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2. The Main Amphitheater- Fall Wall

Arizona > Northern Arizona > Oak Creek Canyon > Waterfall

Description

The Main Amphitheater is the stunning section of tall, steep rock in the middle of The Waterfall area. Essentially this wall starts just past The Sword and Bladerunner on the left and wraps around to the right margins at Black and Tan and Lord Humongous. This section includes the black falls, and is the first section of the cliff that you come face to face with if you wisely stuck to the gulley on the approach.

During the summer months a thick patch of poison ivy lines the base of the wall from the route Could Be Worse on the left to Black in the Day on the right. 

Getting There

See the general directions for The Waterfall.

Routes from Left to Right

5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 8
Fierce Invalids
Trad
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 6
The Accidental Tourist
Trad
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 11
Fierce Invalids Extension
Trad
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 6
Foggy Notion
Trad
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 2
Last Laugh
Trad
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 5
Lakshmi Singh
Trad
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a R
 3
Walking Far From Home
Trad
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
 2
Plasma Center
Trad
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b
 28
There will be Blood
Trad
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 64
False Prophet
Trad
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 9
Logic Bomb
Trad
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 4
Broken Chain
Trad
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
 3
Alligator Sex Farm
Trad
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 24
Could be Worse
Trad
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 36
Death and Taxes
Trad
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 11
Sphere of Influence
Trad
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b
 8
Pressure Drop
Trad
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 17
Rough around the Edges
Trad
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 4
Black in the Day
Trad
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 7
Counter Curse
Trad
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 14
Darkest Hour
Trad
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 50
Dark Arts
Trad
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 11
Speaking in Tongues
Trad
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 14
Fade to Black
Trad
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 19
Pyrokinesis
Trad
5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c R
 4
Gemini Dragonfire
Trad
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 6
Dark and Stormy
Trad
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b
 210
Black and Tan
Trad
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 107
Lord Humongous
Trad
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Fierce Invalids
 8
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Trad
The Accidental Tourist
 6
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Trad
Fierce Invalids Extension
 11
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad
Foggy Notion
 6
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Trad
Last Laugh
 2
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Trad
Lakshmi Singh
 5
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Trad
Walking Far From Home
 3
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a R Trad
Plasma Center
 2
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Trad
There will be Blood
 28
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b Trad
False Prophet
 64
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Trad
Logic Bomb
 9
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Trad
Broken Chain
 4
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Trad
Alligator Sex Farm
 3
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c Trad
Could be Worse
 24
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Trad
Death and Taxes
 36
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Trad
Sphere of Influence
 11
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Trad
Pressure Drop
 8
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b Trad
Rough around the Edges
 17
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad
Black in the Day
 4
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Trad
Counter Curse
 7
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Trad
Darkest Hour
 14
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Trad
Dark Arts
 50
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Trad
Speaking in Tongues
 11
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Trad
Fade to Black
 14
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Trad
Pyrokinesis
 19
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Trad
Gemini Dragonfire
 4
5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c R Trad
Dark and Stormy
 6
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad
Black and Tan
 210
5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad
Lord Humongous
 107
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Trad

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Colin Cox hitting the final jug on the all or nothing redpoint crux of There will be Blood 5.12+, The Waterfall.
[Hide Photo] Colin Cox hitting the final jug on the all or nothing redpoint crux of There will be Blood 5.12+, The Waterfall.
JJ running a lap on the classic Dark Arts.<br>
<br>
James Q Martin Collection
[Hide Photo] JJ running a lap on the classic Dark Arts. James Q Martin Collection
Carrie giving the False Prophet 5.11 a reason to whimper!
[Hide Photo] Carrie giving the False Prophet 5.11 a reason to whimper!
David Bloom on Rough Around the Edges .11, Main Amphitheater.
[Hide Photo] David Bloom on Rough Around the Edges .11, Main Amphitheater.
Josh Janes sending There will be Blood .12+
[Hide Photo] Josh Janes sending There will be Blood .12+
Danny dealing with the taxes section of the route... Death and Taxes 5.11+
[Hide Photo] Danny dealing with the taxes section of the route... Death and Taxes 5.11+
The actual falls portion of the Main Amphitheater. These routes will need seasonal cleanings, and don't be dismayed if there is a little vegetation here and there. comes right out.
[Hide Photo] The actual falls portion of the Main Amphitheater. These routes will need seasonal cleanings, and don't be dismayed if there is a little vegetation here and there. comes right out.
Older hand drawn topo showing the first wave of routes in the Main Amphitheater.
[Hide Photo] Older hand drawn topo showing the first wave of routes in the Main Amphitheater.
Mike S, getting a shake before the final crux on Fade to Black 5.12.
[Hide Photo] Mike S, getting a shake before the final crux on Fade to Black 5.12.
Mike Sokoloff surfing into the steep section on his onsight of Speaking in Tongues 5.11+.
[Hide Photo] Mike Sokoloff surfing into the steep section on his onsight of Speaking in Tongues 5.11+.
An expanded view of the Main Amphitheater.
[Hide Photo] An expanded view of the Main Amphitheater.