Mt. Graham, Pinaleno Mtns and Santa Teresa Mtns Holdout Canyon?
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I'm heading to Morenci for a 2 month internship June/July and was wondering if locals still climb this time of year in the upper elevations? |
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The places you mentioned are pretty obscure. |
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I do love me some chimichangas. And ya, walking two minutes to the crag, roping up and sending it is great, until you are swatting dogs off your rope and the next climb has 8 people waiting on it. So I guess to answer your question why yes I do love to suffer and earn solitude to a point. |
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Morenci currently has some bouldering up a canyon off the San Francisco river and climbing in a canyon about 30 minutes west going towards Safford. The Morenci Rec Center has a nice free standing climbing wall. Basically there is a ton of potential with a motivated crew. There is also some rap rings at the top of chase creek overlook, but I haven't had the time to check it out. There's probably more established climbing that I don't know about. DM me and I'll give you a more detailed low-down. |
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I did some adventuring in the Pinaleno mountains out in hell's hole. The approaches are as hard as they can get and the rock quality is good. If you want zero crowds and a true adventure, check it out. |
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I've been into the Santa Teresa Mtns many times, but it has been quite a while...5 or so years. The place is a real challenge to navigate. Wouldn't recommend it in summer as there is no water. Best time for that place is after the first big winter storm. I do have some beta on some first ascents we put up many years ago. Lots of bears and mountain lions...but they will see you before you see them. Probably the most remote climbing area I've been to in AZ. |
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For that time of year I would check out Far Away faces in the Pinalenos . The approach description in the backcountry book is off though . It states you take lady bug trail for 3 miles till you see the formation and cut cross country to the wall but you actually take Ladybug trail for a 1/2 mile or so and take the trail to bear canyon/Dutch Hennery trail and when you get to that junction take the Dutch Hennery trail till the wall comes into sight and cut across to it. |
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Lions head will be to hot to climb but I hiked in there in June just do it early . It's a great adventure hike ! Follow the dots :) oh, and if you do go out there be sure and get a state trust permit , the rancher who leases the land is strict about it but he's a nice guy. |
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Joe G, please PM me on the Reef Tank Road. Which road did you take exactly and was the trail into Holdout marked in any way? It used to have pink surveyor tape along the way. Was there any water right now? Thanks in advance. |
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I was about to write the revised info in my copy of Bob's Backcountry Rock climbing until I remembered that they are selling on eBay for $250-2000. Thanks for the info |
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Kerry's guide is going for 250-2000 on eBay? Wow, I got lucky buying it off the for sale/for trade forum here for much cheaper than that. |
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I think you'll find the rock on faraway faces pretty interesting. It's a beautiful area. Farther up the highway on Mt Graham you'll find some more rock past soldier creek. |
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Tradster wrote: I've been into the Santa Teresa Mtns many times, but it has been quite a while...5 or so years. The place is a real challenge to navigate. Wouldn't recommend it in summer as there is no water. Best time for that place is after the first big winter storm. I do have some beta on some first ascents we put up many years ago. Lots of bears and mountain lions...but they will see you before you see them. Probably the most remote climbing area I've been to in AZ. Hey. I see this comment is rather old, so I may be shooting in the dark here but Ive been looking for info on the Sta. Theresa climbing. Ive backpacked in them quite a few times and know how rugged and brutal they are...but would love to go back and climb. Any beta you have would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! |