Me, DB and Rick Kent started out one morning for a romp through Death Valley National Park's Styx Canyon. Rather than make the cross-country desert slog to the drop-in in Upper Coffin Canyon, we did an exploratory from the drainage immediately west of Coffin Peak. It gave us two rappels, the first one rather nice.
Below the 2nd rappel, we walked easily down the wash, passing the "standard" entry rappel on our left, and soon got to the Styx saddle. Moods were high.
Once in Styx Canyon proper, we soon encountered a terrific red, fluted rappel. Nice!
A bit below the red, fluted rappel, we looked up canyon-left and saw a huge sand cave. More nice!
And then, a large sand arch high up on the left canyon wall.
Below the cave/arch canyon aesthetics, we encountered several more high-quality rappels in a sublime setting.
Excited descending the canyon, Rick, DB and I proclaimed this perhaps the best canyon any of us had yet done in Death Valley. Truly, a superb canyon.
Near the end, we encountered an awesome overlook of Death Valley (and beyond it, Telescope Peak). Immediately in front of us, a large boulder above a slot through which we were about to descend.
DB and Rick jumped on the aesthetic rappel and moved on down. Then it was my turn...all a-grin.
And then, it was over. Back in the desert, staring up at the boulder rappel and the mouth of the canyon as we walked back to our spotted vehicle. A great canyon!
*Photos courtesy of Rick Kent
Styx Canyon, A Sweet One!
