Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Vantage Pics

Cortney and I just got back from a two-week trip to Joe's Valley, Zion, and Moe's Valley, and I'm still working through the 1,000-plus photos and videos I took. I plan on making a video short of our highlights, but for now, here are some pictures from Vantage from earlier this month. Vantage is not my favorite place to climb, but boy is it nice to climb on warm, sunny rock when winter's cold dread begins to wear on...

Kyle on King of the RuinsCortney on the M&M WallKyle and KonaFunky Geology at the Sunshine WallJohn Stordahl on the Future MoveWhere's Waldo?The Eastside Sunset

Friday, March 4, 2011

Queen Creek, AZ

Cortney and I took a brief trip to Arizona last week to visit her folks, and we were able to get in one day of climbing at Queen Creek, the site of the famed Phoenix Bouldering Contest. As the area is slated for oil + mineral mining exploration as part of the infamous "land swap" agreement, I was afraid that the boulders would already be closed, or even worse, blown up. We were able to find them after only a moderate bit of effort, thanks in no part to the old Dr. Topo 'guide' I printed out. At first, we were wondering if the goal of the old PBC was limited to simply discovering where the boulders were...

The Open RoadQueen CreekThe RCM Mine

I thoroughly enjoyed climbing at Queen Creek, even though the area has a dire paucity of non-chossy rock. We were only able to find about a half dozen appealing boulders, but the problems on them were quite good. Queen Creek seems to be some of the best pure bouldering in southern Arizona, but it pales in comparison to the state's northern areas like Groom Creek and Priest Draw. I recommend it for anyone traveling through the area, especially because it is such a historic site, and sadly, it won't be around forever.

Desert FaunaOur Borrowed Whip