Mountain Project Logo
To save paper & ink, use the [Hide] controls next to photos and comments so you only print what you need.

Swim Fin

Arizona > Southern Arizona > Mt Lemmon (Sant… > Mt Lemmon (Cata… > 4 - Windy Point West

Description

Swim Fin is a popular rock due to its accessibility and the high concentration of moderate climbs in this immediate area. Shade can usually be found on one side of the rock, depending on time of day and season. Certainly a full day can be had in this area, though some of it may be spent waiting in line.

The most recommendable route on Swim Fin is Ego Donor(5.9), a clip-up on the back side, facing Blazing Fin. It is sustained and fun...an honest-to-goodness 5.9!

Getting There

Driving up the Catalina Highway, park at Windy Point (mp 14.3). From the uphill end of the parking lot, opposite the overlook, cross the highway to the guardrail. An obvious trail leads off from behind the outhouses.

Hike this trail out the ridge away from the highway. As you near the end of the ridge (couple hundred yards), find a trail that drops sharply down the right side along a small cliff. It may take some looking to find the right spot, but once you do, it will be obvious. It is well-traveled.

Continuing down this trail, you'll approach Nancy's Thumb, a large pinnacle with an obvious crack on the north side. Follow a less defined trail off to the right from Nancy's Thumb. It will lead through some dense brush and out onto a large, open slab. Swim Fin is the rock to your left. You'll be looking at the east side of Swim Fin. There are climbs on both the front and back sides as well as on Blazing fin. Allow seven minutes for the approach.

Routes on Blazing fin have been included in this group.  Blazing fin is just west of swim fin.  It forms the west side of the corridor along the west side of Swim fin.  The routes 5.7 Degrees in the Shade through Blazing Apostles are all actually on Blazing fin.  The routes Singh Along through Ego Donor are on the west side of Swim fin.   The routes Fashionably Late through Party Pooters are on the east side of swim fin.  To locate yourself in the west gully: 5.7 Degrees in the Shade is at the top of the gully.  Ego donor is across the gully from Grab em in Da Biscuits and Makin Muffins. 

Routes from Left to Right

5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 22
5.7 Degrees in the Shade
Sport
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b
 2
The Partizan
Sport
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 18
96 Degrees in the Shade
Sport, TR
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 6
Unknown
Sport
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 44
Grab em in Da Biscuits
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 77
Makin Muffins
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 60
Tree Amigos
Sport
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 10
Tiltometer
Sport
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 20
Blazing Apostles
Trad 2 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 22
Singh Along
Sport
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 18
Second Sight
Trad
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 103
Ego Donor
Sport
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 32
Fashionably Late
Sport
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 3
Real Piece of Schwork
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 72
Party Pooters
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
5.7 Degrees in the Shade
 22
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
The Partizan
 2
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b Sport
96 Degrees in the Shade
 18
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport, TR
Unknown
 6
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Grab em in Da Biscuits
 44
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport
Makin Muffins
 77
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Tree Amigos
 60
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Tiltometer
 10
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Sport
Blazing Apostles
 20
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 2 pitches
Singh Along
 22
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Second Sight
 18
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
Ego Donor
 103
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Sport
Fashionably Late
 32
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Real Piece of Schwork
 3
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad
Party Pooters
 72
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Left Routes on Blazing fin
<br>
(Yellow) 7 Degrees in the Shade
<br>
(Green) The Partizan
<br>
(Purple) 96 Degrees in the Shade
<br>
(Red) Unknown 5.10-
[Hide Photo] Left Routes on Blazing fin (Yellow) 7 Degrees in the Shade (Green) The Partizan (Purple) 96 Degrees in the Shade (Red) Unknown 5.10-

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

[Hide Comment] On the back side of Swim Fin, you can find Blazing Fin. Blazing fin is an easily accessible crag with a variety of nice moderate routes on both the east and west faces. There are both bolted routes and gear routes, so there is a little something for everyone. There are several routes such as Makin Muffins (5.7) and Ego Donor (5.9) where you can lead one route and then top rope another from the same chains. You can find a shaded route here most of the time. Rather than filling up the area list with small areas, I am going to post routes on both "fins" here. Sep 27, 2004
Jon Ruland
Tucson, AZ
[Hide Comment] there's a really good 5.8 gear route that starts just left of ego donor on swim fin and follows a crack system up and left and into a chimney. finish on the same anchors as ego donor but don't give in to the temptation of clipping any bolts, no matter how good they may look. there's bomber pro all the way up the route aside from a little runout on easy ground right after the fist crack, even back in the chimney near the end of the route.

this is a perfect climb to develop trad sense, especially where route finding is concerned (the pro does take some finding higher on the route). for me it was great practice and great fun.

EDIT
added it today, 4/8/08. Mar 10, 2008