Ashtar Command is quite possibly THE most popular free climb in Zion National Park. The tower it ascends blends in with the much higher cliffs directly behind it and is not very striking, but both the climbing and the position are fantastic. The first pitch is a long hand crack [5.9], the second a highly exposed, bolted face [5.9]. The protection is excellent except for the slabby, traversing crux at the start of the second pitch. Blowing it here would mean a large pendulum whip and gave me a few minutes pause! Steph and I knocked this one out after a morning of excellent crack climbing at Cerberus Gendarme. I LOVE ZION!!


Looking up the first pitch crack from the base of the route.


Looking down the first pitch from the first bolted belay.


High above UT-9 just west of the Zion - Mount Carmel Tunnel.


Steph working through the long first pitch, perhaps 115 feet.


View down the second pitch, this one all bolted face climbing with a spicy crux.


The East Temple looking fine across the street.


Switchbacks on the west side of the tunnel.


Nice views of Mount Spry too.


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