Camelback Mountain Multipitch

Got my first Arizona multipitch climb in today! Even though it’s starting to cool off a bit (high of only 100 instead of 115!), we met at the trailhead at 6am to beat the heat.

Camelback Mountain sits right on the edge of Phoenix, surrounded by homes and businesses, and rises out of the valley in a way that reminds me a lot of Smith Rock. It’s an incredibly popular hiking spot - the traverse itself is a relatively easy hike (2.7 mi, 1500’ EG round trip to the summit) - but there are often daily rescues from this trail in the summer. Arizona summer heat is not to be trifled with.

The approach to the crag follows the first 0.3 miles of the Echo Canyon trail, then a short scramble up a climbers’ trail leads to the headwall. A quick first pitch gets you to the top of the headwall, followed by a gully scramble and a short walk to the base of the Praying Monk - an iconic tower visible from the parking lot.

The “East Face” is an 80’ 5.6 sport route that starts on a vertical face beside a narrow cave feature (you’ll descend back through this cave on the way down). It traverses out onto the exposed east side, then climbs a slab to the top of the pillar. It felt airy and exposed up there - the pitch itself isn’t that tall, but you can see straight down to houses on the valley floor the whole way. The rock is essentially petrified mud with harder inclusions that make for good hand and footholds, but it also made the route feel a bit stiff for 5.6.

From the top, there are outstanding views of the rest of Camelback, the surrounding city, and the McDowell and Superstition Mountains in the distance.

Thanks to Kamesh for the lead, and Trisha for the invite! Looking forward to cooler weather and more climbing to come.