Great Potato (Mt. Ore Ida), The

The Great Potato (a.k.a. Mt. Ore Ida) is the most obvious and impressive tower formation in Potato Canyon. At about 200’ high on its south side and over a 100’ high on the north side (it’s on the side of a small ridge so the downhill side is taller) it’s an awesome sight to be seen. I first read about the formation in Philip Simon’s “Tower Tales” story where the tower is fabled to have pockets and huecos all over it. In reality, it’s a relatively poor-quality rock for climbing with, as best I can tell, not a single pocket or hueco on it. This helps explain the lack of traffic climbing on this awesome formation. Nonetheless, there is a single route to its complex, wild summit...the two pitch east ridge. While the east ridge goes at a modest 5.6, the rock is highly friable and natural protection opportunities are completely non-existent. This is a not a climb for those new to choss--one must pull down, not out and steel the nerves despite the easy climbing grade.