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Beginner

5.4, Trad, 200 ft (61 m), 3 pitches, Grade II,  Avg: 3.2 from 11 votes
FA: Rusty Baillie & Prescott College, 1970
Arizona > Central Arizona > *Prescott Area > Granite Mountain > Swamp Slabs
Warning Access Issue: Falcon Closures from February 1st until July 15th DetailsDrop down

Description

P1: Climb up the left facing crack to a bushy terrace.
P2: Climb up thin disjointed crack systems. I used the large splitter crack as a belay. You should pass an old piton.
P3: Continue up thin cracks.

Either walk off or use the rap station. It's been a few years but I believe you can fix a 60m rope and it will be just a few shy to the bottom.

Location

Far up the left side of the swamp slabs. Look for the left facing crack system on polished rock.

Protection

Standard rack

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

The dihedral in the corner is the start of pitch one of "Beginner"
[Hide Photo] The dihedral in the corner is the start of pitch one of "Beginner"
Start of "Beginner"
[Hide Photo] Start of "Beginner"
Pitch 2 - pretty good for a 5.4
[Hide Photo] Pitch 2 - pretty good for a 5.4
Easy but fun laybacking on the first pitch
[Hide Photo] Easy but fun laybacking on the first pitch

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Kevin Keith
Prescott, AZ
 
[Hide Comment] I've only done this in two pitches. How is it possible to do three? Nov 15, 2019
Gregory Cooper
Phoenix, AZ
  5.4
[Hide Comment] Good question Kevin. It's been so long since I've done it. The Granite guide says two pitches but we broke it into three to practice three man teams and swapping leads. Off to the left is a nice crack system that fits #1's I believe so we made a belay there. Nov 16, 2019
James Frost
Prescott, AZ
  Easy 5th
[Hide Comment] Nice solo Feb 25, 2021
b garrett
  5.4
[Hide Comment] This is a super classic 2 pitch route! The dihedral at the start is pretty darn slick! A good, less slippery option is the 5.3 variation just a few feet right of the traditional start. The walk off is to climber's left. Walk a hundred yards or so, until you can make your way down to the base of the cliff. Mar 16, 2022
Luke Rockwalker
Arizona
  5.5
[Hide Comment] Pretty fun for the grade. Rock is very slick in some places and I slipped a few times but there was always great jugs through those sections. I never passed a piton on the route. I would recommend a double rack (from .3 to 3) and some nuts. For pitch one anchor I slung a block for the belay, and pitch two I used a pinch in the boulder. Walk off on class 3 slabs and a use trail. Some slight run out on the start of pitch 2 to be aware of. Watch out for kind of a death block at the very top of the route. Jan 31, 2026