making it a good idea to study the map ahead of time and keep a close eye on the map as you drive.

From Hanksville, UT., drive south on highway 95 for 26 miles to the junction of highways 95 and 276.

From the junction, drive south on HWY-276 for 25.6 miles then turn left (east) onto BLM dirt-road 13400 between mile markers 25 and 26 (extTicaboo1).

About 1.5 miles from the highway is a junction (TicabooDP-01) of BLM roads, 13400 continues east and 13410 branches off to the south.  Continue east on BLM road 13400.  Note: If you were headed to the Smith Fork area you would turn south onto BLM road 13410.

About 2 miles farther is another junction (TicabooDP-02) of BLM roads, 13400 continues east and 13420 branches off to the south. Continue east on BLM road 13400.  Note: BLM road 13420 to the south goes out to Cane Spring Well about 1.25 miles south.

About 0.2 miles farther is short side road (TicabooDP-03) on the left (north) that goes to a camp area.
Stay right to continue on BLM road 13400.  Beyond this point the roads will have intermittent rough sections. 
About 0.37 miles past here is a fork in the road where the two roads rejoin a short distance later.  The low road is typically the smoothest.

About 1.7 miles farther is another junction (TicabooDP-04) of BLM roads (13400 continues north-ish and 13430 branches off to the south).
Continue north on BLM road 13400. 
Note: If you were going to the roads between Warm Springs Creek and Sevenmile Creek, you would turn south onto BLM road 13430.

About 0.3 miles farther is another junction (TicabooDP-05) of BLM roads (13400 continues northeast and 13440 branches off to the north).
Continue straight northeast on BLM road 13400.
Note: BLM road 13440 to the south goes out to Colt Spring Well about 0.4 miles north.

About 0.5 miles farther is a junction (TicabooDP-06) of BLM roads (13400 continues northeast and 13450 branches off to the north).
Continue straight northeast on BLM road 13400.

About 0.9 miles farther is a junction (TicabooDP-07) of BLM roads (13400 continues northeast and 13430 branches off to the south).
Turn south onto BLM road 13430.
Note: If you were going to Tough, SF Ticaboo or Sleepytime Trio Canyons you would continue northeast on BLM road 13400.

About 700 feet farther is a fork in the road (extWarmSpring).  At this fork stay left to continue toward the East Branch of Seven Mile Creek.

About 0.4 miles farther is another fork in the road (ext7MileCkEB).  Veer left (east) to continue toward the Dante's.

About 1.1 miles farther is a junction where a side road joins in from the southwest (TicabooDP-08).  Veer left (east) to continue toward the Dante's.

About 0.4 miles farther is a junction where a side road joins in from the southwest (extTicabooMesa).  Stay left and follow the road as it turns and begins to head north.

About 1 mile farther is a major road junction (extDantes).  Turn right (southeast) to continue toward the Dante's. 

About 1 mile farther is a junction where a road joins in from the left (extTicabooCamp).  Continue straight (southeast) toward the Dante's.

About 0.2 miles farther the road dead ends (tDanteCanyons1).  Park here to start the Dante Canyon routes.

To leave the Exit Vehicle / Escape Pod

No exit vehicle is needed.  This is done as a loop route.

Maps

GPS coordinate information listed at the bottom.  For information about waypoint naming and map symbols, refer to the Glossary page.

Click the links for maps of the route. Map of the Drive overview.
Map of the Drive segment 1 Zoomed in.
Map of the Drive segment 2 Zoomed in.
Map of the Canyons overview.
Map of the Canyons section 1 Zoomed in.
Map of the Canyons section 2 Zoomed in.

Details

The Approach:
From the trailhead (tDanteCanyons1) walk south west into the desert.  A social trail has started to develop and it is a good idea to continue to use the trail to minimize the impact on the area.  About 250 feet from the parking area the social trail will drop down into a small shallow drainage (wDanteEntRP-01).

Follow south east down the small drainage about 100 feet to where the drainage meets a steep drop down a sandstone wall (wDanteEntRP-02).  This is a steep drop of about 20 feet to another section of dirt desert floor.  

After dropping down the sandstone slope follow a worn path east along the dirt for a little over 200 feet to get over to the next section of wide open slick rock (wDanteEntRP-03).  Staying on the path already carved out along the dirt floor will help keep foot traffic off of the crypto biotic soil in the area.

Once on the wide open slick rock wDanteEntRP-03) turn left to walk (northeast) and follow the shelf you are on.  About 500 feet along the shelf contour around the top of a minor side drainage dropping down into Purgatory Canyon which is now on your left (southeast).

After contouring around the minor drainage, contour along the shelf as you wrap around to the right and begin to travel east then south east.  In about 300 feet you will contour around the top of a larger drainage which is the top of Purgatory Canyon (yPurgatoryTp).  Purgatory is also known as Dave’s Not Dead).  If you were dropping into Purgatory you would find your way into this slot.

To continue toward Inferno stay on the shelf and travel about 1000 feet south east contouring around a point.  The drainage you cross (jInferno) about 1000 feet after passing Purgatory is the top of Inferno Canyon.  At this point Inferno has not yet formed into a menacing slot yet so it may not appear to be much of a drainage at first glance.  If you plan to drop into Inferno you would start your way south down this drainage.

To continue to Limbo Canyon, continue southeast along the slick rock for about 700 feet to where you cross over the top end of another drainage (jLimbo).  This is the top of Limbo Canyon. 

The Canyoneering / Technical Section:
From the top of the Limbo drainage on the approach / exit route, go south down into Limbo.

A little over 100 feet down canyon will be the first down climb which is easy stem style and sloped.  This is marked as the top of Limbo Canyon (yLimboTp). 

Down climb about 8 feet in a sloped chute like slot to a pothole below that could be knee of thigh deep if full.  shortly after is another pothole that may be waist deep if full.  This second pothole can be avoided but may be difficult for some people to do so.  Next galumph along traveling over a few more small pothole like features.  This first section is only about 100 feet long then the drainage opens up into a wide area with some sand.

On the other side of the wide sandy area starts the next narrow section (wLimboRP-01).  In the first 250 feet of this narrow section are 3 down climbs each about 6 to 8 feet.  None of these are overly difficult but some may want a hand line for them.  There are also a few potholes that will be in this section that can be about waist deep if full of water and will be unavoidable.  If the canyon is wet plan on wading in a few spots here.  Other than the few small potholes travel is a mix of walking and galumphing.

About 250 feet down canyon into the second narrow is a sloped elevator like down climb of about 10 feet (wLimboRP-02).   The walls are narrow enough here that you can stem over this drop and drop down where it feels comfortable.

Continuing down canyon are 2 or 3 more down climbs of about 6 feet and a few spots where water can get up to waist deep if the canyon is full.

About 175 feet down canyon of the elevator is a drop of about 25 feet (wLimboRP-03).  The first half of this drop is down climbable but the lower half is steeply sloped and almost vertical.  A hand line works well for all but the last person.  The last person can use a potshot or back pack as an anchor then pull it over the edge after getting down.  Capturing the last person could be awkward for those at the bottom as the footing here is not good.   The potshot is likely the better option since there is a convenient lip near the top for the placement of the potshot.  A pot shot half full or a little more depending on how wet the sand is works well.  Remember to maintain full body contact on the rock as you slither down the drop so there is less force applied to the potshot above.

About 30 feet down canyon is another drop of about 20 feet.  All but the last 50 feet of this drop is easily down climbed.  A hand line for all but the last then a partner capture for the last man down works well here.

About 50 or 60 feet down canyon is a drop of about 20 feet which is rap 1 (dLimbo-R1).

Rap 1 (dLimbo-R1) drops about 20 feet and can be anchored from a rock fin on the LDC side about head high and 20 feet back from the drop.  People on past descents have pulled the rope over this rock fin and almost sawed it in half.  Please do not do this.  Leave webbing or flick the rope off of the fin.  Do not pull the rope around this fin to retrieve. 

Another option that works well is to use a potshot filled with sand at the top of the drop.  With a pull rope tied to the back side of the bag the potshot is pulled from the bottom of the rap dumping most of the sand before dropping down to you.   Only the first 15 feet of rap 1 needs the rope.  The last 5 feet can be scrambled / stemmed between twisting walls.

Between rap 1 and rap 2 are a couple pools to cross through that could be a bit over waist deep if full.

Rap 2 (dLimbo-R2) is about 100 feet down canyon of rap 1.  Rap 2 is anchored from a small choke stone in the V shaped slot at the top of the drop.  The total rope length needed for rap 2 is about 50 feet.  The first 15 feet of the rap is an easy down climb and the remainder could arguably be called a drop that only requires a hand line.  Since a rope is required I am calling it a rap.

At the bottom of Rap 2 is a large pothole that could be about waist deep if full of water.  This pothole has a sand filled floor so it could be deeper if foods scour this out.

Shortly after rap 2 is a silo that needs to be crossed.  While crossing over the silo you will be 30 or so feet above the deck.  For most people a back on one wall and feet o the other is sufficient reach to cross this silo.  The silo crossing is not technically difficult but is a definite mind game as you look over it and realize you have to cross it.  You will be about 30 feet off the deck while crossing part of this silo - with no way to add realistic protection.  You're on your own over this thing.

Note / Warning:
About halfway across the silo is a large loose flake of rock on the LDC wall.  This large flake is not visible until you get right up to it.  What makes this noteworthy is this flake sits exactly where you will want to put feet or hands to support yourself.  If you are not paying attention you may place weight on this flake and it could break sending you down the silo with that flake.  Keep this in mind when crossing and remember to watch where you place your body parts as you cross here.

Down canyon of the silo is a narrow left leaning section to stem / galumph in before getting to a short section of easy walking in sand. 

Just after the short sandy walk is a down climb of about 5 feet to a possibly waist deep pool.

Just after is a drop of about 10 feet into another pool.  The pool below the 10 foot drop could be up to chest deep if full.  If the pool is only waist deep there are a few features on the RDC side that will allow skilled climber types to get around the pool without getting wet.  But most everyone will end up in the water here.  Just after this pool is another drop of about 15 feet into another pool (dLimbo-R3). 

Rap 3 (dLimbo-R3) is about 10 feet down a vertical wall and will require and anchor at the top.  A meat anchor can be provided from the top of the drop for all but the last person.  A pack anchor works well at this drop for the last person.

Note:
If the pack you use is too light it will not support the last person down or if too heavy it will be very difficult to pull.  Keep this in mind when setting up the pack anchor.  One rope tied to the down canyon side of the pack is used to rappel from.  Another rope tied to the up canyon side of the pack allows the pack to be pulled and rolled up over the start of the lip.  A good idea is to use as light a pack as possible, maintain full body contact on the rock as you rap / slide down and rap fast so you put less force on the pack.

Just after rap 3 the canyon veers right just before getting to a rock fall debris area (wLimboRP-04).  Climb up, over and around the rock fall debris on the LDC side.  Route find your way back down to the canyon floor down through the down canyon side of the rock debris. 

Shortly down canyon of the rock fall debris is a down climb through a little more rock fall debris just before getting down to the top of rap 4.  This down climb some people may want a hand line for.  Drop down this by slithering down the drop using body friction.

Rap 4 (dLimbo-R4) is anchored from a rock embedded in the sand about 15 feet back from the drop.  Rap 4 then drops vertical for about 15 feet.

Note:
Rap 4 can be down climbed but may feel sketchy to do so.  To down climb sit at the top of the drop, put your back on the RDC wall and slide over the edge.  As you slide over extend your feet out to the LDC wall and aim for a half moon shaped pocket.  After getting your feet into the pocket the down climb is an awkward sliding stem.  Take your pack off for this down climb as it will force you out of the crack you are trying to stay in.

After rap 4 is easy travel with a mix of walking in sand and some easy scrambles. Just before reaching rap 5 is a narrow slot to down climb into.

Rap 5 (dLimbo-R5) is about 400 feet down canyon of rap 4.   Rap 5 is anchored from choke stones at the top of the drop and is a two stage rap.  You will need about 120 feet of rope travel for rap 5. 

The start of the first stage of rap 5 is a little awkward to start in a narrow slot followed by about 15 feet of free hang.  The total drop of the first stage is about 35 feet.  Below the first stage is a huge ledge with a really cool looking pothole in it that would likely be a mouse in a bucket kind of thing if you went in it while dry.  The pothole is very easy to walk around on the huge ledge.

The second stage of rap 5 drops over a couple subtle ledges to a pool in the sandy wash below.  Depending on water levels in the wash the pool at the bottom of rap 5 could be waist to chest deep.  In most cases you will be able to get off rope and traverse to the LDC side and get wet to your knees at most.

The spring here is said to be the most reliable water in the system and has water year round.

About 200 feet down canyon of rap 5 is a large bowl like area on the LDC side (yLimboBt).  I chose this semi arbitrary point to mark as the end of the technical section.

The Exit:
From the bowl like area on the RDC side (yLimboBt), it is about 0.25 miles to the end of the canyon where it dumps into another drainage. 

About 200 feet before reaching the junction of drainages (wDanteExtRP-02) walk up the dirt slope about 200 feet to the base of the cliff band and scramble up a drainage looking indent in the cliff band.  After scrambling to the top of the indent (wDanteExtRP-03) you will be topped out on a large ledge.

Once on the large ledge turn right (south) and traverse along the ledge for about 200 feet around the tip of a point along the ledge to the start of a bowl shaped indent (wDanteExtRP-04).

Walk up the bowl shaped indent and climb up the ledges to get to the top of the bowl and traverse north a little over 100 feet up onto the ridge (wDanteExtRP-05).  This ridge is running between Limbo Canyon which is on the left (north west) and Paradiso which is on the right (south east).  

Once up on the ridge (wDanteExtRP-05) walk north east on the sandstone ridge.  Continue north east up the ridge for about 650 feet to a small knob to go up over or around (wDanteExtRP-06).  

From the knob continue north east about 350 feet to the start of steep section of the sandstone ridge to scramble up (wDanteExtRP-07).  On the climb up, there is a good view to the right (east) down into Paradiso.  The top out of the climb is about 75 or 100 feet from the bottom of the climb / scramble.  From the top out continue up the slope to about 200 feet then drop down into a drainage running across the ridge (wDanteExtRP-08).  

The drainage crossing the ridge (wDanteExtRP-08) has a sharp drop off on the right (east) dropping down toward Paradiso Canyon.  Walk over very close to this drop off and find a way to scramble up the other side (north) to continue along the ridge.  This spot will be more of a climb than a scramble but an easy climb.

After getting up out of the drainage crossing the ridge, continue north up the ridge about 200 feet to the stat of a steep section of slick rock to climb (wDanteExtRP-09).  The scramble up the slick rock here is not difficult but hands will be needed.  The scramble goes for about 400 feet to the top out then continues another 100 feet or so and drops down into another drainage running across the ridge (wDanteExtRP-10).  At the top out of the climb you can see the cars parked at the trailhead about 0.6 miles to the northwest if you look close.

The drainage crossing the ridge (wDanteExtRP-10) pours off to the right (east) down into Paradiso and to the left (west) down into Limbo.  Cross over the drainage and scramble up a sandstone nose to continue up the ridge.  

About 200 feet after getting up out of the last drainage the climb will top out and start to curve left to the northwest.  Continue about another 400 feet and find a way to drop down into the next drainage crossing the ridge (wDanteExtRP-11) that is kind of deep and narrow with a sandy floor as you continue northwest.  After dropping down into this drainage follow it northwest about 250 or 300 feet to where it opens up in a very large flat sandy ledge or landing (wDanteExtRP-12).  

Continue across the sandy landing and continue along the narrow drainage.  A little over 500 feet after crossing the large sandy landing area the route will cross over another drainage (jLimbo).  This is the drainage leading down to Limbo.  

After crossing the drainage that leads down to Limbo (jLimbo), continue northwest across the sandstone.  About 700 feet after crossing the drainage to Limbo, the route will cross over yet another drainage that leads south down to Inferno Canyon (jInferno).  

After crossing over the drainage down to Inferno, will be a large wide open ledge or shelf.  Walk along the ledge as it curves southwest then to the right to the north.  Walking along this shelf or ledge will skirt around a prominent point on a cliff band and over to the head of Purgatory Canyon (yPurgatoryTp).  The head of Purgatory is about 1000 feet after crossing the drainage leading down to Inferno.

Note:
If you are exiting after completing Purgatory, please take a moment to walk down to rap 1 and retrieve your anchor webbing and rapid.  If you are completing another canyon and feel like taking the time you can walk over and see if any is left there you can clean up.

Continue northwest from the top of Purgatory across the sandstone.  Traverse along the sandstone on whatever feels like a natural route staying high but well below the cliff band on the right (north).  About 450 feet after crossing the top of Purgatory Canyon you will cross over a small drainage which is a minor fork of the top of Purgatory (wDanteExtRP-13).

After crossing the small drainage leading down toward Purgatory, walk west about 150 feet to the base of the cliff band where you can find a spot to climb out (wDanteExtRP-14).  This spot to climb out may be difficult when wearing a heavy pack.  This spot is steep and has only a few hand holds for about 15 feet up the slick rock band.  

After climbing up the steep 15 foot section of the sandstone cliff band, traverse up the dirt slope traveling south to get to the top of the climb near the trailhead. Then walk a few hundred feet across the flat desert to the trailhead (tDanteCanyons1).

GPS Waypoint Information

Click to show / expand the list of waypoints below........

Limbo (1) - Drive to Trailhead

extTicaboo1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.69720   W -110.67138        Elev: 4,520 Feet Exit off of highway 276 to get to the Ticaboo Mesa area. Turn east and leave the highway on a dirt road. Near Mile post 25. TicabooDP-01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68607   W -110.65188        Elev: NaN Feet Continue straight for the main area of Ticaboo Mesa. Or Turn right (south) here for an alternate route over toward the Smith Fork Canyons. TicabooDP-02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.67981   W -110.62886        Elev: NaN Feet Road junction with faint road running to the south. Continue straight (east). TicabooDP-03          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68038   W -110.62628        Elev: 4,565 Feet Exit to a spot to camp if the roads ahead are too rough. TicabooDP-04          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.67963   W -110.60429        Elev: NaN Feet Junction for a road going south. Continue straiaght (north east) to continue toward Ticaboo Measa. This road junction is near Wild Horse Springs. TicabooDP-05          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68389   W -110.60153        Elev: NaN Feet Junction for a side road on the left going north. Continue north east toward Ticaboo Mesa. TicabooDP-06          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68667   W -110.59547        Elev: NaN Feet Junction for a side road going north. TicabooDP-07          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.69529   W -110.58385        Elev: NaN Feet Turn off for a side road on the right. Turn right onto the side road and drive southwest. extWarmSpring          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.69362   W -110.58484        Elev: NaN Feet Stay right to go toward the main drainage of Seven Mile Creek and Warm Springs Canyon. Or Stay left to go toward the East Branch of Seven Mile Creek and Ticaboo Mesa. ext7MileCkEB          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.69147   W -110.58014        Elev: NaN Feet Turn right (more south) to continue toward the East Branch of Seven Mile Creek. Or veer left to continue toward Ticaboo Mesa. TicabooDP-08          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68412   W -110.56389        Elev: NaN Feet Junction where a rod joins in from southwest. Veer left and continue east toward the Dantes. extTicabooMesa          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68397   W -110.55581        Elev: NaN Feet Juntion where a road joins in from the south. Stay left and follow the road north to continue out toward the Dante Canyons. Or Turn Right and follow the road South to continue out toward Fiddlestix Canyon. The road to the south eventually loops around to meet the road by Seven Mile Creek. extDantes          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.69594   W -110.55323        Elev: 4,995 Feet Major junction. Trun right (southeast) to go toward the Dante's. tDanteCanyons1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68666   W -110.53627        Elev: 4,965 Feet Trailhead for the Dante Canyons.

Limbo (2) - Approach

tDanteCanyons1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68666   W -110.53627        Elev: 4,965 Feet Trailhead for the Dante Canyons. wDanteEntRP-01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68607   W -110.53681        Elev: 4,960 Feet Drop into a small drainage here then follow down it to the south east. wDanteEntRP-02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68590   W -110.53665        Elev: NaN Feet Drop of about 20 feet down a steep section of a sandstone wall to more dirt desert floor. wDanteEntRP-03          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68575   W -110.53588        Elev: 4,845 Feet Path through the dirt meets wide open slick rock here. yPurgatoryTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68697   W -110.53362        Elev: 4,835 Feet Top entry for Purgatory Canyon. jInferno          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68642   W -110.53151        Elev: 4,785 Feet Route crosses a drainage here which is the drainage leading to the top of Inferno Canyon. If exiting one of the Dante's, continue west across the sandstone. If descending Inferno, go south down the drainage toward the top of Inferno Canyon. jLimbo          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68569   W -110.52951        Elev: 4,670 Feet Route crosses a drainage here which is the drainage leading to the top of Limbo Canyon. If exiting one of the Dante's, continue west across the sandstone. If descending Limbo, go south down the drainage toward the top of Limbo Canyon. yLimboTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68535   W -110.52948        Elev: 4,650 Feet Top entry of Limbo Canyon. This is where teh fist down climb starts in the Limbo drainage.

Limbo (3) - The Canyon,

jLimbo          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68569   W -110.52951        Elev: 4,670 Feet Route crosses a drainage here which is the drainage leading to the top of Limbo Canyon. If exiting one of the Dante's, continue west across the sandstone. If descending Limbo, go south down the drainage toward the top of Limbo Canyon. yLimboTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68535   W -110.52948        Elev: 4,650 Feet Top entry of Limbo Canyon. This is where teh fist down climb starts in the Limbo drainage. wLimboRP-01          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68490   W -110.52913        Elev: 4,593 Feet Start of the second narrow section and where the canyon takes on the commited feel. wLimboRP-02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68453   W -110.52840        Elev: 4,537 Feet Sloped elevator like down climb of about 10 feet. wLimboRP-03          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68406   W -110.52820        Elev: 4,520 Feet Two down climbs about 30 feet apart. The first is about 25 feet with the second half being sloped and almost vertical where a potshot anchor from above is best for last man down. The second drop is about 20 feet and all but the last 5 feet is easily down climbed. A partner asist works well at the bottom of this second down climb. dLimbo-R1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68388   W -110.52813        Elev: 4,520 Feet Rap 1 - Limbo Canyon. Can be anchored from a rock fin about 20 feet back about head high on the LDC side but is beginning to be sawed off from people not thinking. Optionally you can use a pot shot here since there is plenty of sand around. Rap 1 drops about 20 feet but only the first 15 feet need rope. The last 5 feet can be scrambled / stemmed between twisting walls. dLimbo-R2          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68362   W -110.52805        Elev: 4,480 Feet Rap 2 - Limbo Canyon. Anchored from a small chokestone and uses about 50 feet of rope. Could be considered a long hand line drop but since a rope is needed I am calling it a rap. Pothole below could be waist deep if full or deeper if flooding scours out more sand. dLimbo-R3          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68315   W -110.52791        Elev: 4,480 Feet Rap 3 - Limbo Canyon. Drops about 10 feet down a vertical wall. A back pack anchor is used for the last person down. All others can be given a meat anchor from the top. wLimboRP-04          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68298   W -110.52787        Elev: NaN Feet Rock fall debris area. Climb up and over this debris on the LDC side. dLimbo-R4          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68266   W -110.52813        Elev: 4,480 Feet Rap 4 - Limbo Canyon. Can be downclimbed. Anchored from a rock embedded in sand about 15 feet back and drops about 15 feet. Rap 4 can be down climbed by sliding over the drop and aiming your feet for the LDC wall to catch yourself. dLimbo-R5          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68159   W -110.52839        Elev: 4,280 Feet Rap 5 - Limbo Canyon. Drops over two stages using about 120 feet of rope travel. On the ledge between stages is a very nice mouse in a bucket style pothole. Easily avoidable but fun to look at. yLimboBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68114   W -110.52778        Elev: 4,220 Feet Bottom of the tech section for Limbo Canyon. This is about 200 feet down canyon of the last rap and is where a large bowl like area is on the LDC side of the wash.

Limbo (4) - Exit

yLimboBt          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68114   W -110.52778        Elev: 4,220 Feet Bottom of the tech section for Limbo Canyon. This is about 200 feet down canyon of the last rap and is where a large bowl like area is on the LDC side of the wash. wDanteExtRP-02          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.67844   W -110.52927        Elev: NaN Feet Start up out of theDante 3 drainage here to walk up the dirt slope to the cliff band to the east. wDanteExtRP-03          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.67855   W -110.52855        Elev: NaN Feet Climb up from the bottom of the cliff band tops out on a large ledge here. To continue on the exit traverse south along the ledge. wDanteExtRP-04          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.67822   W -110.52817        Elev: 4,230 Feet Start of a bowl shaped indent after passing the point on the traverse around the ledge. Climb up the bowl to the north to continue the exit. wDanteExtRP-05          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.67852   W -110.52826        Elev: NaN Feet Up on the ridge after climbing up out of the bowl. Continue up the ridge to the north east. wDanteExtRP-06          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.67993   W -110.52696        Elev: NaN Feet A knob along the ridge to go up and over or around on the way up the ridge. wDanteExtRP-07          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68062   W -110.52620        Elev: NaN Feet Start of a steep section of the sandstone ridge to scramble up. wDanteExtRP-08          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68121   W -110.52635        Elev: 4,420 Feet Drainage crossing the ridge. Walk over to the east end of this drainage where it sharply drops off into Dante 5. From there find a way to climb / scramble up the other side to continue north up the ridge. wDanteExtRP-09          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68176   W -110.52642        Elev: NaN Feet Start of a steep section of slick rock to climb up. wDanteExtRP-10          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68299   W -110.52689        Elev: 4,545 Feet In a drainage the crosses the ridge shortly after the top out of a steep section to scramble up the ridge. wDanteExtRP-11          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68438   W -110.52707        Elev: NaN Feet Drop down into another drainage approximately here that is narrow and semi deep with a sandy floor as you continue northwest. wDanteExtRP-12          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68473   W -110.52777        Elev: NaN Feet Drainage crossing the ridge opens up into a very large flat sandy ledge or landing area. jLimbo          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68569   W -110.52951        Elev: 4,670 Feet Route crosses a drainage here which is the drainage leading to the top of Limbo Canyon. If exiting one of the Dante's, continue west across the sandstone. If descending Limbo, go south down the drainage toward the top of Limbo Canyon. jInferno          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68642   W -110.53151        Elev: 4,785 Feet Route crosses a drainage here which is the drainage leading to the top of Inferno Canyon. If exiting one of the Dante's, continue west across the sandstone. If descending Inferno, go south down the drainage toward the top of Inferno Canyon. yPurgatoryTp          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68697   W -110.53362        Elev: 4,835 Feet Top entry for Purgatory Canyon. wDanteExtRP-13          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68761   W -110.53510        Elev: NaN Feet Route crosses a small drainage which is a minor fork of the top of Purgatory Canyon. wDanteExtRP-14          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68739   W -110.53560        Elev: 4,890 Feet If exiting the Dante's this will be the start of a climb out to get to up to the top of the shelf where the trailhead is. If droping down to some of the Dante's this will be the bottom of a steep down climb. tDanteCanyons1          Lat/Lon (WGS84):  N 37.68666   W -110.53627        Elev: 4,965 Feet Trailhead for the Dante Canyons.