Southern Utah
Ancient Arts Rock Climb
The Stolen Chimney Rock Climb
From Moab, drive up the Colorado River Highway 128 (northeast)
to mile marker 21. Immediately after, drive south (turn right)
down the dirt road.
There is a sign that says Fisher Towers. The Titan is visible
from the highway. Camping is $10. The hike is 4.4 miles round
trip.
The best time for pictures would be sunset. Remember the trail
when you come up out of the drainage, when you come back,
be sure to hike down this and not the trail to the right.
Looking northwest from near the end of the trail.
The Titan, the tallest tower at 900 ft, has climbing routes
to the summit.
The summit of "Ancient Arts" a 5 pitch, 5.11a / A0
climb
We saw 5 people climb this today, a party of 3 and a party of
2.
This was the last climber we saw.
Some climbers stood atop its summit with courage, others with
understandable fear.
I wonder what I would do.
On the way up, I thought the little protuberance on the 2nd
fin was a climber.
On the fourth fin (Ancient Arts) a climber balances confidently
on the summit
of one of the most precarious climbs I've ever seen, including
Mexican Hat.
Time is hungrily waiting for the past due fall of this ancient
cluster of sand.
It looks like a stiff wind should send this section, on a 600
foot freefall into fine powder.
The climbers are mostly secured to the protuberance.
Looking straight up.
Seeing the climbers stand atop the summit spire from here, gave
me the chills.
I think it looks like a cat with a giant chin.
A climber carefully balancing on the summit spire.
I could see him seeing me, I bet it made him dizzy.
A closer view, at the bottom of the protuberance, there is a
diving board
or lateral appendage, that the climbers must mantle,
it looks like that's going to be the first part to go.
A cross between Goblin Valley and Bryce Canyon
A standard Dr. Seuss Mushroom
known as "The Cobra" a 5.10+ rock climb.
The third climber of team 1 negotiates the divingboard mantle.
Freud would like to know what you think this hoodoo looks like.
From here you have a good view of most of the route up Ancient
Arts.
Ancient Arts Tower (background), Cottontail Tower, Echo Tower
and The Titan
Looking north at Highway 128 and the Colorado River
from near the end of the hike.
You can see the Ancient Arts summit and climbing crew.
The Cottontail Towers and the Echo Tower
The King Fisher
The hardened sandstone cap maintains the integrity of everything
below it.
There is a hiker on the trail at the base of this monolith (Cottontail
Tower),
but he only takes up about 3 pixels.
An exposed, but very safe section of the trail.
Looking west from near the end of the trail.
Special Thanks to: Jared, and Quinton
Thanks to Brandon and
Bob (among the first party to have "freed" Ancient
Arts, with Jimmie Dunn)
for climbing info
Message Board
Page Posts: 2
NAME
CITY
DATE
jean-pierre
france
2008-06-08
fantastic picture
Dianne
Hudson Florida
2008-05-24
These photos are beautiful and make me want to climb the towers. However, because of age and stamina, plus being a wimp, I'll enjoy the photos! I hope to visit these spots in the next 3 months!