Climbing Between Phoenix & Tuscon?

I was wondering if there is any good climbing conveniently located roughly half way between Phoenix and Tuscon... I live in Phoenix, but have some friends in Tuscon & neither of us want to drive the whole way.

Thanks!

Not much in between. Maybe you could sell them on Queen Creek, 1hr for you and 1.5hrs for them. Otherwise your closest driving is to each others area, ie Phx or Tucson. The drive to Lemon is not that bad barring traffic on I-10, but I think QC will be your ticket for the between, and out of town approach.

There is Always a place called Newman Peak near Picacho but I have never been there.

Try Golder Dome near Oracle. Coming from Phoenix you can avoid the Tucson cluster-f*. Nice granite, about 400 feet, Dam Bureacrats is nice.

Tradster wrote:Try Golder Dome near Oracle. Coming from Phoenix you can avoid the Tucson cluster-f*. Nice granite, about 400 feet, Dam Bureacrats is nice.

Hmm Sounds great. What guide do those show up in? I currently need to get my Granite comfort level up. Plan on a Yosemite trip in May with my girlfriend, and we'd like to hit Snake Dike, and some 5.8's while there. I really want to feel comfortable with 75' runouts on "the Half" J/k joke from the other thread.

BTW - I will be back in town in two weeks if you want to get out on something.

Ian F. wrote: Hmm Sounds great. What guide do those show up in? I currently need to get my Granite comfort level up. Plan on a Yosemite trip in May with my girlfriend, and we'd like to hit Snake Dike, and some 5.8's while there. I really want to feel comfortable with 75' runouts on "the Half" J/k joke from the other thread. BTW - I will be back in town in two weeks if you want to get out on something.

It was in Bob Kerry's Backcountry Southern AZ guidebook. I have a 24 hour solo mountain bike race I'm training for on Feb 14-15th. After that I will be hitting the crags. I'm planning on Babo over March 7-8th (Southeast Arete...5.6, 5 pitches, with a three hour backpack in.) Send me a PM and let's discuss in more detail. I'd be up for going back to Golder Dome, as it is sweet granite.

Maya wrote:I was wondering if there is any good climbing conveniently located roughly half way between Phoenix and Tuscon... I live in Phoenix, but have some friends in Tuscon & neither of us want to drive the whole way. Thanks!

I'd just drive to Tucson... it's better there anyway, and you'll be happy!

Note that Golder Dome, like the rest of the North side of the Catalinas, is closed for Big Horn Sheep lambing 1/1 - 4/30.

Forest Hill wrote:Note that Golder Dome, like the rest of the North side of the Catalinas, is closed for Big Horn Sheep lambing 1/1 - 4/30.

That's good info, although Golder is so low down that I seriously doubt any big horns would be hanging around there, but closures should be abided by. Thanks, Forest.

Yeah, not intending to tell anyone what they should or shouldn't do. Just making sure you're aware of it.

Thanks for all the info!
The only reason I'm hesitant to drive to Tuscon is that I'm worried it will still be cold up on the mountain. Any opinions on that?

Lots of Sun on the Southern Rocks. Perfect conditions.

Another hour gets you to the Stronghold, and plenty of climbing on the east or west side will be sunny depending on the time of day.

I know that climbing is not allowed at Picacho Peak, but anything goes on the BLM land on the East side of I10. I've been looking in the distance at the walls while driving past and have wondered if there is anything climbable worth checking out. I suppose a new thread would be more apropriate, but it is a similar topic.

I'd agree that either Queen Creek for single pitch adventures or just go all the way to Lemmon. It's well worth the drive, and there's great camping year round at some elevation.

Forest Hill wrote:Note that Golder Dome, like the rest of the North side of the Catalinas, is closed for Big Horn Sheep lambing 1/1 - 4/30.

Is this closure still in effect? I know it is mentioned in the Kerry Guide, but that information is over 10 years old.

The web site for closures in the Coronado is:

fs.fed.us/r3/coronado/fores…

Scott

I am currently living in Casa Grande, and can testify that there is no established climbing between Phoenix and Tucson. I've been meaning to hike out into the Sawtooths to scope it out, even though they're surely loose. Anyone been up close to the rock in the Sawtooths? Or actually on Newman Peak?