Uploaded April 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 days ago
Net Positive Impact
Sport route, 4 pitches, 400 feet.
In the environmental impact statement from Resolution Copper, they claim that the copper mining project in Queen Creek will have a "net positive impact" on the water future of Arizona. With even a tiny bit of critical thought, one can understand that this is simply impossible. Tug at the threads of the impact statement, and you will find it unraveling rather quickly.
This route exists to show what a "net positive impact" might actually look like. A great day out on moderate terrain, well protected, established by a wholesome community of lifelong climbers that would prefer we not blow the place into a 2000ft toxic crater.
P1: Starts just left of a hand crack and follow the shiny bolts. It gently trends up and left, then straight up to a 2 bolt belay with chains in a little alcove. It might look runout from the second bolt, but it isn't. There's a bolt hiding just out of view.
P2: Step up and right into a flaring chimney, climb as it widens and eventually commit to face climbing moves to climbers left. A few reachy moves here, but lots of bolts and great edges. 2 bolt belay with chains on a decent ledge.
P3: The MONEY. follow a column-like feature to a roof, and pull on through. Can feel pretty wild. Save a bit of gas in the tank for some smaller (but very positive) holds above. 2 bolt belay with chains at a slightly better ledge than the last.
P4: Reward yourself with a lower-angle cruise and top out at another set of bolts with chains. Sweet!
Bring a 70, 18 draws, and maybe a few small cams. Lots of gunksy horizontals you can plug for bonus points. Each pitch has ~13 bolts. Rapping in from the top is probably better than coming in from the bottom, it's quite a thrash as is.
Note that this route is about 100 or so feet climbers left of the main hall of legends area, with it's own set of anchors.
FA Gang:
Charlie Brown, David Gunn, Ian Gunn, Chiara Mingione, Ben Ramsey, Jason
Trimming cat claw, carrying water, bolts, drills, batteries, whacking trail, you name it.
Location
Base of Knotty tower (for reference if hiking from bottom)(33.2864857, -111.0772343)Base of NPI(33.2868058, -111.0766690)Top of NPI (for reference if rapping in)(33.2869709, -111.0763462)
Info pulled from,
Rock Climb Net Positive Impact, Central Arizona
Net Positive Impact
Sport route, 4 pitches, 400 feet.
In the environmental impact statement from Resolution Copper, they claim that the copper mining project in Queen Creek will have a "net positive impact" on the water future of Arizona. With even a tiny bit of critical thought, one can understand that this is simply impossible. Tug at the threads of the impact statement, and you will find it unraveling rather quickly.
This route exists to show what a "net positive impact" might actually look like. A great day out on moderate terrain, well protected, established by a wholesome community of lifelong climbers that would prefer we not blow the place into a 2000ft toxic crater.
P1: Starts just left of a hand crack and follow the shiny bolts. It gently trends up and left, then straight up to a 2 bolt belay with chains in a little alcove. It might look runout from the second bolt, but it isn't. There's a bolt hiding just out of view.
P2: Step up and right into a flaring chimney, climb as it widens and eventually commit to face climbing moves to climbers left. A few reachy moves here, but lots of bolts and great edges. 2 bolt belay with chains on a decent ledge.
P3: The MONEY. follow a column-like feature to a roof, and pull on through. Can feel pretty wild. Save a bit of gas in the tank for some smaller (but very positive) holds above. 2 bolt belay with chains at a slightly better ledge than the last.
P4: Reward yourself with a lower-angle cruise and top out at another set of bolts with chains. Sweet!
Bring a 70, 18 draws, and maybe a few small cams. Lots of gunksy horizontals you can plug for bonus points. Each pitch has ~13 bolts. Rapping in from the top is probably better than coming in from the bottom, it's quite a thrash as is.
Note that this route is about 100 or so feet climbers left of the main hall of legends area, with it's own set of anchors.
FA Gang:
Charlie Brown, David Gunn, Ian Gunn, Chiara Mingione, Ben Ramsey, Jason
Trimming cat claw, carrying water, bolts, drills, batteries, whacking trail, you name it.
Location
Base of Knotty tower (for reference if hiking from bottom)(33.2864857, -111.0772343)Base of NPI(33.2868058, -111.0766690)Top of NPI (for reference if rapping in)(33.2869709, -111.0763462)
Info pulled from,
Rock Climb Net Positive Impact, Central Arizona
