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| Hiking | 11.00 Miles |
3,200 AEG |
| | Hiking | 11.00 Miles | | | |
| 3,200 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Well, this was one for the ages...
I had originally penciled this weekend in as a Grand Canyon/Humphreys back-to-back...and that ended up being true, just not in the fashion I originally planned. My friend Eric was thumbing through Tomasi's Grand Canyon summits select, and this pile of fun diverted the eye away from the busy Corridor Trails and onto something new. You can see Cope Butte quite clearly from the Abyss overlook and Pima and Mohave Points, among others.
We left Hermit's Rest at 7:30 am, and enjoyed shade for almost the entire descent. The quiet and often-gentle Hermit Trail provided a great break from the bustle to the east. We just saw a few parties backpacking out in the morning cool. The traverse across the Supai, as always, took a loooonnng time, but at last, we came to the Cathedral Stairs and came face-to-face with the goal. My heart jumped in my throat. Nothing about this looked like a good idea. While Cope Butte is a nice sight while hiking the serene Hermit Trail, it took on new meaning now. You could see the route quite clearly, but you could also see the exposure.
"Don't fall..."
We left the Hermit Trail just before the long switchback under the Butte, and scrambled up the Redwall talus to the small obvious notch to the Butte's south. An impossible turret blocks ridgeline progress, so we traversed for about 200 ft before starting up a couple 3rd class chimneys. Then, we turned right and faced the crux, a 30' Class 4, exposed shallow "chimney" climb. With loose holds sprinkled here and there among solid ledges for extra fun! I elected to leave my pack here (and my camera), to help with balance, but Richard and Eric kept their smaller cameras as we ascended. Past here, the difficulty eases, but the exposure does not. We scrambled on solid ramps up to the ridgeline proper, where I saw Eric grinning. When you see that, trouble awaits  A Class 3 scramble up a very narrow ridgeline is the last major obstacle, and while the climbing isn't hard, multiple hundreds of feet of open air greet your corneas if you choose to look down toward either Monument or Hermit Creeks. Eric encouraged us with: "Don't fall left...or right....just don't fall." Followed by, as he was leading, "I'm not really sure what's holding this last rock up here." on the very narrow, airy ridge. Onward.
The narrow spine never got more than a foot or two wide until near the summit, and at this point, the angle of the ridge was very gentle. At last arriving at Cope Butte's top was exhilarating. This perch offered unobstructed views up and down-Canyon, and the Rim loomed far above. To add to the moment, a couple California Condors sailed lazily over our heads. Wow. I had yet to see one of these large birds, and to do so at that moment was incredible. Watching rafters run Hermit Rapid was a bonus prize, and we could hear the whoops of joy from a couple parties as they entered the rapid. What else could you ask for? Richard snapped a group shot of us on top. Back we went as the sun began to really warm the day.
The pull of safety, beer, food, and home called us back down the ridgeline, which was an exercise in calm focus. The crux was exciting on the descent, as Eric pulled out his very own handhold to keep, staring quizzically at his new "prize". Good thing he was stable at the time. I shimmied down next, followed by Richard. We were all relieved to finally be back at the notch, then to the Hermit Trail. Our prize for success? A ~3000' climb out in the afternoon sun! It went well, though, as we lounged in the shade at some key locations. What a day, guys, and it was off to Flagstaff for round 2 for the weekend. |
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