Hey there Nature fans!

I've always had an interest in nature generally, but never climbing till recent years.

As a kid, mountaineering and climbing seemed boring to me. Most hikes I took were never too vertical, or the peaks never had too much prominence. (Distance between peak and surrounding high points, more usually means better view.) After discovering the strategy, willpower and strength needed to climb, the amazing feeling of climbing a 4000M+ peak, the fear you experience on the side of a wall with no rope... Well I like it now and I hope to be a decently skilled free soloist some day and I really like the hard, super vertical mountaineering. One Peak I want to climb this year in the Northwest U.S. is Borah Peak, seems like quite a good place to practice overcoming endurance and fear of height related challenges as well.

Well, I'll jump to it because I am here to talk about this one park I enjoy visiting. I recently discovered a route called The Alley. It's not so popular, actually Bouldering in these areas is rare considering the quality and shapes of the rocks, as well as the weather, foliage and debris issues you encounter. You will see mainly other climbing styles happening and their routes. Arizona is clear land of the gods compared to some areas in the north.
I've seen what should be an easy climb turn hard due to various issues like dirt, moss, sticks, bugs, snow, water etc... I actually like the environment though, the Rockies and Northwest Americas in general have some amazing climbs that really pay off to overcome.

The Alley

A shot of my favorite spot to climb. There is a wall on the other side too, thus the name "The Alley" however I forgot to get a shot of it head on right down the alley haha! I swear I picked up my water bottle afterwards.

Overall, I'd rate this a V5 climb. The data on it is minimal, though an established route it has not seen a lot of use and not many pictures are found for it so I had to go check it out to see. It is roughly 3 to 3.5m tall, or maybe 15-18 feet depending on where you climb. I want to map out, photograph and complete a few routes I "made" on this wall. I think there are V2's all the way to V7's depending on how you climb it.
This is when I first found it as well last week.

A tree hugs the wall for support, cracks form alongside the tree.

Here is perhaps the better area to climb. I sort of consider it cheating to use the tree to help yourself, but while doing so I discovered it was a great way to practice certain moves. ~90 degree pins are not easy and I am terrible and anything that involves pinning my body tight, while my brother excels at it haha! This is perhaps the main route, along the tree, and it is harder than it looks. The rock is unforgivingly smooth right now due to the ice and moss. Additionally, the rock itself isn't really as good as it looks.

Just right of the tree, the midsection of the wall. Not very climbable at this time but fun to look at nonetheless.

While I was initially a bit sad to see the wall in such a slippery state, it looks so nice. Right now, most plants are yellow, brown or simply gone. The sun shines down these rocks, and water trickles on the side enough so that it doesn't freeze and feeds the moss. A soothing sight for when you need to catch your breath perhaps.

Here I have a chalk ball for chalking the wall or my hand. I am getting these holds clean for a low-starting route I want to try to create.

I've visited a few times this week and I think I'll come here often even if to get some exercise, have fun and clear my thoughts. I find climbing relaxing, despite it being so strenuous. I don't have an image of it but I also bought a brush to maintain the cliff of debris and ice. It's hard to do though, because I don't like to brush the moss as it hurts the environment to remove that moss. I also have and plan to pick up trash and remove any other large debris that may fall to keep it safe and accessible for myself and all to come.

Moss on the further end of the wall. Nearly a slope, not a part of any route but looks appealing and shows how the area can be quite mossy sometimes

As you see the environment isn't the best always. This is actually the cleanest climbing area I have found as of late, most have much more ice and snow. So this is why I am choosing here because it is nearly year-long access. I also wanted a place to practice regularly that is easy to find, as well as a place to care for. Later, my brother and I would like to submit some routes and set new places to climb for new climbers. Here, and elsewhere in the area.

Sad that ice has clogged your usual climbing spot? Find a cave!

This is an actual route that I have yet to find on the map. Even the local climbing documents show that there area routes nearby but don't list this one, despite how cool it is and how new the hooks are. Right now, it's actually only good to climb halfway up and bail. 1, I don't have a rope so I can't rappel down, and 2, the top is full of ice and snow. You would have to dig through the top of this channel to get out. Nonetheless, I climbed it a little bit the other day and fell off every time due to the fact my fingers were FREEZING. I have no idea how Marc Andre was climbing frigid mountains with no gloves haha!

A pool of ice downstream of a nearby frozen river.

The snow has only made me appreciate the warm climbing weather more.

All of this has gotten me even more pumped for summer climbing. Though this has been good practice and I've been able to climb local hills to practice situations where I may encounter snow on high peaks. (Despite it being summer.) It also is just fun, and the ice really is similar to the rock if it is cold enough. Ridged, hard, cold, dangerous, quiet, peaceful, course and smooth. It is simply an addition to the area, and it will be gone soon. Next winter, there will be more areas with ice and snow, but it won't be exactly the same. Even the rocks shift over time, and plants die. So I appreciate this season still. Before I saw it as a block to my climbing and hiking journey, but now I see it as another phase of the adventure.

Thanks for reading...

Credits and Links:
All photos taken by myself and @doobeedoodle using a Pixel 4.
If you are new, get started blogging on Ecency here.
Try out my favorite play to earn game, Splinterlands, here.
Check out my last post on Amazing Nature about missing the warm weather in the Northwest.

Have a great day!