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May 24, 2021 — White Roost Canyon has two forks, east and west. We chose the west and likely won't be returning for the east. It's a nice canyon, but too short to be particualrly worthwhile, in my opinion. That being said, it's got some unique landscapes and a pretty section of narrows toward the end. Google will have no trouble navigting you here (38.58764, -110.55614). Continue south along this road, continuing east at this bend (38.52958, -110.54093). Bear right here (38.54186, -110.46531), then bear right here (38.49943, -110.41448) and pass through a ranch. Continue along this main road heading generally south and keep going straight through this junction (38.40638, -110.45137). Continue along this road to the trailhead. If setting up a shuttle, the second car goes here (38.38515, -110.46907). Hiking the road if you don't have a shuttle adds an extra mile.
We set out along a social trail that wandered around ample cryptobiotic soil until making its way to the head of the canyon. Some loose Class 2 brought us into the drainage and we continued through some interesting white slickrock with cool formations on either side. We were able to downclimb a few obstacles, but partner assists are helpful in the upper portion of the canyon. Even so, I'd say these down-climbs are a little tricky (Class 3). Too quickly we reached the only big-ish rappel in the canyon, which plopped us in a wide open section. This narrowed into a beautiful slot with some short down-climbs and stemming. We were surprised when the canyon abruptly ended in a sandy wash.
We followed the wash as it passed the mouth of White Roost Canyon's east fork and enjoyed the pretty cliffs on either side and relative lushness of the drainage. The exit ramp appeared on the right, which required some Class 2 scrambling up a narrow gully. Cairns mark the way, leading us out of the gully and onto slickrock where it was easygoing up to the rim above. We followed animal trails through the cryptobiotic soil back to our second car, which we used to shuttle back.
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