The Drysdale Trail Bouldering
Elevation: | 6,821 ft |
GPS: |
35.11415, -111.58641 Google Map · Climbing Area Map |
Page Views: | 86,780 total · 788/month |
Shared By: | JJ Schlick on Apr 10, 2015 |
Admins: | Greg Opland, Brian Boyd, JJ Schlick, Kemper Brightman, Luke Bertelsen |
Description
The Drysdale Trail connects 1/2 mile of some of the best walls at The Ridge, all the while entertaining you with views of Lower Lake Mary, and Mormon Mountain to the south. Over the course of many, many seasons this game trail was cleared of rubble (though it always returns) and made somewhat pad friendly.
Named in honor of the late Robert Drysdale, who may have been one the first climbers to sample these lines, his presence is almost tangible among these walls. Rob was known as "The Condor" from early in his career and at 6'4" with a +ape index he certainly lived up to the nickname. Let's just say he had a talent for finding the tall boy classics and would have become a powerhouse (more so, than he already is) in the history of Flagstaff rock climbing, if not for his untimely passing. As John Sherman writes in his Stone Crusade,"Drysdale's full legacy will never be known- he died before telling others of all his routes. Just as Drysdale enjoyed finding ancient artifacts, in the future some boulderer is going to pull over a desperate shield of limestone, find himself high off the deck, just a move or two shy of a first ascent, and there, hidden in a thank-god hueco, the key to the summit, will be an empty pint can."
The Booze Pig Wall is without doubt the showcase wall for the harder lines.
These walls are laid out west to east, The Gateway Wall marking the west end of the trail, while The Long Ryders Wall marks the east end of the trail.
Also, the grades on these walls are rough suggestions. Please give your two cents on them.
As usual any help in maintaining the integrity of this trail is much appreciated, as it sees a lot of wild life travel and monsoonal changes. It makes this area more of a pleasure cruise compared to the ankle twisting bushwhack it was for decades.
Getting There
Just past the entrance to The Lake Mary Picnic area there is a dirt road on the north side of the highway. It's the only road on that side for a ways.
Parking can be had before the gate if you have a low clearance vehicle. Otherwise there are several pull outs up the road and through the gate. PLEASE park responsibly and leave the roads clear for forest personell to pass if needed. They do frequent the area.
From the junction of the dirt roads walk west for 60' looking for a small climbers trail which leads you up the slope. Follow this until you have to work around a few benches near the gully.
The wall immediately to the right (east) of the small gully is The Gateway Wall. The Perfect Day Wall is west of the The Gateway Wall about 5 minute walk.
Or, from the parking area, hike east up quaint two track road. Eventually you come across and old timey circular well house made of stacked limestone blocks. Go left around this, and up through a "Notch". A climbers trail leads you east, then up some benches, then east, and up some more benches, eventually this trail intersects the Drysdale Trail with the Booze Pig Wall to east about 5 minutes walk.
Classic Climbing Routes at The Drysdale Trail
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