Canyon (Canyoneer) Montana

CUTROPE CANYON

Introduction:

Perched high above the Stillwater river, Nye creek brings a dramatic experience to the canyoneer. With 4 rappels packed together, the first two linking over 300 feet of vertical, Nye keeps its adventurers on their toes. Known now as Cut Rope Canyon due to its first technical descent eating over 220’ of rope. It’s attitude brings on a persona closer to its other lesser known names, Nyeshade and Nyely done. This canyon gives no warm up, no breaks, all gas. Unfortunately the fun ends as fast as it starts, a fair amount of pay, for a little amount of play. We recommend doing it at least once. The smart and advanced canyoneer may link it with its local counterpart which has been undescended. Woodbine Falls.

Stats:

Technical rating: 4C3 III (V3A4II**)

(Technical rating will drop from a 4 to a 3 when anchors are placed, this canyon has been GHOSTED)

Time needed: 5 1/2 - 7 hours.

Number of rappels: 4

Number of down climbs: 1 if you don’t bring bolts

Longest rappel: 140 feet (however if bolted may reach 180’ range)

Distance round trip: 6.1 Miles

Elevation gain/loss: 1,230 feet

Significant hydraulics: High flow sections

Special recommendations: This canyon should be bolted. With that, there is an access issue, please be careful and mindful.

Getting there:

From Livingston:

Get on good ol’ I90 east and follow her 70.1 miles until you reach exit 408

Take exit 408 into the big town of Columbus Montana.

Take a right onto N 9th street which will send you into the lively downtown.

Take it until it terminates into old highway 10, then take a right.

Follow it for a couple hundred feet until you can take your first left, which is Pratten Street.

Pratten Street will go past a gas station, get gas here if you need it.

Not long after the gas station, Pratten turns into Montana Highway 78 South.

Follow the highway for 38 miles until you reach the town of Nye. (please keep in mind that after you pass through the town of Absarokee, you will see the still water bar and grill on the left side of the road. TAKE A RIGHT HERE onto Slims Lane).

Once in the town of Nye, follow Nye road, also known as highway 419.

Follow it up the valley until you reach the still water Mine. Now here comes the red tape.

You SHOULD go to the guard station and ASK to talk to a foreman about land access. Try to instruct that you would like to personally talk to the foreman, if not, you run the risk of a bureaucratic no.

You will be asking if you can cross their bridge on foot to access forest service road 2014, which they do have an easement onto forest service. However, in an unusual set of events, it appears the mine does not know their property lines very well, so when we talked to them, they didn’t know what road we were talking about. This road is on their easement, but also the forest service. If you do not get permission, you can still do this canyon, it’s just going to be harder.

Regardless, once you do or do not get permission, drive and park on the right side of the road, after the mine next to an old forest service sign. Its not going to look like a parking lot, but don’t worry, the miners do not care and it is still state land.

I have included a map where to talk to the miners and where to park your vehicle below.

Do NOT cross the mine’s land without their permission, they can prosecute, will they? We have no idea and are not lawyers, so maybe don’t do that? but it’s also Montana, so you are equally likely to get shot at.

We are very allergic to bullets so we avoid them when possible.

NOTE: LAND ACCESS ISSUE WITH THE SIBANYE-STILLWATER MINE MAY PREVENT AN EASY APPROACH AND EXIT. IF DEINED ACCESS TO APPROACH, YOU MAY CROSS THE STILLWATER RIVER TO ACCESS FOREST SERVICE LAND. KEEP IN MIND, CROSSING THE STILLWATER RIVER IS DANGEROUS AND HAS SIGNIFICANT FLOW EVEN IN DROUGHT YEARS. BE CAREFUL AND WHEN IN DOUBT, DON’T GO.

The approach:

Sweet, you’ve made it, now let’s talk about how you are going to access this canyon.

If you were given permission, yay! You do not have to get wet. Park your car at the dirt pull-off and walk towards the mine. Then cross the first bridge on your right. Once across the bridge, take an immediate right onto an old forest service road. Follow this road until it splits on your right and becomes way less maintained. This will happen on the last switchback, but do not follow the last switch back to the end. The end of this road contains mining vents and I cannot imagine getting a lungful of their exhaust is very healthy.

(If you do not have permission, you may cross the river between the forest service lines seen on the map, these are indicated by the markers next to the road. Cross the river, try not to drown. Once on the other side you must stay on forest service land, which means do NOT take the road until you are at the second logging road. This will be unpleasant, and legally questionable, but technically and theoretically legal (Note we are not lawyers and this is a risk that YOU are taking). We are NOT telling you to do this, we are simply telling you, in a hypothetical world, this may work.)

Anyways, back to the main beta that works for both options:

Once the split happens, follow the old “logging road”. This road was actually used as an access to reach the upper mines, however you will be leaving it shortly in order to experience a dramatic cold shower.

The road will switch back once, then twice, then three times. After the third corner it becomes a long switchback. We will be honest, that last switch back looked like a lot of work, so instead, at the coordinates 45.38316, -109.85941 we took a left up the steep ridge. I honestly recommend this, it sucks at first, but once you hit the ridge, life becomes much easier and saves time.

Follow our GPS trail, or just fight up the slope until you reach the ridge. Follow the ridge until it benches out. Here on the bench, you will find an old logging road/ trail. Follow it until you get close to Nye Creek. The creek will appear on your right side, however do NOT be enticed by Nye creek or the drainage on your left. The thick lodge poles will be a convincing voice in avoiding leaving your new found trail. Once you hit the bank of Nye Creek, follow it from above while staying on the ridge. DO NOT GO DOWN THERE. It’s very brushy and no rappels are present.

As you follow the ridge, it will begin to narrow until it practically becomes a knife edged ridge. Keep following it. Soon there will be a small flat spot and the timber will open up. You will see Nye Creek to your right, and in front of you, the world will drop away.

You can stay on top of the ridge to look down the first rappel. However be very careful, there is not a great vantage point until you are suited up. After going “holy s%$# why did I listen to this beta site”. Turn around and go back up to the small flat spot to suit up. The creek should be about 40 feet down hill. Once suited up, high-five your friends and mosey on down into the creek bed. Cross it so you are on the RIGHT bank. Follow that about 30 feet around a large tree and watch the world disappear below you. There will be a boulder DCR of the bank you are on (DCR if you were in the creek) and is on the edge of the first rappel. You may or may not feel the pucker factor yet. If you haven't, you should soon.

The fun part:

Oh yes, it’s all coming together. While the start is not as dramatic as some other famous canyons such as Englestead or other desert counterparts. This canyon is very aggressive, and you will feel like you are on the edge of the earth. You are at rappel 1, straight off the bat.

Rappel 1 (120 feet): DCR there is a boulder, it has a webbing sling on it. Cut this garbage out, and please place a bolt on the boulder. Yes, I was the one who left the webbing, bite me. Rappel 120 feet down to the nice canyon floor below. Do not underestimate this rappel. The water gains energy as it falls, by the time you get to the middle of the rappel, your feet will find it difficult to stay put. DO NOT SLIDE ON YOUR BUTT. I know some canyonners slide on their butts for particular rappels. This is not one of them.

Okay, neat, you’re at the bottom of rappel 1. Now you are at rappel 2. There are two options here. Looking DCR you will see a tree, do not try to walk to this tree and do not sling it. That water is moving fast and will make you unalive very quickly. Look to your right. There is a small 5 foot climb over a lip if you cross the creek. This is one option to get to the second rappel station. However, it has a risky down climb on the other end.

The second option is to place bolts DCR! (hint hint), this will make the second rappel only about 60 feet. Do this if you can. Once you go through the fast moving slab rappel, it’ll drop away for a couple more feet and you will hit a ledge. Bolts can be placed here as well (hint hint) making the third rappel only 70-80ish feet.

If you aren’t bolting:

Rappel 2 (140 feet): Climb over the bank DCR immediately after rappel 1. Down climb, using the tree, to a small flat spot that is hugging the DCR rock wall. If you are the first person there, 240 feet of rope will be attached to a rock outcropping. It’s a good idea to cut this and pack it out. I owe you a beer if you do. Now place webbing around the boulder and keep in mind that the hydraulics below will twist your rope significantly. Bolting is a good idea, and then rappel 30ish feet down to the next ledge and re-bolt to make this a 3 stage rappel sequence. If you do not do this, there is a high chance that your rope will twist in the flow. Thus preventing a pull. If you choose to not add bolts on the ledge midway through the second rappel. This rappel will be 130-140 feet to the ground.

After your super fun sequencing, you are down in a boulder filled creek bed. You aren’t out of the woods yet. Walk 30 feet and run into another slab drop. Rappel this off trees DCR or walk around it DCR (30-40 feet). You are now in a very steep boulder chute. Follow the water path down to the next rappel. The next rappel is only about 25 feet and very pretty, however it is mandatory.

Rappel 3 (30-40 feet): The rappel is short, however with that, the distance from the anchor point increases its length. Anchor off trees DCR or DCL. The canyon then takes a right turn into some trees and another rocky narrows. Soon the creek goes underground for a bit as you fight boulders. Once out of the boulders, you’re out of the frying pan and going into the fire. Fight the brush and the downfall. Soon, the rocky narrows will part into a scree field DCL. This is somehow an easier path of travel. You’re at the end of the technical section.

Take off your gear and lick your wounds, you have a hike out to do.

The exit:

The exit is a bit nasty. If you gain permission to cross the mine’s property, this should be a walk in the park. Follow the stream down until you hit a road. Follow the road to the left and to the bridge. Cross the bridge and take a left to get back to your car.

For those of you that did not gain permission and still decided to do it:

Follow the boulder field down about midway and then cross the creek to your right once the canyon begins to open up. Here you will find spring runoff dry beds. Follow these dry beds approximately 200-ish feet and then tuck right and hug the mountain’s base. Taking a left early will get you on the department of energy’s land, which is NOT somewhere you want to be. You will have to hug the base of the long ridge line for about 800 feet, before you reach public land. After that, you now get to cross the boulder river again, which is EXTREMELY dangerous. One will find where the river splits into multiple sections. It may be a good idea to choose these spots, so the water flow is lower. Once across the river. Hit the road and take a right. Your vehicle is about a mile up a valley. Enjoy the view and wave to the mine workers as you walk past its infrastructure.