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Cell Block Six

5.6, Sport, 60 ft (18 m),  Avg: 1.6 from 78 votes
FA: Kurt Schroeder, Ben Burnham 1999
Arizona > Southern Arizona > Mt Lemmon (Sant… > Mt Lemmon (Cata… > 1 - Lower Highway > Prison Camp (Go… > Cell Blocks

Description

Cell Block Six is the least challenging of the three Cell Blocks (and maybe the easiest route at the Jailhouse Rocks). It is the center climb of the three Cell Block routes, which can be found on the west side of the creek, at the point where the creek makes a 90 degree turn to the east.

This route goes up a gently sloping slab, between the two overhanging rocks on Cell Blocks Eight & Nine. It is very easy and well bolted on good rock.

Note: Squeezing the Lemmon rates this climb at a 5.8, which is WAY off. Even the 5.6 rating is a bit overdoing it for this climb.

Protection

4 bolts, plus chains, with climb tech mussy hooks

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

cell block six
[Hide Photo] cell block six
ML passing the 6th or 7th clip on Cell Block 6.
[Hide Photo] ML passing the 6th or 7th clip on Cell Block 6.
Kristina at the chains of Cell Block Six
[Hide Photo] Kristina at the chains of Cell Block Six
great view
[Hide Photo] great view
al on cell block 6
[Hide Photo] al on cell block 6
Gabe doing Yoga on Cell Block 6. This also happened to be his first lead. As a side note, I'm not condoning Yoga while leading climbs even if they are easy routes.
[Hide Photo] Gabe doing Yoga on Cell Block 6. This also happened to be his first lead. As a side note, I'm not condoning Yoga while leading climbs even if they are easy routes.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

JayCap Capo
Tucson, AZ
[Hide Comment] There are actually 8 bolts on this route. Agree with Almonzo that 5.8 is too high a rating for this climb, but 5.6 or 5.6+ is fair. (Scarface on the Alcatraz Wall, which is rated 5.7, is easier climbing). Hardest bolt to reach is the first, and it's high for a first clip. A slip before this clip would be bad news. Aug 26, 2004
Vincent Greene
  5.6
[Hide Comment] Just to clarify, the guidebook got it wrong. The name Cell Block Six was in reference to the route's original 5.6 rating. Aug 27, 2004
Marcy -
DMR
  5.6
[Hide Comment] Was on this route 3/17/2007 and counted 6 bolts + chains. Mar 19, 2007
NickMartel
Tucson, Arizona
  5.7
[Hide Comment] 6 bolts + chains. Much easier this time than last time I climbed it. Crux is at the 4th bolt. Also the 4th bolt was SUPER loose. I hand tightened it as best I could without a wrench but someone should tighten that up. Oct 29, 2011
Adam Block
Tucson, AZ
 
[Hide Comment] I just led this again today and I'm not sure why but, I feel more comfortable leading most 8s than I do on this. I'm not saying it's a hard climb because it really isn't and I wouldn't rate it higher than a 6, it's not even the slabby issue as I've led 5.9 slab and been less sketched. I'm really not sure what the deal is as I've been up this thing a dozen times :/

It is a great climb to toss somebody on that likes thinks climbing is all about upper body strength as that's not going to help you one bit on this one. Apr 11, 2013
Joe Catellani
Bellingham, WA
  5.7+
[Hide Comment] low friction makes it harder than it looks. an unobvious side pull at crux. 2 high steps Nov 7, 2018
Peter Underwood
Tucson
  5.7+
[Hide Comment] Added mussy hooks to the chains Nov 16, 2023