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Mars Attacks - 5.8 popular

Average Rating = 4.44/5 Average Rating : 4.44 out of 5
Route sequence (left to right): 1
Route Summary | Ascent Notes (33)
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Rock (Trad)
4
Standard rack up to 4.5
Consensus Ratings
  Difficulty 5.8
  Safety Rating G
  Exposure 4.52/5
  Rock Quality 3.95/5
  Scenery 4.86/5
  Fun Factor 4.64/5

Description:

From Hwy 89, turn north on Dry Creek Road until you reach FS Road 152 (on the right) and set your odometer to zero. Drive 1.6 miles on rough dirt road to a small pullout on the right. A faint trail takes you up and left of the ridge leading to the base of the route. It is located opposite Devils Bridge. Great climb with a really cool traverse pitch and some un-Sedona like slab work. 4 pitches, #1 friction slab, #2 traverse, #3 vertical slot canyon, #4 hands/friction slab. Anchors for last pitch are straight up, then traverse right to rappel anchors. If anyone thinks the first pitch is any harder than 5.6/5.7 they are a serious weenie. It is called slab climbing people. This isn't your 5.easy jug haul in the local gym. Use your feet!

Descent Options:

double 60m rope rappels

Submitted by: steelmonkey on 2007-01-04
Last Modified: 2009-03-27
Views: 3875
Route ID: 46696

Most Recent Photos (See all 15 photos)

33 Ascents Recorded

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Ratings
  Difficulty 5.8
  Safety Rating G
  Exposure
  Rock Quality
  Scenery
  Fun Factor
Onsight Onsight ascent by: sun2stone on 2012-04-11 (View Climbing Log)

5 out of 5 stars Ultimate Tour Guide

A great route to show friends, take a vacation on this !
I lead all four, like 3 rd the best, such texture and variety.
palce a #4 at 20 ft flowed by # 2 later , and #1 at crux.

Added: 2012-04-19

Ratings
  Difficulty
  Safety Rating G
  Exposure
  Rock Quality
  Scenery
  Fun Factor
Second Second ascent by: on_rope on 2011-11-20 (View Climbing Log)

5 out of 5 stars awesome

killer traverse! thin ass slab first pitch! fun stuff.

Added: 2012-03-02

Ratings
  Difficulty
  Safety Rating G
  Exposure
  Rock Quality
  Scenery
  Fun Factor
Second Second ascent by: chief1210 on 2011-10-20 (View Climbing Log)

4 out of 5 stars awesome route

with josh

Added: 2011-10-20

Ratings
  Difficulty 5.8
  Safety Rating G
  Exposure
  Rock Quality
  Scenery
  Fun Factor
Onsight Onsight ascent by: lucander on 2011-01-15 (View Climbing Log)

4 out of 5 stars Mars Attacks

Lots of fun, soft for the grade and over-hyped...but then again, what route can live up to this amount of publicity.

Drove partway, then parked and walked 15-20 minutes on the road in order to save our compact car. Note that the unusually large tree mentioned in "Weekend Rock Arizona" at the start of the approach is no longer there.

I dropped a heavily used and bent wire #4 DMM stopper at the start of pitch 3. It landed somewhere around the tree down bottom. I got a mega reward for this sentimental piece of gear. Instead of finding it, I did unearth a ton of biners, hexes, and other nuts. I miss our old friend Smithers (yes, we named it).

Added: 2011-03-01

Ratings
  Difficulty 5.8
  Safety Rating G
  Exposure
  Rock Quality
  Scenery
  Fun Factor
Hang Dog Hang Dog ascent by: douglaskinsman on 2010-10-24 (View Climbing Log)

3 out of 5 stars I guess I am a serious weenie

because I thought the 1st pitch was way harder than 5.7 and I have done a good bit of slab work, mostly on granite though. However it had just recently rained and the whole route felt sandy so take that for what it is worth. Really exciting second pitch with great crack climbing on the 3rd makes for a good outing. The slab detracts though...

Added: 2010-10-24

... Read all 33 ascent notes