Thunderbird Wall, first free ascent. Michael Anderson and Rob Pizem made the first free ascent, with variations, of one of Zion’s biggest routes, the Thunderbird Wall (16 pitches, VI 5.13- R). Both climbers led or followed every pitch free over May 31-June 1. Anderson’s recent free climbing efforts in Zion have resulted in ten FFAs of grade IV or longer routes, most of them grade V or VI. See Anderson’s feature earlier in this Journal.