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  • Mexican Mountain as seen from the west at sunset. It looks practically impenetrable! We camped here and started the hike the next morning. width:640;;height:377
  • Dominic crosses the muddy San Rafael River en route to Mexican Mountain. Much to our relief its only calf deep. width:640;;height:480
  • The lush San Rafael River winds in stark contrast through the surrounding desert. width:640;;height:480
  • Mexican Mountain's north face. The only way through the Mossback ledge of the Chinle formation (red cliffs in middle of photo) is via the big, obvious talus fan. Its mostly 2nd class with one difficult section near the top. The route then circles left around to the other side of the mountain at the base of the tall upper cliifs. width:640;;height:480
  • Dominic climbs the 20 foot Mossback cliff crux at the top of the talus fan. We felt it was 5.0 and rappelled it using an existing anchor on the descent. width:360;;height:480
  • Dominic gazes up at the impressive Wingate wall from its base. width:640;;height:480
  • This unnammed summit northeast of Mexican Mountain appears to be unclimbable, at least by mere mortals like us. width:640;;height:480
  • The character of the climb changes and we find ourselves on nice slickrock. width:640;;height:480
  • Dominic scrambles up steep slickrock on the east side of Mexican Mountain. We rappelled a short section using an existing anchor on the descent. width:640;;height:480
  • Dominic carefully walks along a nifty, sloping slickrock bench in the upper Wingate layer. Its nothing more than a stroll but the exposure is rather intimidating. The crux of the climb is straight ahead. width:640;;height:480
  • We came expecting a 4th or low 5th class scramble... and we find 4 bolts in a span of 10 or 12 feet! This short pitch proves to be more difficult than we anticipated. Its exposed but the bolts appear to be solid. Rock shoes would be really nice here. We scrape together our limited equipment and Dominic leads the way after considerable hesitation. Whew! width:360;;height:480
  • Dominic crawls along a ledge. width:360;;height:480
  • One ledge along the route is very exposed and the pile of loose crap we have to walk over doesn't inspire confidence. width:640;;height:470
  • Dominic starts the final scramble up the north side of Mexican Mountain through the Navajo formation. width:360;;height:480
  • Fourth class scrambling. width:360;;height:480
  • Dominic climbs through some funky but solid formations. width:640;;height:480
  • View northwest from the summit of Mexican Mountain. width:640;;height:480
  • Dominic circles back from the north side of the mountain to the east side of the mountain. width:360;;height:480
  • Dominic prepares to rappel the crux. width:360;;height:480
  • Dominic rappels the crux. width:360;;height:480
  • Traversing back across the slickrock bench. width:360;;height:480
  • The green along the San Rafael River contrasts the red desert very nicely. width:640;;height:480
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