Wetterhorn Creek

Wetterhorn Creek drains Wetterhorn Basin, which is the biggest catchment of the technical tributaries on the east side of Cow Creek and has the largest flow compared to its neighbors. Again, bring a self-sufficient and capable team as this canyon has a long approach, challenging descent, and long return in Cow Creek. The hydraulic at the bottom of R6, Wetterhorn Falls, must be avoided by rappelling with a controlled pendulum to rappeller’s right.

Hike the Cow Creek Trail from the end of CR12 to the saddle between the Roostertail Creek basin and Wetterhorn Basin. Rather than ascend the ridge to hiker's left (east), which is the approach for Middle Canyon, continue on a game trail into Wetterhorn Basin. Contour until a long grassy slope can be descended. Rappel into a final tribtuary gully with a few hundred foot rope lengths, walk downstream to intersect Wetterhorn Creek.

R1: entrance rappel of 200' or broken up into two 100' lengths R2: 50' R3: 45' R4: 40' R5: 200' around the corner on Wetterhorn Falls R6: 100' from a second anchor in a snow cave on rappeller's right on Wetterhorn Falls.

From the bottom of the final waterfall, descend the talus to Cow Creek and streamwalk Cow Creek back to the trailhead. Estimate one mile/hour in Cow Creek.