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

The Bullet

Arizona > Southern Arizona > Mendoza Canyon (aka C…
Warning Access Issue: Access is via PRIVATE land and may be CLOSED! Dogs Not allowed DetailsDrop down

Description

The Bullet is the right of two large domes on the upper left skyline of Mendoza, with the left-hand dome being the Potato. From lowest point to summit it is about 900', yielding what may be the longest climbs in Mendoza. The rock on the north face is high-quality and seemed consistently better than the lower, more popular domes. There are at least 3 established routes, ranging from 5.9 to 5.11. Collectively, these routes have probably seen less than a dozen ascents. The Bullet offers much more shade than the more popular climbs lower in the canyon and hence can be comfortably climbed much earlier in the fall (it was 100 degrees in Tucson the day we climbed Lock and Load and we were comfortable in the shade up on the route). Conversely, it might be a bit chilly in Dec.-Feb. which are often thought of as prime Mendoza season.

Getting There

The approach is not as bad as you think. Approach as for Table Dome, but where the drainage forks just before that cliff, take the left branch. Very nice hiking (surprisingly little nasty vegetation) leads to a large slabby open area; here take a smaller drainage, marked by a cairn that leads up to the base of the Bullet (note that another route, also marked by cairns, continues up the main drainage to the White Walls). This last bit is pretty brushy in places but hardly heinous. Thanks to Jeff Mayhew, the entire route is well-marked with cairns.

Took us about 2 and a half hours at a moderate pace. I thought it was easier and shorter than the approaches to Table Mt. and Leviathan Dome.

Routes from Left to Right

5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
 12
Lock and Load
Trad 8 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Lock and Load
 12
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c Trad 8 pitches

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Upper Mendoza, the Potato and the Bullet. Jeff Mayhew photo.
[Hide Photo] Upper Mendoza, the Potato and the Bullet. Jeff Mayhew photo.
Continental Drift, topo and text
[Hide Photo] Continental Drift, topo and text
Continental Drift
[Hide Photo] Continental Drift
Approach/ descent as viewed from the Potato
[Hide Photo] Approach/ descent as viewed from the Potato

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Brian Benedon
Tucson
[Hide Comment] The posted approach was way overgrown and worked us pretty good. It was much harder than the other approaches mentioned.
We hiked out from the start of Couch Potato straight down toward the Dam; down to the saddle, skirt the hill side then over the last ridge and down to the dam.

To Approach the Potato and Bullet; walk left of the dam, up the drain for a short distance, then up the really gnarly hill, over the small saddle and up to the Potato.

found a 3.5 Camolot with beaner. Jan 11, 2019
Charles Vernon
Colorado megalopolis
[Hide Comment] Sounds like Jeff's been slackin' again ;) Jan 11, 2019