From Russia With Love

I used to look at this wall from the top of the draw pile and wonder if there would ever be anything on it. Already knee-deep in the days long cleaning project now known as "Spontaneous Conga Line" I wrote it off, and hoped someone else would take it on once we opened the lower walls. Probably do to masochism or memory loss, I found myself rapping The Expansion pack the next season. The first time I went down I wasn't sure there would be even enough solid rock to put bolts in, let alone climb on. Wet cardboard is the best way to describe the sound my hammer made during my initial pass. Luke, being a lover of new routes (and apparently suffering) was easily enticed by my disgusting description. Leaving a giant communal crow-bar at the wall, we began the excavation process. Over the next several months we likely removed a dump-truck worth of garbage rock from the cliff face. It came to feel like finding a needle in a hay-stack, but eventually we discovered solid rock and features that wouldn't come off. I might be delirious, or biased, or both, but I could swear there are some really good moves up there.

Don't get me wrong, the routes here are not perfect, but they are routes, and sometimes that's something to celebrate in itself. May 24, 2017

This route is just awesome, thanks for digging it up! The movement is pleasant, the holds feel good, and the little bulge on thin holds at the top make it an interesting red point. Highly recommend this route if you're at crags against humanity (or if you're driving up Mt Lemmon, its right on the road!). Mar 17, 2018