Shunes Buttress (Zion)

After leaving Castle Valley Daniel (from Italy) and I arrived in Zion National Park with the goal of Climbing Shunes Buttress a 8 pitch 5.11+ route. The route was one of the best I have climbed in the desert with pitch after pitch of great climbing. I led the odd pitches giving me the 2 5.11c pitches and the 5.10+ bombay chimney. This route was strenous with the best rock I have climbed in Zion and the 5.11c pitch up high would rival any pitch anywhere, simply amazing.

Me leading the 5.11+ first pitch, sustained rattly fingers in a corner to some thin techy funky Zion stuff up high, 165feet of full value.

The 5.10+ Bombay Chimney

Daniel leading the 5.11- traverse

Starting the Crux 5.11 pitch, Amazing!!!!!!

Splitter Forever

Daniel on top of Shunes

Zion

                                                    Iron Messiah            

                                            Kathy jugging on Space Shot

                                     Kathy loaded up on Space Shot

Steep Jugging on Space Shot

At the end of October I left Yosemite to make my way to the Utah desert for the remainder of the Fall. I stopped on the way to Indian Creek in Zion where I met Kathy and we spent a few days climbing in this area. On the first day we climbed Iron Messiah, a multi pitch route with lots of chimneys and interesting climbing on soft sandstone. On the second day we cragged on some single pitch routes and on the 3rd day we attempted a big wall route: Space Shot. Next onward to Indian Creek!