Shelter From the Storm

For the original route description consult Bob Kerry's Backcountry Rockclimbing in Southern Az , also online at www.climbaz.com

Don't follow original rappel description!

We used double 60m's combining pitches and climbing others a bit more directly. Still lots of loose rock that is fairly easy to avoid--take a helmet!

1.Climb huge left-facing corner for about 180’ to small ledge. (5.7)

2.Finish up corner, stepping right to ledge. Diagonal right and wander up easiest path to giant ledge. (5.6) (We climbed a 5.9 var. heading straight up from the ledge at the top of the corner through a small overhang.)

3.Walk all the way to left end of ledge and access left-diagonalling ramp that is down and left of the main mine. 4th class ramp to it’s end and belay. (Originally accessed by a short 5.7 pitch up a rotten, broken corner.)

From here it is highly suggested to finish on KR Goes to Valhalla, OR:

4.Climb up, then diagonal left through black rock bands and belay just above dead tree and rotten corner. (5.7)

5.Diagonal right to base of corner with several trees. Uncomfortable squeeze through trees up corner, then belay to the right on another big ledge covered with all types of cactus. (5.7)

6.Shift belay to base of short clean chimney/corner in middle of ledge. Climb corner to top, belaying from 2 bolts. (5.7)

Descent: 2 options: A: 1. Half-rope rap from 2 bolts at top of last pitch to last belay ledge. Stay on rope as you walk to edge, looking for two bolts just over next lip. These are just above the triangular capped roof** seen from below. [This anchor is 30' (climber's) left of the last bolt on pitch 5 of KR Goes to Valhalla.] 2.Rap 180’ to ledge right in front of mine. 3.Walk almost all the way back to top of lower section of climb. Just past a large tree are several large boulders, one of which has a two bolt rap anchor. These are just above the orange corner** seen from below, which is pitch 3 of KR Goes to Valhalla. Rap 180’ to a sloping ledge with 2 bolts. 4.Rap 160’ to the ground.

B: If you've left nothing at the base, hike down the Pontatoc Ridge trail all the way to the road.

Good selection of stoppers, double cams thru 3 and a #4 worked well for linking pitches, lots of runners.

Two 60m ropes mandatory for raps!