Rarely traveled.

And big. Isaac Canyon runs between the Abraham and Isaac peaks into the Court of the Patriarchs. It is accessed by climbing up the South Fork of Heaps Canyon, which can be reached either by the Gunsight route, or via Phantom Valley. This description is via the Gunsight, and is included as a possible ESCAPE route from Heaps after the Phantom Valley narrows, should escape be advisable.

First known descent: Walt Shipley and John Middendorf, February 1990, descending from the first ascent of Abraham via the Radiator route.

NOTE: this is a rarely done route. The bolts for the final rappel are in very bad shape. If you do it, please bring a bolt kit and install a good, modern 2-bolt anchor for the final rappel. If bolting is not within your grasp, a 30 foot length of webbing might be required to rig the final rap off natural anchors.

Canyon Profile

The Business

The Gunsight is formed by faulting, and is amazingly straight. The same fault forms the South Fork of Heaps and Isaac Canyon. Descend the Gunsight. Numerous rappels and downclimbs will be required. Anchors will not always be obvious, and might require some skill to get. After a long and impressive V-slot section, a more-normal canyon ramble begins, with nice walking in a lovely canyon interspersed with a few interesting rappels. In dry conditions, getting wet can be avoided, but in normal conditions, deep wades or short swims should be expected. After a couple hours, a huge slab that runs into a vertical wall is encountered, which is almost downclimbable, but easily rappelled from a large pine tree. Soon after, the Gunsight feeds into Heaps Canyon at The Crossroads. The canyon is exceptionally lush here.

To continue the Isaac adventure, head up-canyon about 50 feet to where the South Fork of Heaps comes in. The South Fork can be recognized as a 10-foot wide slot that ends in a 7-foot drop about 30 feet in. An interesting boulder problem can be surmounted by a strenuous mantle, or an assist from your partner.

Up The South Fork of Heaps

Hike up the canyon. A few climbing obstacles up to 4th class are easily overcome. A steep sandpile leads to lush garden of pricker bushes, then a final climb up rocks and logs leads to the pass between Heaps and Isaac.

Isaac Canyon

Since this canyon is seldom visited, you may get the chance to exercise your natural anchor skills and demonstrate judgment. Proceed downcanyon, hiking, downclimbing and rappelling. Rappels up to 200 feet may be required. A few old pins and slings are in place for some of the rappels – evaluate these carefully before use. Better anchors may be easily available.

The end is near when the massive walls of The Sentinel across the Court of the Patriarchs come into sight. Downclimb or rappel to an airy perch, then rappel 280 feet to a lovely spring. (An old rappel station can be seen about half way down this final rappel, so it may be possible to do this route with a 200' rope. The anchors at that station should be checked carefully before being used!)

Photo Gallery

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