Out of the Frying Pan Into the Fire 

This is a great climb to hit on the way to or from Independence Monument. It's about a 5 minute scramble off the trail. I thought clipping, and moving past the first bolt was the crux. Be careful near the top, the rock becomes fragile and somewhat loose.

I put this up with my father as a belay slave (it was after the time he had stopped climbing, but he still enjoyed coming out to watch). There used to be a huge flake at the little ledge just after the crux. I cleaned this, along with some other crumbling stuff on lead, which made the first ascent rather interesting. He still recalls having hundred pound blocks landing next to him on the ground. I tried to make this route as safe as possible, while maintaining a traditional asthetic. However, anyone who climbs in the Monument must keep in mind the fact that rock there is very rotten. For those who haven't climbed much in the area BE CAREFULL! The thing that always bothered me about the climb was the descent. If you try to rap straight down from the belay station on a single rope, you'll have a little drop at the bottom.

The initial is crack is worthy of 4 stars, but then the serious face comes. I didn't have the whatfor to continue beyond the first bolt. Seems like it may actually be the "second bolt" since Desert Rock III was published. I saw what appeared to be a broken-off bolt between the end of the crack and the reachy first bolt.