North America, United States, Utah, Remote Southern Areas, Rims Recreation Area, Various Ascents

Publication Year: 1999.

Rims Recreation Area, Various Ascents. Thirty miles south of Moab (via U.S. 191) is the BLM’s Rims Recreation Area, a high mesa bordered by Indian Creek (south) and the Colorado River (west). Hatch Wash slices through the mesa, exposing high-quality 300-foot Wingate sandstone walls. In May, Mike Baker soloed Laughing Thunder (IV 5.9 A2+) on the wall east of Cogswell Tower, which was dubbed Enchanted Mesa. In September, Baker rope-soloed Silent Destiny (5.9), also on Enchanted Mesa.

Mike Baker and Kirby Spangler also climbed Orient Express (IV 5.10 A3+) right of Silent Destiny and directly in line with the rappel route into the canyon when approaching from the east. On the approach to Rims Recreation Area (a dirt road between mile markers 93 and 94), signs direct one to Looking Glass Rock. Its first ascent was made solo by Mike Baker. Adventure in Entradaland (II 5.8 A2) climbs through a hole from inside the arch. Baker: “This is the steepest pitch I’ve ever climbed. Major pucker factor.” In August, Dave Medera and Brett Sutteer ascended Looking Glass Rock by the East Rib (5.7, 290'). Brad Bond soloed a remote tower off the rim of the Recreation Area. Thirty-two miles south of Moab, and west of U.S. 191, lies the Orphan, which is reached from the rim left (south) of Canyonlands Overlook. Bond climbed the tower in two pitches (III 5.9 A2, 180') on June 11.

Eric BjØrnstadt