A Long Day Setting a Christmas Tree on the Praying Monk
Today Thomas, Jake and I set a Christmas Tree on the Praying Monk. It sounded like a time-consuming and strenuous task to haul the tree up the Monk, but it was much more difficult than we expected. The packs that we had to carry were huge because we had lots of gear to carry like the tree, ornaments, ropes, and climbing hardware. We started hiking up from Echo Canyon to the approach pitch. My pack was weighed a certifiable shit-ton because it had all the climbing hardware, food, and rope. I lead the approach pitch. It was very windy and a little chilly. The rock was very cold.
Me leading.
Leading.
We got the bags hauled up the rappel gully after a few hitches, literally. The tree kept hooking on a rock and Thomas had to climb down to get it unstuck. We got to the base of the Monk and met a guy who was climbing with his young son.
At the base of the Monk.
We had some pre-climb snacks.
Jake eating some Sushi before sending the Monk...toproped.
We got the bags to the South Face, where we hauled them up.
Jake and Thomas.
bags ready to go.
Thomas and Jake with the tree in bags.
Thomas got ready and then he redpointed the monk.
Thomas starting on the Monk.
Thomas getting ready to clip the first bolt.
Clipped.
Continuing on the 5.7 SE Corner.
Thomas climbing.
Thomas on the ledge.
Thomas continuing.
Thomas leading.
Thomas on the sharp end.
Thomas redpointing.
Thomas climbing.
Thomas climbing.
Thomas climbing.
Jake climbed next and then we began hauling the bags.
Bags ready to haul.
View from South Face.
Camelback with clouds.
Hauling the bags.
On the top.
Two came up right after us and we didn’t put up the tree until they left. It was a little crowded with 5 people on top.
Celebratory cider.
A bit thirsty.
Thomas too...
Thomas and the tree.
We began setting up the tree and noticed that there were fire trucks and helicopters converging on Echo Canyon. Thomas called his dad and found out that there were a couple boys missing. We saw them on top of the Camel’s Head from the Monk. The resucuers thought it was us who needed to be rescued, so helicopters were circling us. Thomas’s dad asked them what was going on and the Fire Department in the parking lot said we were doing a good job putting up the tree. They had been watching us through binoculars. The whole afternoon we watched helicopters go back and forth. Echo Canyon was closed to entry.
Thomas and I with the tree.
Thomas and I with the tree.
Jake and I with the tree.
The tree.
Me with my flag...and Jake.
Thomas on top of the Praying Monk.
Jake and I with the tree.
The tree.
Thomas getting ready to rappel.
Jake being lowered.
Jake being lowered.
Jake being...Jake.
Jake thinks he's a hipster.
Christmas Tree on the Monk!
A close-up.
We succeeded putting the tree on the Monk. A nice, but long day on the Monk. Merry Christmas everyone!
Update:
Since the tree has been put on the Monk we have recieved a bit of attention. The media has been completely wrong on the facts as to what happened, so hopefully this blog will clue them in. In fact, I believe that they have gotten every single fact wrong aside from the fact that there is a tree on the Praying Monk. A Google Search could have fixed this.
http://www.azfamily.com/younews/135890153.html
Also, thanks to the climbers who have been standing the tree up. It has fallen over a few times, and has been stood back up…we will use more rocks and sandbags next time!
That is classic you guys! Way to make it happen and Merry Christmas. Was it very cold in AZ this time of year?
Thanks! It was very windy and so it felt a lot colder than it actually was. So much so that we were quite surprised that the tree didn’t fall once we set it up. We tied it down, put sandbags on the base, and anchored it to a bolt. Parts of Arizona can be cold in the winter, but in Phoenix it doesn’t really get too much below freezing. It was probably in the mid- 50′s.
HAHA, my buddy and I were wondering who the hell hauled that up there. It’s awesome and we’ve taken lots of pictures with it. Been up there a few times and probably a few more to come and we will continue to stand the tree back up every time we go.
We were wondering who put it up!! Thanks for making our annual Christmas climb of the Monk even better as we drank our hot chocolate at the top with your tree!
Haha, nice work! I got buzzed by a news helicopter climbing the monk on 12/22 in a Santa Hat. Ended up making ABC15 news. Let me know if you have not seen the video and I will get it to you. If you are going to do it again this year I can setup a portable light system on a timer
That’s Awesome! We made the news a couple times, online, and a blurb in the paper. But I did not see the video of you. Hopefully you enjoyed the tree. This year we are planning to put the tree up, and we are planning to use battery powered lights. I did not think about a timer, but as long as it is cheap we are open to suggestions.