Going to Arizona for a week (Tuscon) in mid February and looking to climb or hike something. I don't mind driving up to 4-5 hours if it is worth the trip. Any suggestions?

James: I own property south of Tucson and am there, at the very least, every February. You won't need to drive 4-5 hours - you will be surrounded by peaks. Do you want high country in winter conditions? Do you like desert peaks & scrambles? Technical rock routes? Deathmarch bushwacks?

Stop in at Summit Hut (or visit their website) to get some maps. Visit Andinistaloco's page on the mountain ranges of Tucson (http://www.summitpost.org/area/range/17 ... anges.html). I've also got a page on the Tucson Mountain range, a collection of desert peaks west of town: http://www.summitpost.org/area/range/60 ... tains.html

This is one of my favorite areas to climb peaks. Enjoy.

James,

Mt. Lemmon has a lifetime of climbing on it...but be prepared for guidebook maps not to match up with what's actually up there. A few fires have done some major re-landscaping. Also, be prepared for some chossy granite. Also near Tucson is Cochise Stronghold...very cool climbing there.

I'd agree with Sarah, in that you probably won't need to drive 4-5 hours anywhere (Phoenix is 1.5 hours away). However, if you are willing to drive that far, that opens up a lot:

Queen Creek Canyon (pretty popular volcanic sport climbing)
McDowell's (trad granite...mostly old school ratings)
Superstition Mountains (lots of hiking...would recommend against climbing, unless you love sketch pro)
Jack's Canyon (popular limestone sport climbing, soft ratings)

Hell, you could probably hit the Flagstaff area as well. Google maps says it's 4.5 hours, but throw in traffic and it's probably a little over 5.

There's a pretty decent book, http://www.amazon.com/Arizona-Summits-South-Mountains-Points/dp/0966491955/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1287682771&sr=8-1. Goes over everything from driving to roped climbing.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions.

if you've never been there before, why drive so far (Flagstaff???)...there's like cochise, like 45 minutes away with like beautiful granite and like many multipitch lines...
http://www.summitpost.org/custom-object/170935/RPC-s-Cochise-Stronghold-Outings.html


PS or if that's not your thing, Sarah has some great ideas nearby as well I think.

I had no idea cochise was so close

1 hr +/- to west stronhold trailheads (depends which one exactly; Sheepshead is closest)
1.5 hrs to the east stronghold trailhead
Enjoy.

PS some bird closures will be in effect in Feb...forget about Rockfellers Group, What's My LIne etc.. for example

James_W wrote:I had no idea cochise was so close

James, Cochise my friend! Radek should have beta on SP. Mountain Project as well should have a ton. I might even be there in Feb. Have fun man.