Me, Crisco, and Adam took a quick-but-successful trip to Idaho’s City of Rocks a few years ago.
It was May 2009. Crisco had been to the City a few times, I had been once before, and I believe this was Adam’s first time. We drove up from Provo (a 3ish hour drive), camped that night, climbed two long routes the next day, and drove back home that night.
These are the routes we climbed:
- Sinocranium on Steinfell’s Dome (5.8, 7 pitches, 650′) – I think this is the longest sport climb in Idaho?
- Theater of Shadows on Jackson’s Thumb (5.7, 5 pitches, 500′) – Easier than Sinocranium but I remember it having more interesting climbing. I think we simulclimbed the route in 2 or 3 pitches.
Both routes were nice and easy and a ton of fun. The rock is beautiful, solid, golden granite.
[Click any photo for a larger version.]
Our camp.
Steinfell's Dome is the obvious really big piece of rock. Jackson's Thumb is the smaller tower-like buttress in shadow to the left of the dome.
The City of Rocks.
Me leading the first pitch.
Crisco leading one of the lower pitches.
Adam and Crisco.
Me belaying.
Me waiting to climb.
Me leading the crux pitch.
Some other big domes nearby.
Jackson's Thumb
Crisco on pitch 1.
Me at the top of Jackson's Thumb.
Rapping off of Jackson's Thumb.
Heading down the descent gully.