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Summit Crags
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Fortress, The 
Murray Wall, The 
PPG Rock 
Rappel Rock 
Ravelin, The 
Ravens, The 

Summit Crags 


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Elevation: 8,500'
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Administrators: Kristine Hoffman, Greg Opland, James DeRoussel, JJ Schlick, Tom Erickson
Submitted By: James DeRoussel on Jul 11, 2010

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Clear
99° | 68°
Clear
99° | 68°
Clear
97° | 64°
Clear
93° | 61°
Partly Cloudy
93° | 57°
Closed to climbing, March 15-June 30 MORE INFO >>>


The summit crags, from left to right: Rappel Rock,...

Description 

The Summit Crags, as the name implies, are located near the uppermost elevations of Mount Lemmon. They are home to some of the longest and highest quality routes in the Santa Catalinas.

The seasonal raptor nesting closures limit the season here to late summer and autumn. Be particularly aware of afternoon storms and lightning if visiting this area early in the season.


Getting There 

Driving up the Catalina Highway, turn right on the road to the ski valley. Continue past the ski valley, through a gate, and down a rough paved road. Drive to the gravel parking lot on the left just before the observatory. Park here and continue on foot, up the road, following the 'trail' sign. (Stay left when you see the sign at the observatory).


The Classics

Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Summit Crags:
Not So Easy Arch   5.5     Trad, 2 pitches, 300 feet   Rappel Rock
Standard Route   5.6     Trad, 4 pitches, 450 feet   Rappel Rock
Black Quacker   5.7     Trad, 450 feet   Rappel Rock
Bender-Axen   5.8     Trad, 1 pitch, 80 feet   Rappel Rock
The Rupley Route   5.9     Trad, 4 pitches, 450 feet   The Fortress
Quick Death   5.9     Trad, 1 pitch, 80 feet   Rappel Rock
Steel Crazy   5.9     Sport, 4 pitches, 450 feet   The Fortress
Chiboni   5.9+     Trad, 1 pitch, 70 feet   Rappel Rock
MoMo Buttress   5.9+     Sport, 1 pitch, 140 feet   The Ravens
Fort Stress   5.9+     Sport, 4 pitches, 400 feet   The Fortress
If You Bolt It They Will Come   5.10     Sport, 1 pitch, 145 feet   The Ravens
Voodoo Child   5.10+     Sport, 1 pitch, 100 feet   Rappel Rock
Helm's Deep   5.10+     Trad, 3 pitches, 400 feet   Rappel Rock
El Curvo   5.10+     Sport, 1 pitch, 130 feet   The Ravens
Swing Set   5.11+     Sport, 1 pitch, 140 feet   The Ravens
Hard Day at The Orifice   5.12b     Sport, 1 pitch, 60 feet   The Fortress
Orifice Politics   5.12     Sport, 105 feet   The Fortress
Eureka   5.13-     Sport, 75 feet   The Fortress
Coup de' tat   5.13     Sport, 100 feet   The Fortress
Granite of the Apes   5.13     Sport, 90 feet   The Fortress
Browse More Classics in Summit Crags

Featured Route For Summit Crags
Vince Bates figures out the crux for the first time.

Orifice Politics 5.12  AZ : Mount Lemmon (Santa Catalin... : ... : The Fortress
This is a line I have looked at since 1996. The first forty feet had been started by Mark Hathaway so I stayed off of it. In 2001 I bolted a hard variation finish in an effort not to ruffle Marks feathers but still allow me to climb this face. Mark worked it some in 2001 but as far as I know that was it. This year Vince called and asked if he could work the route which was pretty nice since almost no work that I know of has been done on it in years. Mark said yes and so Vince and I started ...[more]   Browse More Classics in AZ


Photos of Summit Crags Slideshow Add Photo
smiles all around

smiles all around

The end of summer.

The end of summer.

Tucson from 9,000 ft.

Tucson from 9,000 ft.

Toofast enjoying a bit of winter near the summit

Toofast enjoying a bit of winter near the summit


Comments on Summit Crags Add Comment
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By Jimbo
Jun 13, 2012

+1 Andy. Lots and lots of other crags on the Lemmon. Be patient everyone.