|
This is a recently established area of very high quality free climbs. Includes a few 'easier' 5.8-5.10 run ups, and some more interesting long one to two pitch more difficult affairs. Highly recommended and much better than either the practice cliffs or the base of the Great White throne climbs. Approach is trivial (15-20 minutes). Hike through the Grotto picnic area as if approaching Shune's; follow faint trail along creek, mostly on N. (left) side until you reach the holding tank; from here hike left up open talus slope to cliffs. You will arrive, approximately, at the base of a buttress with many cracks running up it (Second Sun buttress) the most prominent of which starts as a right-leaning wide dihedral that changes into a finger crack at the end of an undercling-layback flake. This is 'Second Sun Crack' (5.12-), and is outstanding. The is the rightmost of all of the free climbs to date (i.e. those listed below). From Second Sun buttress pick your way along base (bushy) back down to left and the the numerous other climbs will be obvious. Scope out routes with binoculars from the Grotto first. I'll get around to posting more info one of these days. A topo of all routes EXCEPT the Second Sun buttress routes is in the Park, and is also published in one of the guidebooks on Zion. I may have reversed the name and order of Scotch on the Rocks and One For the Road. If so, my apologies. One can easily spend a day or two climbing these routes for a relaxing break between walls. All these routes were put up by myself with various partners, the info for which I'll try and update at a future date.
|
Sequence numbers indicate the left (L) to right (R) order of the routes.
