Big Willow Canyon Beta

Hiked up Big Willow Canyon today (despite the rain) to scout the rock. After crossing Big Willow creek, Jon's Hideout comes in to view on the north side of the canyon. At the time, I thought the tower on the right was The Guardian, but after stalking MP and Summit Post, it appears the Guardian is further up-canyon. See photo ( mountainproject.com/v/9300506) and below.

My question is...is there any established route on this "tower"? Does any topo of Jon's or the Guardian exist beyond what's in the Ruckman guide? Looks like a fun area to explore; thanks to anyone who's already done work in this area!!

- Rich

It's been awhile since I was last up there and I am not certain, but that picture looks like the Guardian to me. The Swiss Edge goes up the brushy arête/ shallow face facing the camera and Infidels and Dylan are out on the patina face to the right. The main hiking trail goes up right next to the south face of the Guardian, and I know that you can see the bolts on Infidels from the trail. To get to Jon's Hideaway you have to leave the main hiking trail before you get to the Guardian and do some horrible bushwhacking to the north to get to the outcroppings of rock. Is the tower you pictured close to the main trail or did you have to bushwhack through scrub oak to get to it?

Jim,

Unfortunately I didn't get very close. I crossed the stream and into the aspen/meadow and got a glimpse of the outcrops before the clouds and rain rolled in. Never got an opportunity to look for bolts. This system of rock, including the "tower", are the first that are visible after leaving the pine forest. My confusion lies in this photo on Summit Post of The Guardian, which doesn't look like the "tower" I saw. But maybe it's just due to the perspective.

summitpost.org/the-guardian…

I agree that your photo looks much different than the one on SummitPost, but I do think it is just different perspective. Yours is from the west, the SummitPost photo is from directly south, showing the sweet patina face half way up the wall that Infidels climbs. If your picture was taken from just after leaving the pine forest, as you round the ridge and start heading east, I am fairly certain that is the Guardian, but it's been awhile and I may be wrong. The rock outcroppings of Jon's Hideaway are to the north of you at that point; they do not look like much from a distance and you may not have even seen them if was foggy and raining. You must have gotten drenched up there; the rain was pounding down here in town.

Thanks for the info, can't wait to get back up there with gear! Got soaked near the end on the return but was dry otherwise.