Ascensioni in Arizona come Tick o First ascent

Had almost canned the idea of climbing at Sedona once I figured how cooked the camping situation was. But my Flagstaff Walmart car nap was interrupted at 11pm by a thankful text from Dillon.

Probably one of the most beautiful places I've ever been, shame about all the rich people with cooked houses ruining the area.

We decided on the mace as our route of choice - a strikingly visible from the highway sandstone tower.

Listed as 5.9+ on Mountain project - big emphasis on the plus at parts. Who knew 1954 FAs might be even thrutchier than the Aussie equivalent. Sick climbing, incredible positions, and the step across the void to gain the true summit on pitch 5 is particularly novel. As well as the rap off the logbook bollard with a rattly lid. Rad day out.

Not every day you cop a 50m limestone pitch with this much going on. Awesome dihedral climbing. Done at 6pm with full moon out and sundown views over north west arizona. Accompanying this over the 2 unplanned days at the grail were some 11d slab pitches with exciting edge dancing, another cool 3d pitch in the lower 11s and the crag classic, 2 pitch route vesper. Shit name but very unique route. Verdon-grey limestone blankness with a sloper layback rail leading to a bulge. Stopper crux shut me down but nice that tony and i both squeaked leads in on the crux pitch before the rain came in and chased us off to utah.

Climbed with Neil from StoneMan. My second time outdoors in 15 years. I loved this route.