Hydra Canyon 'easier entrances'?

[lisina10]

Allen describes a way to enter Hydra Canyon and then says 'easier entrances are available farther upcanyon'. Can anyone speak to these other options? I have some trepidation about the entry he describes given a report from a friend who did it last year. I'm trying to determine what options there might be for a plan B if I don't like the looks of Allen's route. Thank you!

 

[Kullaberg63]

Don't know if this is helpful but I came from Shofar and, yes Allen's suggestion to Hydra is a circuitous route up high among the Navajo domes and then down a loose gully/slope, but nothing too technical. This puts you on the wingate shelf, which is easily traversed to the head and down the other side over maybe 8 miles before leaving Hydra and preparing to traverse over to Ichabod. As for entering the inner canyon below the wingate it seemed possible in several places, but that was not my goal

I'm pretty sure the 'crux' descend was down the defile immediately left of the camp

 

[fossana]

I wouldn't recommend trying Shofar, Hydra, Ichabod unless you're comfortable with route finding on your own on exposed up to low 5th class terrain. Only the Baker Bench area rivals it in route finding complexity on the Overland Route.

 

[Kullaberg63]

I wouldn't recommend trying Shofar, Hydra, Ichabod unless you're comfortable with route finding on your own on exposed up to low 5th class terrain. Only the Baker Bench area rivals it in route finding complexity on the Overland Route.

Yeah, why is the OP wondering how to get past Hydra when just getting to the drop-in is a multi day sort of epic journey, lol.

We had a good time on Baker Bench. Went way up against Allen's description, found some incredible potholes and stayed by them an extra night exploring. It's complex terrain. Might have to go back, still