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Thunderbolts

5.11a, Sport, 70 ft (21 m),  Avg: 2.7 from 64 votes
FA: Joe Shiefman, Tony Lusk
Arizona > Southern Arizona > Mt Lemmon (Sant… > Mt Lemmon (Cata… > 6 - Mid-Mountain > Sky Valley > Upper Sky Valley

Description

Some thoughtful slab climbing leads to amazing laybacking up steep face. You'll know the crux when you get there. Exit the layback using some interesting holds and push for the chains.
This is a great climb.

Location

On the Left of the two cliffs go all the way down and around to the left. "Thunderbolts" is the last bolted route you will see.

Protection

Bolts to cahin anchors.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Chen
Tucson, AZ
5.11a PG13
[Hide Comment] Fun climb. The layback section is fun and the crux is right after layback. You don't have to do the layback, my partner just went face up and it didn't look any harder. Aug 27, 2009
Iain Macdonald
LA
  5.11a
[Hide Comment] This is a really fun route. If you miss the thumbercling climb back down and grab that thing! Aug 20, 2019
jbak x
tucson, az
[Hide Comment] I ripped a big, well-chalked undercling while clipping the 4th bolt. Took a good tumble. Hard to believe an obvious hold would rip now after 25 years of traffic.

The climbs here got me thinking how bolting standards have changed over the last 30 years around Tucson. Aug 6, 2022
Luke Bertelsen
Tucson, AZ
  5.11a
[Hide Comment] Jbak-

Does the missing hold affect the grade/climbability of the route?

Is the belay area still relatively terrible? Aug 7, 2022
jbak x
tucson, az
[Hide Comment] Luke, no change in rating. Another hold serves the purpose too.

Belay area is fine (UPPER Sky Valley). Better than a lot of crags. Aug 7, 2022