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The Altar

5.11b/c, Sport, 60 ft (18 m),  Avg: 2.4 from 9 votes
FA: CP Little
Arizona > Southern Arizona > Dry Canyon > 3 - Spine Cave

Description

I got excited about this one before even leaving the ground. You can tell just by looking that there is a lot of fun tufa tugging on this climb.

A few bolts worth of blocky ledge climbing lead to the base of an amazing series of tufa formations. Execute some tricky route reading on thinner flowstone features before being deposited onto giant tufa pods and easier movement for a few bolts. Rest up at the top of the tufa section as the headwall provides strenuous climbing with long pulls on your way to the chains.

Despite the wandering nature of the climbing this route is very enjoyable and should see more action.

Location

Up hill from Land Fill. You can't miss the giant section of tufa mid climb.

Protection

10 bolts to chains with lower offs.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Jon worships at The Altar with handfuls of fat tufas.
[Hide Photo] Jon worships at The Altar with handfuls of fat tufas.
Leading the Altar
[Hide Photo] Leading the Altar
Tufa and butt shot.
[Hide Photo] Tufa and butt shot.
Jon starts up the blocky section.
[Hide Photo] Jon starts up the blocky section.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

[Hide Comment] Great flowstone.
Unfortunately I think something must have broken off because clipping the crux bolt while you are in anklebreaker terrain above the ledge was not possible(for me).
Too bad.
Awesome rock. Bolts at crux should be moved. Down 1-2 feet. I am 6’3” and couldn’t reach either of the two crux bolts from the massive jugs. Dec 30, 2019
Luke Bertelsen
Tucson, AZ
  5.11b
[Hide Comment] You're absolutely right that this one has just the worst bolting job with several places where you can ledge deck due to shitty placements / spacing. I doubt anything broke though because it gets almost no traffic.

Will see about getting the bolts straightened out in 2020, and hopefully more people will climb this thing. Dec 31, 2019
[Hide Comment] Totally agree. I hated the bolting on thing so much when I did it years ago. It made what could have been a fun climb into something that I tell everyone to steer very clear of. Dec 31, 2019
Neil Kauffman
Bishop, CA
  5.11b/c
[Hide Comment] Cool features, the climbing didn't flow well for me. I climbed it with a stick clip to address the strange bolting. Needs more traffic to clean up. Feb 9, 2020
Luke Bertelsen
Tucson, AZ
  5.11b
[Hide Comment] HARDWARE UPDATE

All hardware updated/rearranged for a more optimal climbing experience. Thank you CASA and ASCA for supporting this work.

Now go climb this climb! May 14, 2021
Jon.R
Tucson, AZ
[Hide Comment] Luke, thanks for taking care of the rebolt, it is much appreciated!

Rating felt a tad old-school to me. The route is no longer especially dangerous (I backed off last time!) but the route still has some mild spice. e.g. you wouldn't want to blow any clips during the tufa section and there is some moderate climbing below that where a fall is inadvisable. Dec 20, 2021
Luke Bertelsen
Tucson, AZ
  5.11b
[Hide Comment] @ Jon.R

This one was tricky as there were a few ideal bolt locations where the rock was not solid enough for a bolt, so I did my best. Thanks for getting back on it! Dec 20, 2021