Tom Grundy's Travels: Around Flagstaff

I have had a number of climbing and other trips around Flagstaff this spring. Among other things I bouldered at Buffalo Park and Super Roof, climbed at Paradise Forks, Sedona, Volunteer Canyon, The Peaks, and the Hobo Jungle, slacklined at the park, and biked/hiked up Mount Humphreys.

Super Roof is a long horizontal climb along the roof under a ledge. I actually managed to get it with my first try (this year) and then was unable to do it again despite many tries. It is good training though.

Dawn on Super Roof

near the end of Super Roof (thanks for taking the pic Dawn)

Dawn - it was a high gravity day.

We took advantage of a cold snap to head down to Sedona to climb "Duck for Cover". It had 3 pitches at I would say 5.11, 5.10, and 5.11. I fell at the end of the long first pitch at the crux "hands" section that involved .75 camalots (very thin for my hands) over a bulge. The last pitch was pretty spicy too.

John W tapes up for "Duck For Cover"

"Duck for Cover" on the leftish side and up the crack on the buttress for the first pitch

One day I biked up to the Arizona Snowbowl and then hiked up to the summit of Mount Humphreys. They are installing pipes and snow making stuff as well as a new run. There is some controversy because among other things they will use reclaimed waste water for the snowmaking. They definitely didn't want anyone getting in their way.

they want to be able to throw the book at protesters at Snow Bowl

new ski run in the upper left plus trenches for reclaimed water lines

trenches for reclaimed water lines for "snow" making

At the summit there was very little wind, which was nice except there were also a lot of bugs that are normally blown away or hunkered down. I didn't spend long up there because of them. As usual the descent went a lot faster than the ascent.

summit fat pill on top of Humphreys

panorama from the summit of Humphreys

fresh leaves on the aspen trees

I climbed at the Peaks and the new area the Hobo Jungle a few times. It is most excellent Dacite climbing, although fairly sharp on the finger tips.

Verm "manning up" at the Peaks (maybe DK took this pic)

Dawn and Darren at the Hobo Jungle

Peregrine Falcon

I taped the sun viewing glasses onto the front of my telephoto to take pics of the transit of Venus. I could barely see it with just the glasses.

transit of Venus

We went out to Volunteer Canyon for 2 days. It was very nice except for the tiny biting bugs and the fact that my sleeping bag wasn't nearly as warm as it is supposed to be. It was definitely some adventure climbing. You would rap in to where you hoped the climb started and then lead your way back out. Many of the climbs were over 100 feet. It was also a bit of an adventure driving out there with some less than stellar "roads".