West Face of Paria Point

Does anyone have any beta on the West Face of Paria Point? Looking for something different to do...On my recent visit to Kolob I was stunned by the potential for crazy aid and possibly free lines. It's crazy that either there is a TON of unreported stuff or nobody has put forth the effort...hmmm.

Christian "crisco" Burrell wrote:Does anyone have any beta on the West Face of Paria Point? Looking for something different to do...On my recent visit to Kolob I was stunned by the potential for crazy aid and possibly free lines. It's crazy that either there is a TON of unreported stuff or nobody has put forth the effort...hmmm.

There's a number of routes, I seem to dimly recall. First ascent was Bill Forrest and partner?

You might try Zion Rock as they had a huge book of topos including Paria Point's West Face.

My buddy Troy climbed this face by way of an old, mostly forgotten route. There is a shitty topo at ZRMG. Coffee Brett! Their report was that it was hard. I rapped down the face once. There is a good rap route.

Kolob is pretty wild. The rangers are watching. Be good!

Do your homework, there are many many many established long routes in there. Largely un-hyped.

Yeah I figured. It seemed totally impossible that such a huge wild arena had been totally ignored with Zion Canyon so close. The FA virus is insatiable.

My interest was perked when I saw a really crappy topo of the routes in the area at the Kolob office. There was a "West Face" route listed at 5.8 A1. That was it.

That route is pretty high on adventure with the free climbing being hard 5.10 and pretty large runouts. There is a pitch high up with a bad belay where the leader has to run it out to a crappy leeper hangered bolt. A fall here would not be fun. This route is definately worth repeating, but bring a hand-drill to replace the very few bolts that exist. From my limited memory of this route, the A1 section was a short corner and was pretty mellow. I don't remember pounding pins, I think we did it clean.

I was just at Paria Point / South Fork of Taylor Creek attempting to locate the approach to the West Face Climb. I recall the Park Service handout topo showing it as a 5.7, A1, Grade IV climb.

Here is what I believe to be the approach Route. The picture was taken from the parking lot by the S. Fork of Taylor Creek. I sent this picture to Gary Bocarde, who now lives in Cedar City. Hopefully he will check it out soon.
Gary and I are now 65 and are looking for exciting climbs with less drama than when we were young.