Maple Canyon Rock Climbing
Hi folks! Welcome to my page on Maple Canyon Rock Climbing. Please excuse that I've piggy-backed it on my business website...if you need range plants or wildflowers for your yard please browse around!
About me:
I've been climbing in Maple Canyon since long before the first bolt was drilled. I was a active putting up new routes in the 90's and I published the first three editions of the Maple Canyon guidebook. If you climb a route in Maple Canyon and it's easier than 5.11, it's probably mine. I hope you enjoy them! My friends and I have also been Ice Climbing in Maple Canyon since the early '90's.
Jared Nielson on the summit of The Great Chasm. © Jason Stevens, 2006
I did not climb much from 2001-2007. 9/11 altered my life pretty dramatically. I spent nearly 15 years climbing prior to 9/11, usually 3 or 4 days a week. I climbed almost exclusively with my good friend USMC Ssgt. Jared Nielson, who was activated after 9/11 and stationed in California. Since then we've climbed together a grand total of 4 times. He's been on two tours of duty in Iraq, one in Afghanstan and is nearing the end of his fourth tour. He'll probably serve at least 3 more tours. I couldn't muster the will to climb after he left. We had a near-perfect climbing synergy and could practically read each others minds. Truth be told, I didn't want to go through the pains of "training" a new partner and I just didn't have the heart to climb without him.
I focused on being a father (something I should have been doing all along). I've pursued activities that I could do with my wife and kids, namely camping, backpacking and river running. Now that my kids are older I hope to get them out and tie into a rope together. I've also become an avid long range target shooter and spend a lot of time shooting at long distance targets, but don't let that scare you...I can't hit anything. And, if four gear intensive/expensive hobbies were not enough, I've developed a passion for photography.
I have been developing several new walls in Maple. I will keep you posted. Most of the routes will be in the 5.6-5.10 range. For now, check out my pictures and the few topos I have in dowloadable format. I will post more as the routes are developed.
Watch for Darren Knezek's (owner of Mountainworks in Provo) new Maple Canyon guide rumored to be out this spring ('09). It'll be roughly the size of the Holy Bible. He's put an immense ammount of work into it, and, as far as I know he's climbed every single route in the book. You can buy it at Mountainworks in Provo or at my climbing shop, The Maple Leaf Company in Ephraim.
Maple Canyon Multi-Pitch Climbs...
I actually got out and climbed a little last year and this spring and knocked-off a few lines that I've had my eye on for years. A highlight summer '07 was when Jared Nielson returned from his tour of duty with the USMC in Afghanistan. I managed to put the last few bolts in just before he arrived and in two days we climbed 11 pitches of virgin rock, all of them on multi-pitch climbs!You can download a copy of the topo below.
A few notes concerning the topos...
Make sure you cary two 60M ropes on The Great Chasm. I intend to place another set of rappel anchors before summer '08. Until I post otherwise, carry two ropes! Watch for updates.
Jared Nielson and I finished a route on Haji Rock in '08 and called Exit Wound. There is a downloadable .pdf below with pictures and a route description. You can also see my notes about it on the rockclimbing.com website. Please sign the summit register!
If you have any questions email me at jason@cut.net. Thanks!
Click on the link below to download the topo for Maple Canyon Multi Pitch Climbs.
Changing the Stripes is a new 5.6 in the lower canyon. It's a great 3 pitch line with stellar views. It would be a great first route for any aspiring multi-pitch climber.
Jared Nielson on pitch 1 of The Great Chasm. © Jason Stevens, 2006