North America, United States, Arizona, The Mace

Publication Year: 1978.

The Mace. In late March, I made a roped solo ascent of The Mace (F9) by the original route. After third-classing the first two pitches, I used the rope for protection on the last three, including the infamous “step-across,” where one bridges across to the higher of the two summits. The climb took 2½ hours from base to summit, and an almost equal length of time for the descent; my ropes tangled on one rappel, forcing me to jümar back to the anchors.

Michael Kennedy