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Fire Zone

5.10a, Sport,  Avg: 2 from 81 votes
FA: Tony Lusk & Marti Woerner
Arizona > Southern Arizona > Mt Lemmon (Sant… > Mt Lemmon (Cata… > 6 - Mid-Mountain > Ridgeline

Description

Start with a hard start on a mantle with thin features for fingers and feet.  Pulling from the right (not the left) seems to be best.  Then cruise to the overlap, where the well-bolted second crux presents you with a rounded sloper facing the wrong way.  Once over the overlap, run it out of very easy climbs to the chains.

Location

Right of Sissyboyz (two climbs to the right of the pine tree next to rock, which is Small Brown Mouse).  Look for the obvious mantle just off the ground.

Protection

3-4 Bolts.  The crux is below the first bolt - use a stick clip if you're not feeling it.  The top is runout but very easy.

Bolts and top-anchors updated by CASA in 2016.

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Fire Zone from below
[Hide Photo] Fire Zone from below

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Desicon
  5.10a
[Hide Comment] Jerry,can you fill out your description of this route a bit more? How many bolts are on this climb? Are there any run-out sections? How did you find the protection for the crux? This is one of my favorite routes on The Ridgeline, probably because there are many alternative ways of getting past the "hard" spot. Did you mantle this move, or are you long enough to reach the ledge at the bolt in one good stretch? I'm thinking here that climbers under 5'9" may find themselves distinctly disadvantaged. Jul 13, 2006
emilygindlesparger
[Hide Comment] I know the above questions from Desicon are old, but I thought this info would be useful anyway... I don't think this climb is height dependent at all. If you start directly under the first bolt it's VERY balancy, but if you choose your feet carefully you're able to get your weight over them, so there's time to think and decide what to use. I'm 5'3" and my partner, who's 5'10", was able to do it in one move less than me, but I don't think the move I added was at the grade. Jul 1, 2009
Jerry Cagle
Tucson, AZ
  5.10+
[Hide Comment] I led this again today after quite a few years, and I swear it's gotta be harder than .10a... I think Joe is correct - more like .10c even. It's only a couple of moves, but the feet are not so hot. Emily is on target too, my wife followed it, and she's an even 5 feet. Jun 10, 2012
The Morse-Bradys
Lander, WY
 
[Hide Comment] The big tree that used to menace this climb is now laying down at the bottom of the cliff (no more feeling up, thankfully). I think this climb is accurately rated at 10a, with the crux being below the first bolt. Once you've cleared the thin balancing act at the start, everything else is in 5.9 range. Apr 20, 2013
David Chambers
Bishop, CA
 
[Hide Comment] First move seemed like .10a; fun move, too! Mar 17, 2015
CASA Climbing Assn of So AZ
[Hide Comment] The fixed anchors on this route were updated by CASA in 2016. See the full list of updated climbs at theclimbershome.org/about-t…

Hardware and tools are paid for by your donations, a grant from Access Fund & American Alpine Club, and support from Rocks & Ropes and The BLOC. Jul 10, 2018
Fred Weymouth
Tucson, AZ
  5.10+
[Hide Comment] Beginning moves are crux, though bulge higher up is no gimme either. 10+ feels more accurate than 10a in my opinion. Mar 17, 2024