The Mace (III 5.9+), often called stout for the grade by desert neophytes, climbs cracks and chimneys on the flip side of the tower, before the infamous notch-spanning step-across directly above the rappelling climber.
Photo by Jeremiah Watt
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Once atop the spire, select your next Sedona outing from the endless desert summits visible in a 360-degree panorama and flip through the register. Consider your shared experience with The Mace’s first ascentionists, 50 years past, worshipping in their own way on a quiet Sunday. Begin your descent by a quick jump back across the gap or rap off the five-bolt, bombproof summit vault to the lower tower and subsequent rappel stations.
Guidebooks Rock Climbing Arizona, by Stewart M. Green; A Better Way to Die: Rock Climbers Guide to Sedona and Oak Creek, by Tim Toula; Castles in the Sand, by David Bloom.
The Beta
Equipment Shop
Vertical Relief Rock Gym; (928) 556-9909, verticalrelief.com
Rack
Singles .4, .5, 1, 2, and 5; doubles 3 and 4 Camalot.
Season
Spring and fall are best.
Show us your Classic photo of The Mace and Win a free Offwidth Jacket from Mountain Hardwear!
Log on to Climbing.com’s Photo Post, submit your images to the Classic Climbs folder, and photographer Jeremiah Watt will pick his favorite. The winning photographer will receive an Offwith Jacket (valued at $95!) from Mountain Hardwear.
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