Abduction
The original exit — roughly 400 exposed feet of cable-assisted climbing out of the canyon back to the rim trail.
Abduction is how the original route finishes. It climbs around 400 feet out of the gorge on cable-assisted ledge traverses and rung sequences, with big air underneath you most of the way.
The moves are reasonable for the grade. What makes Abduction memorable is the position — you are climbing the outside of the canyon wall with the full depth of the gorge below, and the exposure is continuous rather than coming in bursts.
Finishing Abduction completes the full Phase 1 route. For an average-fitness party doing the whole thing, expect eight to ten hours car to car. Budget more if your group is large, since everything takes longer when people are queuing at transfers.
What to Expect
- ▸The original and most common exit from the canyon
- ▸Around 400 feet of continuously exposed climbing
- ▸Completes the full Phase 1 circuit
- ▸An easier protected variation exists near the top
Good fit if
Anyone finishing Phase 1. If you have handled The Pump, Abduction will not surprise you physically.
You'll Need Certified Gear
Every sector at Ashley Gorge requires a via ferrata lanyard with an energy absorber, a climbing harness and a certified helmet. Homemade setups are not permitted and the route is monitored. We rent full kits for $40 and lanyards on their own for $25, picked up from our self-service lockers in Roosevelt — 30 minutes from the trailhead, open 24/7.