Matt Lemke - Dec 12, 2020 5:57 am Date Climbed: Dec 6, 2020
Climbed after Chimney Rock
Fun steep hike to a conical summit with excellent views of the backside of the reef. Definitely makes this climb a short affair if you can drive all the way to its base. We ascended the south side up one of the various ridges. Unimaginable what it'd be like if wet.
Scott - Dec 8, 2020 10:29 am Date Climbed: Dec 6, 2020
Wikiup
Matt and I met at Exit 131 and took my Pathfinder to Dutchman Arch, where we headed for Chimney Rock in the San Rafael Swell. It was a pleasant hike to the base of the tower. Once at the base we climbed up the north face to an exposed red ledge and followed it around to a notch. This is where the real part of the technical route started. The standard route was covered in sketchy sand and runout, so we followed the notch and climbed a crack that offered better gear placements. It might have been a little more technical, but it was fun. Matt led the crack and I followed him to the summit ridge. We then followed the exposed ridge to the summit. It was a beautiful summit and climb and the views were great. It was a fun climb as well. We then returned to the top of the technical section and rappelled off a bush down to a notch and reversed our route.
After climbing Chimney Rock, we headed to Dutchman Arch and checked it out a bit. After Dutchman Arch, we explored the area around Locomotive Point to find some really good pictograph panels.
We still had daylight left so headed for The Wikiup and climbed it. It was a rather steep and tedious climb, but the views were great.
McCannster - Oct 13, 2020 1:09 pm Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2019
A fun little romp
Date approx. Tagged this and Indian BM before heading deeper into the Swell for towers and stuff.
vanman798 - Aug 29, 2018 1:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2018
Probably the tallest dirt pile I've been on top of!
This might sound weird, but if I were to climb it again I'd bring an ice ax! It is plenty steep, and the dirt is loose and you can easily slip like you do on snow. An ax would be useful for plunging on the way up and for self arresting on the way down should the need arise. I drove in on the rough road getting as close to the south side as possible then hiked up in about 20 or less minutes. Coming down took about the same about of time maybe a minute or two more. It's interesting to view the desert from up there.
Sarah Simon - May 25, 2014 8:53 pm Date Climbed: May 25, 2014
Standard southeast ridge
Took Reba the Rubicon down into the wash then weaves our way up through the branches of the canyon to gain the eastern ridge. This booger gets steep, loose and messy with a quickness! It seems like nothing on the final summit pitch of the thimble will hold, but amazingly a few small holds stick to the mountain long enough to get up and back down. One of the stranger peaks I'm summited, for sure! Two ice tools and some crampons may be helpful on this peak ;-)
climbed the wickiup to start my trip through the swell. hard dirt/rock on the upper slopes made it interesting for awhile. summit block was unexpectedly hairy on the north side, but larger ledges on the northwest corner provided a more peaceful descent. scooted up the fantastic indian benchmark afterwards.
We were shut out by snow and very low visibility on our first attempt. Fortunately the weather cleared and we went back the next day and climbed it under sunny skies. The ground was still a little wet but getting to the 4x4 parking spot wasn't a problem. I've never climbed a peak quite like this one - its made mostly of dirt, mud, and rocks that disintegrate into dirt. A fun little adventure. Took us about an hour. I'd give it a class 2+ rating. We had to do a bit of scrambling - not difficult but very loose.
Matt Lemke - Dec 12, 2020 5:57 am Date Climbed: Dec 6, 2020
Climbed after Chimney RockFun steep hike to a conical summit with excellent views of the backside of the reef. Definitely makes this climb a short affair if you can drive all the way to its base. We ascended the south side up one of the various ridges. Unimaginable what it'd be like if wet.
Scott - Dec 8, 2020 10:29 am Date Climbed: Dec 6, 2020
WikiupMatt and I met at Exit 131 and took my Pathfinder to Dutchman Arch, where we headed for Chimney Rock in the San Rafael Swell. It was a pleasant hike to the base of the tower. Once at the base we climbed up the north face to an exposed red ledge and followed it around to a notch. This is where the real part of the technical route started. The standard route was covered in sketchy sand and runout, so we followed the notch and climbed a crack that offered better gear placements. It might have been a little more technical, but it was fun. Matt led the crack and I followed him to the summit ridge. We then followed the exposed ridge to the summit. It was a beautiful summit and climb and the views were great. It was a fun climb as well. We then returned to the top of the technical section and rappelled off a bush down to a notch and reversed our route.
After climbing Chimney Rock, we headed to Dutchman Arch and checked it out a bit. After Dutchman Arch, we explored the area around Locomotive Point to find some really good pictograph panels.
We still had daylight left so headed for The Wikiup and climbed it. It was a rather steep and tedious climb, but the views were great.
McCannster - Oct 13, 2020 1:09 pm Date Climbed: Oct 22, 2019
A fun little rompDate approx. Tagged this and Indian BM before heading deeper into the Swell for towers and stuff.
vanman798 - Aug 29, 2018 1:41 pm Date Climbed: Aug 27, 2018
Probably the tallest dirt pile I've been on top of!This might sound weird, but if I were to climb it again I'd bring an ice ax! It is plenty steep, and the dirt is loose and you can easily slip like you do on snow. An ax would be useful for plunging on the way up and for self arresting on the way down should the need arise. I drove in on the rough road getting as close to the south side as possible then hiked up in about 20 or less minutes. Coming down took about the same about of time maybe a minute or two more. It's interesting to view the desert from up there.
Sarah Simon - May 25, 2014 8:53 pm Date Climbed: May 25, 2014
Standard southeast ridgeTook Reba the Rubicon down into the wash then weaves our way up through the branches of the canyon to gain the eastern ridge. This booger gets steep, loose and messy with a quickness! It seems like nothing on the final summit pitch of the thimble will hold, but amazingly a few small holds stick to the mountain long enough to get up and back down. One of the stranger peaks I'm summited, for sure! Two ice tools and some crampons may be helpful on this peak ;-)
vanman798 - Aug 29, 2018 1:44 pm
Re: Standard southeast ridgeAmen; I too recommend an ice ax!
voxnihili - Jul 6, 2011 4:58 pm
A Childhood FavoriteI've climbed this more than a few times over the years. My family spent quite a bit of time out on the Swell.
shanahan96 - Apr 6, 2010 2:22 pm Date Climbed: Apr 1, 2010
kick starterclimbed the wickiup to start my trip through the swell. hard dirt/rock on the upper slopes made it interesting for awhile. summit block was unexpectedly hairy on the north side, but larger ledges on the northwest corner provided a more peaceful descent. scooted up the fantastic indian benchmark afterwards.
jamie
SarahThompson - Apr 13, 2009 1:35 pm Date Climbed: Apr 12, 2009
Interesting cone of dirt/mudWe were shut out by snow and very low visibility on our first attempt. Fortunately the weather cleared and we went back the next day and climbed it under sunny skies. The ground was still a little wet but getting to the 4x4 parking spot wasn't a problem. I've never climbed a peak quite like this one - its made mostly of dirt, mud, and rocks that disintegrate into dirt. A fun little adventure. Took us about an hour. I'd give it a class 2+ rating. We had to do a bit of scrambling - not difficult but very loose.