Exploring Barks Canyon & The Glory Road - Superstition Wilderness
ฝัง
- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 3 ต.ค. 2024
- If you have ever hiked the Bluff Springs Trail in the Western Superstitions, you've seen Barks Canyon. Barks is sandwiched between the Geronimo Cave Ridgeline and the Bluff Springs Mountain ridgeline, SE of Weaver's Needle. Like Peralta, Barks is a rugged canyon lined with clumps of tall hoodo-type rock formations visible to those who make it up and over Cardiac Hill - the local name given to the first mile or so of the Bluff Springs trail. As you descend the Bluff Springs saddle into Barks Canyon, heading towards the Terrapin Trail, you will see the large rock wall to the west. As a novice climber, this wall contains the most difficult outdoor climb I have attempted to date "The Glory Road".
The Glory Road is a 300 foot traditional style climbing wall, with a 5.7 rating. Traditional or "Trad" refers to the style of climbing where the "lead" climber inserts removable protection into cracks and holes in the rock surface, referred to as "nuts" or "cams", while dragging a rope up the wall, clipping into the protection as you ascend. With a belay partner at the other end of the rope keeping slack out of the line, if the lead climber should fall, the rope would catch on the highest piece of protection, and the belayer should be able to provide a soft enough catch to avoid injury. At least, that's the idea.
Good news is, as a belay partner to the lead climber, following the leader is much easier. The lead climber will belay you from the top while you pick up the protection and clip it to your harness as you climb - leaving nothing behind. The rope will be kept snug on your harness, anchored to bolts at the top of the route. As you step up, slack is pulled up by your partner, through a belay device. Any uneasy feeling of possible slipping should be resolved as soon as you feel the snug rope (should be, but I can tell you it ISNT!).
With a mix of crack climbing, traverses and a chimney climb, all new skills for me, I was surprised how fatigued I got! The chimney of pitch 4 was the hardest part. Not much in the way of hand and footholds, it takes quite a bit of effort to move up the chimney constantly applying opposite pressure to the chimney walls. After 20 or 30 feet, I was spent!
Of course, I wouldn't even have an opportunity to try without an experienced climber willing to lead. As always, big thanks to Troy Dixon @walkingwithawookie1097
Exhilarating, a little terrifying and overall another awesome Arizona adventure! Let's Go!
Guitar cover by @KfirOchaion
What's Up - 4 Non-Blondes
My husband and I ran into you guys on your hike down. Awesome video!
And we saw each other on Flatiron last week?!? 👍the big desert is such a small world!
You definitely got our hearts pounding. That was very awesome. A little beyond our capabilities. Right now anyways. Say high to Laura for us.
You know, that was actually right at the very limit of my current capabilities...my heart was pounding too! Saw your loop around Picketpost. Laura and I did that loop a few years ago. Still have an "Apache tear" we found in the wash!
@MoonJuiceHikes thank you for watching our video. It's very much appreciated. We would still like to get you one of our stickers, if you want one. We will be down here a couple more weeks before we head north.
Great video B!
Thanks Dawn! Feels good conquering those fears!
"And I said HEY, Hey, Hey,.... what's going on - luv that song. Are you going to do another group hike anytime soon - LIKE Before it gets Blazing Fricken HOT? Chris and I have been checking out the Picket Post Loop, Lost Trail 221 Arnett Canyon should be on everybody's to do list - Both knees are complete - hiked a whopping 1.91 miles last weekend (Whuu whoo!!) baby steps lol -
Hey Kim! Glad to hear you’re on the road to recovery! I am planning a subscriber hike soon (but it’s going to be Battleship). Hopefully you can hike in a couple of miles, anyway. Stay tuned…
Glory(us)😂👍
Would you be having a moon juice on top of the rock?......Moonjuice......Ha Ha or did you wait for Wahoos?......
A cold one might have been consumed up there Greg....I cannot confirm or deny how that got there. I can confirm the only way it made it down was by hitching a ride in my belly!