Phipps Arch

The hike to Phipps Arch (center of photo) from the Sheffield Road is fine, but even better was the continuation of the loop by climbing from the arch onto the fabulous Navajo slickrock visible in this photo, and then circling back to the trailhead on high ground.

To continue past the arch requires some steep climbing. In the photo below Phil Hage is climbing a steep slab up to a dome beyond the arch. Note the pretty curves in the sandstone: they appear to be contour lines for a classic saddle shape. After this section Steve Allen's guide refers to a class 4 pitch to descend the dome, but in fact there is a class 2 walkaround. So the pitch in the photo is the hardest bit of climbing in the long Phipps Arch loop (though there is a short move or two to get to the arch that requires some technique).