PRINT: Rock Climb Happy Hunting Grounds, Southeast Utah

Happy Hunting Grounds

5.12a A0, Trad, Aid, 190 ft (58 m), 3 pitches, Grade III,

Avg: 3.9 from 10 votes
FA: Jim Olsen and Alan Hunt October 1995 FFA: Steph Davis 1996
Utah > Southeast Utah > Potash Rd > Long Canyon > Warrior Tower

Access Issue: Sheep Aware Details

Long canyon serves as important habitat for Utah's only endemic herd of Desert Bighorn Sheep. Please be respectful of wild sheep and other wildlife by maintaining a quiet atmosphere and keeping at least 100 meters from animals. Desert Bighorn Sheep are especially sensitive to disturbance between April 1st - June 15th when they are raising their young. Consider limiting your disturbance during this time period by climbing in other areas. You may notice water catchment systems in strategic locations to provide water for wildlife in Long canyon. One of these exists near the trail to Maverick Buttress.

Access Issue: RAIN, WET ROCK and RAPTOR CLOSURES: The sandstone around Moab is fragile and is very easily damaged when it is wet. Also please ask and be aware of Raptor Closures in areas such as CAT WALL and RESERVOIR WALL in Indian Creek Details

WET ROCK: Holds rip off and climbs have been and will continue to be permanently damaged due to climbers not respecting this phenomenon. After a heavy storm the rock will remain wet, sometimes for several days. PLEASE DO NOT CLIMB IN MOAB during or after rain.

RAPTOR CLOSURES: please be aware of seasonal raptor closures. They occur annually in the spring.

Description

This route goes free at 5.12a after a 1996 FFA by Steph Davis.

Pitch 1 is a hand crack corner that pinches down to fingers and leads to a mantle. This is followed by a short off-width and a chimney before traversing right to the belay.

The second pitch is one of the best I have ever climbed on a tower. The rock is quite sound and the crack is splitter. This is the crux pitch at 5.12a. It is exciting to leave the crack on face holds at the top of the pitch, but soon you find two solid bolts to clip before you reach the belay.

Pitch 3 Traverses the belay ledge to the right where you climb up onto a slab. Pass a protection bolt on the way to the summit. 5.8

The first pitch and the last pitch have their own unique climbing and should not be discounted even though they are not the same quality as pitch 2.

The position of this tower also makes it special with views of the Potash Plant and Long canyon. We encounter a desert bighorn sheep sunning itself on the rock when we reached the saddle below the tower. Nothing like being able to combine seeing wild animals and climbing.

Location

Once you locate the saddle and hike to the base of the tower the route will be to your left. The first pitch starts out hands and pinches down to nothing where you must then mantle a ledge. There is a ten foot high pedestal/block that you must surmount to gain the corner proper.

Descent is via rappel from the summit. With two sixty meter rope you can reach the ground from the summit anchors.

Protection

Bring a double set of camalots to a number two and a double set of smaller units like aliens or TCUs including the smallest available and one #3 and #4 camalot. Depending on your comfort level on this style of climbing you will need 2 more each of .5 and .75 camalots. Also bring 3 or 4 additional #1 camalots. Bring 4-6 quickdraws and 6 or so long runners to reduce rope drag. Stoppers.

The anchor at the top of pitch one is bolted. The anchor at the top of pitch 2 is a gear anchor of red camalots. This is why you are bringing so many. There is a bolted anchor on the summit.

Pitch two has two nice bolts for the traverse at the end.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Starting P2 on HHG. The bolt, plus two pieces of gear can be placed up high before committing to the 5.11+ boulder problem.

Looking up at the Warrior from Long Canyon Road.

The Warrior tower in the afternoon with the route drawn in.

Geoff on pitch one.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Sam Lightner, Jr.
Lander, WY

Excellent climb. Really cool summit. May 16, 2010

-mn

Sweet little tower that I'd do again for sure - in cooler temps. Great second pitch. Love the fact that it's towerness, barely, is made possible by the narrow gap separating it from the mother buttress. Anyone know the tower/butte visible to the S.W. above the Potash mine? Routes? Jun 24, 2014

Nate Sydnor

In terms of gear, I think one could leave out the #3, and replace the #4 with a new #5. One of the wide-ish sections on the 1st pitch could take a big cam, and the new #4 I had felt too loose. One could also take no big cams and get away with it. Also, anything bigger than a #1 can be left clipped to the 1st pitch anchor, to be retrieved on the way down. It's noteworthy that this route can easily be rapped with one 70m rope. 2 ropes are not necessary. Apr 23, 2016

greg t
Chevy, Silverado

I only placed 2 #1 bd cams for the anchor on P2, and 0 on the actual pitch ( although you could probably find a spot ). Heavy on the .5s and .75s. Save a .5 for the final moves before the bolt.
Due to the rap around the corner on P2, and the bouldery start. Fixing and micro-traxing for the second is advantageous.
Looks like a hoof, not so bad. 42min approach.
Plaque says Assassin '95 Apr 27, 2022