Mendoza Canyon
Arizona
Elephant's Trunk
December 2006

Last December when we tried to climb Elephant Dome it was the day after we'd climbed Finger Rock - in the Santa Catalinas - and we were totally fried (long story about forgetting lunch, etc). We hiked back into Mendoza Canyon but knew were not in any shape to climb.

Finger Rock - December 2005

     
     
This time, however, we were fresh and raring to go. Our route would be the Elephant's Trunk, which is essentially the ridge on the left side of the center peak in the photo below.

I flew into Tucson on Tuesday and we got the gear ready. We both had retired our 18-year-old harnesses after Todd Skinner's recent death due to harness failure. And so, with new harnesses, we set off early Wednesday morning. It is over an hour drive from Tucson - including a stop at the King's Anvil Ranch to sign in. We parked and started hiking just as sunlight hit us. Even in the desert it was plenty cold and frost from the grass stuck to our shoes as we approached the stock-pond dam site. We arrived at the short scramble to the first pitch after about an hour and twenty minutes. I led the fist pitch after we roshamboed for it.

     
We walked over to the start of the second pitch, where Chris got the rack preppred and set off. Once he was up we were able to simul-climb until he got to the start of the vertical section at the base of the third pitch. I then led the third pitch to a spot where I found two good bolts creating a secure belay station.

     
Chris led the fouth pitch. On this pitch we saw some falcons dive at a couple hawks that flew into the canyon. This was spectacular: the hawks flipped upside down and dropped to present their talons to the approaching falcons. It was the sort of display you see on Wild Kingdom.

     
I led the fifth pitch and Chris led the sixth. We again simul-climed some on the sixth pitch so Chris could reach the summit without having to establish a new belay station.

     
After a snack it took us a few minutes to find to belay anchors. Turns out they are down the back (NW) side of the dome at the bottom of a gulley. From there it is a long rapel to the bottom. We added some time to our rappel by having rope problems - one of them was twisted something fierce and that made for some bad rope tosses. But eventually we made it down and hiked back to our gear at the base of the climb, then on out to the car and back to Chris'.

     

I spent Thursday with Chris' family and flew home on Friday morning. It was a great trip!!