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From The Pond (Queen Creek)

This place is pretty sweet as far as Sport climbs go. There were even a few silly boulder problems you can find if you look around the base of the upper waterfall. I would imagine there are a few more bouldering problems in the summer when you are okay with falling into a pool of water.

Mike climbed three star 5.8 called Dead Pool that is just to the left of the upper water fall, it can be made into a 5.10 if you start at the lower set of bolts instead of the ones on the upper lip. We ended up climbing all over the place the routes go from some short 5.5’s to some long 5.12 they are all well bolted and really fun. We ended up doing 6 different problems a 5.5, 5.8×2, 5.10a, 5.10b, 5.11.

This trip consisted of Jeremy, Mike, Jason and Myself (Dan). It was a good trip, the only thing I would recommend is bringing as little gear as possible on this trip. The approach is a little hairy and the less stuff you have the better. I would even go so far as to break your gear down into multiple bags so someone isn’t stuck with a 80 lbs bag.

Directions:
As far as getting there, You take the 60 out past Superior like you are going to the Mine but you go past Atlantis which is the first parking just to the right of the tunnel as soon as you pass through it. You got past one more parking area on the right side of the road and on your third area you park. There should be the biggest parking area so far and you should see a trash can at the end of a rock outcropping you are going to drive around. If you go to Oak Creek Flats you have gone too far and need to come back. Once you park you are going to walk along the 60. There is a small path next to the guard rails. When you get to the bridge you are going to need to frogger it and haul ass over to the other side and then drop down you should see a pool of water and a bunch of rocks, you are getting warmer. There are two paths one up the right side, one up the left side. The left side is about 3 small bouldering problems and we found it to be easier. Most people will look at it and think Hell No, just be prepared for a little bit of a challenge on this approach. The right side has a ladder but it requires you to hop over the pond. This may be easier when the water level is lower but you’ll have to decide when you get there. Once you get to the upper Pond area you are in for a treat there are tons of routes all over the place and they are so easy to find a blind person could find them.

From The Pond (Queen Creek) - Parking Lot

From The Pond (Queen Creek) - Mike on Dead Pool 5.8 R

From Mike showing Dead Pool who’s boss.

It finally happened, the weather changed and my thin blood says Flagstaff is much too cold so Priest Draw is out. Time to start sport climbing in the many wonderful valley locations. Today I took work off and decided to hit Queen Creek with Mike and Jeremy. With a little nudge Jason decided to attend on his first outdoor endeavor.

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Jeremey, Mike and I all ventured forth to Priest Draw on October 11th. The high was about 55 degrees in the sun, it was a very cold wind that blew through this place. We arrived around 12 and left around 6. We visited Triangle Rock, Puzzle Box, Bat Roof and Anorexic.

We destroyed Triangle rock. We beat up the V0 on the left side of Triangle rock, then moved onto the V1 off to the right of it, then went further right to play with the V0+ traverse. Then came back to do the V3 through the center of Triangle rock, (Video below of Jeremy climbing it). Then I climbed the V2 on the left side of the rock which goes along the lower of the two cracks on the upper left of the rock.

From Triangle Rock, V0 up the far left. V1 across the highest crack on the left, V2 on the lower crack in the upper left, V3 up the middle

Jeremy on the V3 at Triangle Rock.

From Traverse on the Far Right

Mike on the Traverse

From V1 to the Right of Triangle Rock

Dan on the V1

From Jeremy on The Hermit(V5) at the Puzzle Box

From Jeremy on The Hermit(V5) at the Puzzle Box

From Anorexic

Sorry I didn’t get more videos of Puzzle Box or Anorexic but it was cold and we were climbing hard. Guess you will just have to wait for me.

Peace Out, Safe Climbing

Yesterday my brother, Guss and Guss’ friend Nick all went to Priest Draw.

We started at “The Island” and warmed up.

From Best Warm Up Around

From Backside of the island, some sweet V0 - V2 climbs

After our warm up we hit up Bat Roof.

From Bat Roof w/ a Chris

From Bat Roof V1 and V3 starter hold w/ V1 finish.

From Batroof V1

After Bat Roof we hit up one more spot but I didn’t get pictures as I was exhausted and had to at least finish one route on this wall. Overall it was a super awesome day and I would recommend Priest Draw to anyone especially if it is your first time outdoor climbing. The rock is mostly limestone and mudstone so your hands don’t get ripped up and most of the routes are not too tall. I’ll be sure to post more about it in October.

I didn’t get many pictures of the climbs because I was climbing and no one else was helping me with my little endeavor but I’ll be going back Oct 9/10 so I’ll be sure to get more pictures as I won’t be so awe struck by how much fun the climbing is.

Also over the next few weeks I need to get lead certified so when things get chill around the valley I can go out and start hitting up some sport climbs. I hear there is a 5.7 sport climb on Camelback mountain that goes up the Monk. I have seen this rock formation all my life and I can tell you it will be so fantastically awesome to climb it.

Peace out, Safe Climbing