Not Mindbender

Found small amount of water in 3 spots. Able to completely avoid 2 and the 3rd, we tossed in a rock and were able to get across with only one foot slightly wet. Dry potholes just before the final rap. That rap currently has a bolt with a 11mm extension rope & link that goes just over the edge and on the opposite all, a blue sling & link that's anchored about 25 feet back to a chockstone wedged into a crack & matches the rope in length. We used the bolt anchor and only attached the blue sling as backup. Best to use a 200 ft rope here.

We also set up the canyon exit with a rope. For several reasons - glad we did. Overall - lots of sandy desert walking & wash walking with some entertaining slot sections thrown in. Amazing complex of canyons.

Great Canyon. Brought a few first timers and they did great. We ran into just a few small pools, avoided most of them, but we did get water up to our knees. Dried quickly though. No snow on the exit. Not much mud. The existing anchors were in good shape with the exception of the back up to the bolt at the final anchor. The tubular webbing going to the chokestone upcanyon was filled with mud. The bolt (new addition since I did the canyon a few years ago) appeared to be in good shape so we just used that. Roads were easily passable in a tacoma. One sand dune may be difficult for a low clearance or 2WD vehicle.

Overall great intermediate canyon. Water up past knees in a couple of spots, some unavoidable wading. Anchors in fair shape. There are 1-2 spots that need some careful partner assists (no anchors).

Roads in good shape. Upper slot dry and fun. The lower slot had a section of waist deep water filled with branches and twigs, somewhat difficult to push through. Below the slide and rappel, the slot was full of quickmud of unknown depth, I did not touch the bottom and had to "swim" across the surface, very very messy. I may have been able to stem over this section if I had started soon enough. By the time I realized my situation, the walls were coated with mud up about 3 feet. The webbing at the rappel after the slide needs to be replaced, other anchors okay.

1st time thru NotM so not sure but doubt it is like this often. Fair amount of water left over from a prev flash, but the big big prob was MUD!!! All of the slots and chimneys had deep mud in them. Water often waist deep but mud up to knee or more. Worst was a 50-75' slot after a rap into an alcove. Wide enough to walk thru if dry but water came up to armpits and mud was waist deep. Very very hard and slow to get thru, little dangerous. Not noobie or short person friendly and no way of assisting. Anchor above Great Falls was covered in 4' of debris we had to clear. Never ever seen this b4. We had to go into Hanksville to clean up, our gear was useless. Fantastic adventure, climbing Moki exit in mud shoes interesting. Doubt it will dry up soon.

A fun canyon, the water wasn't nasty and smelly and most came up to my waist or even a little higher. All the anchors were in great condition. Lots of work to get out of the wash after the canyon though.

We descended Not Mindbender using the short route. There were 3 pools of minor water (ankle deep); one was terribly stinky. There is no anchor at the 15 foot slide. Most of the group got a meat anchor. The last man did a pack drag with a capture at the bottom. The other 2 raps had new webbing and were in good condition. The last rap has a new bolt placed with additional backup from a chockstone.