Blue Diamond Canyons 2&3 - 4/20/24

View down Blue Diamond Canyon 3

Notchleaf Phacelia

Entering Blue Diamond Canyon 2

Canyon 2

We had seven hikers in the Blue Diamond Canyons 2&3. It was a good group who were ready for the challenges ahead. We parked outside the utility building across from the small community of Blue Diamond. As always, we were careful to not block the drive nor the gate that provides access to the building. We ducked through the barbed wire fence and climbed up to the right on a vague trail behind the building and into Canyon #2. The first 150' of the wash was very rocky. This was our warm-up! Then we came to the first dryfall as seen in the photo above. At the top of the fall, the canyon's beauty was in full force. The walls were tall and the floor was bare. With the right light, the canyon puts off a gold-ish glow.

Stair-Stepping Canyon 2

Difficult overhanging climb with small Rope

Canyon 2

Scramble

Various intermediate scrambles ensued until we reached the dryfall with the rope. We found this to be very difficult. More so than in years past. Maybe it is because the rock pile at the bottom is not as high as it has been before. There was a lot of thinking, butt pushing, and hand grabbing going on but we all made it up! Teamwork! The canyon calmed down a little after that with an interesting dryfall far to the right at one point. (This one can be circumvented.) But, another very difficult one came up near the end of the climb. The best way to handle this one is on the right side. If all else fails, go to the left side and hope for the best! We got up that one, too. When we reached the gypsum mine tailings high up on the right, we knew to turn left.

View down from last dryfall in Canyon 2

Climb up last dryfall in Canyon 2

View of last climb from Top

Dropping into Canyon 3

The left turn climbed up the embankment to a mess of old and new dirt roads. With the top of the next canyon in view, we headed straight for it on a diagonal. There are three washes that drop down to the right there. Just pick one! We picked the the third one and continued down until we were in Canyon #3 proper. Here, in the shade, we stopped for a short break. The next part followed the shallow upper canyon down to a really serious dryfall drop! No, we didn't try to descend here! Maybe in the past but not now! 😁 (Oh, Susan was thinking about it!) Anyway, we climbed up to the right and did the go around in the scree. Slowly, we did just fine. The next obstacles are seen in the next photos.

A dryfall in Canyon 3

Canyon 3

Stair-Stepping drop in Canyon 3

A lot of brush in Canyon 3

The only comment I have about the lower part of Canyon #3 is that the brush is even worse than before. The rains that we have gotten in the past year have been nutritious for the foliage in this area as well. We thought about ticks as we brushed between the overgrown desert plants. It's okay. We really did need the rain. (Someone mentioned today that it would be a really good idea to create a tick "collar" for humans! Hmm.) Finally, the canyon became flatter and flatter. Watching the ridge up to the left as it came down to meet the wash, we found a good trail to climb out and start across the desert between Canyon #3 and Canyon #2. We could see the cars in the distance. This is a great scramble and good workout. Not too long but chock full of fun!

Stats: 3.75 miles; 950' gain; 3.75 hours

A sit and Slide

Nearing the bottom of Canyon 3

Crossing the terrain between Canyons 3 and 2