Scouring Mogollon Rim Country

Always so close to finding a new area with pocketed roofs, instead there are endless blank roofs for miles. Gates swing tomorrow, closing the forest roads for winter, further exploration will have to be put on hold until spring. Time for trips to Red Rocks, Bishop and Hueco...

Blimp Roof, likely the most spectacular limestone roof in Northern AZ, located south of winslow a long way down the 99 into Willow Canyon.

Sam amidst a sea of pockets

Opening moves

into the crux

mid crux

in case you don't know..

Blimp Roof Vid by Syknar

few more ..

Scratching the Surface

Exploring sections of West Chevelon Canyon, finding many big roofs with few holds. 

3 watering holes for 3 dogs

old metal wagon

Finding one of these monsters with holds makes all the searching worthwhile

Check out a photo of me climbing Lolita on The Mars Roof shot by Ken Etzel, and another of Joel Unema climbing at The Waterfall in Oak Creek Canyon shot by Blake Mccord. http://www.rockandice.com/photo-galleries/seven-photos-that-did-not-run-but-should-have

The Lion's Den

3 Mountain Lions near Sycamore Canyon, Northern AZ photo courtesy of Darren Choate's game camera 

2nd ascent of Cerebral Edema

Muddy Waters gunning for the 3rd ascent

Pressure Drop 

Pressure Drop

Hanuman

...

Dan after a devastating ground fall off a highball in Kelly Canyon. He ended up with a diagnosis of broken knee, dislocated elbow and broken/dislocated foot.  We we're able to haul him out of the canyon on crash pads, and get him to the hospital in the back of Thomas' subaru. Two months later, he is healing fast and should be back to climbing in a few months.

All photos courtesy of Keith North, check out more of his work at northsidephoto.blogspot.com