Willow Canyon

Sam on the FA of the Duck Bill.

2nd Ascent of the Duck Bill. Photo by Sam Tingey.Pat and a massive swing. Photo by Sam Tingey.

Photo by Sam Tingey.Photo by Pat Fitts.
Photo by Sam Tingey.

FA of Lost in the City of Madness. Photo by Pat Fitts.

Sam on the FA of Aliens.

Sam on the FA of Sleeper Hit.

Sam, Pat, and I have been developing a sector of the New World called Willow Canyon. Yesterday we put up some first ascents. Sam did the FA of a short limestone bulge. The bulge starts on a face and pulls a short roof of about 4 feet on jugs. The climb then moves onto some good edges with an awkward finish over the bulge. We walked along the side of the canyon through the trees and found more limestone along the rim. We built up the landing to a project at the Flying Saucer cave. Unfortunately the cave is mostly blank choss, but the left side will lend itself to a couple of scary highballs with a drop off landing. While Sam was trying the project at the Flying Saucer, Pat investigated a sandstone feature in the dried up riverbed of the canyon. The feature turned out to be a lone sandstone prow with a sandy landing by the riverbed. Pat and I did the joint first ascent of Lost in the City of Madness, which climbs the right side of the prow up to a tall flake finish. Sam put up a climb on the left arete called Aliens. I did the second ascent of this one. We built the landing up a bit to make it level for the center line climbing the prow. Sam did the FA of this line, which is called Sleeper Hit. The problems on the sandstone prow are just as good as anything in Kelly Canyon or the Ozarks. Work has continued on the landing for the BLIMP roof. I continued working on a potential exit for the Blimp roof project. I have a sequence leading out the roof to the massive throw to the crimp. I can touch the crimp, but I haven't managed to latch it. This climb could be the hardest unclimbed roof climb in the Flagstaff area. More to come.