Nuria on THE warm-up classic of the Pit, Popeye Me...
Description
The Pit, with its pocketed white limestone, was Arizona's first foray into the realm of sport climbing in the mid to late 1980's. Today, it's northern Arizona's prime sport area. Well, if by prime one means most convenient for Flagstaff locals. It's a popular area that offers average quality climbing on average quality limestone, but is nice for an afternoon workout and certainly beats the gym. The area is pleasant and climbable year-round. Routes are well bolted, generally short, and distinctively pocketed and edgy in style.
Getting There
Drive south of Flagstaff on Lake Mary Road. About six miles out, turn left into the Canyon Vista Campground. Drive through the campground to a lot at the far end. Follow the obvious trail for five minutes, breaking right to descend to the he cliffs.
The Classics
Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Le Petit Verdon (aka The Pit):
This is an endurance fest- or not. Hard start to balancy moves to steep moves to a rest. Then the crux comes in a sequency move out a crescent shaped hold. Then don't mess up getting to the anchors. ...[more]Browse More Classics in AZ
I second that, Ladd. The Pit is excellent all through the winter as long as the sun's out, all the south-facing cliffs really bake. I've had some sweltering, shirts-off days at Mall Wall and Way Gone when it was under 40 degrees in town.
Most of the routes we put up at The Pit were climbed in the winter when we didn't want to drive south, or go out of state. "The Oven" was a favorite hang on days when it especially cold, and that is how it got it's name. Locals climbed at The Pit for almost two years before we let the cat out of the bag. This was based on a vote at Alpine Pizza of course.
I can remember climbing on the Gone Wall one day and getting a cactus needle stuck in my arm. At the base, I pulled out the needle and it had gone into my brachial artery. Jets of blood sperted out of my arm every time my heart beat. My partner that day, Paul B almost passed out looking ... so I teased him by slapping my hand over it every once in awhile to stop-start it. It was hilarious. Left a huge puddle of blood (although that was many, many years ago)! Funny stuff!
Sorry FUNGUY, no such luck, from the looks of the two shiny draws hanging, the second one way off route I might add, the poor individual pitched making the third clip & decked, Haaard. Fresh blood at the crag, kinda surreal. Hope they're ok.
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