Cragies and Snackies

The Pit (AKA Le Petit Verdon) is Flagstaff Arizona’s home court.  Just 15 minutes from downtown “Flag”, The Pit offers 116 routes (114 of them are sport routes) on easily approachable/accessible limestone.  The routes range from 5.7 – 5.14 with the majority of the routes in the 5.11 range. Each section of The Pit has its own unique set of routes with plenty of places to warm-up and project.  The rock is climbable all year long with good shade in the summer and good spots in the sun during the winter.  There are dozens of 3-4 star routes to work on, all within a short walk of one another.

If you are going to The Pit for the first time, it would be worth your time to jump on some of the routes in the Swiss Tower.  The highly rated Mr. Slate is a 5.10 classic.  It’s a beautiful line with great holds at all the right spots.  Just be careful of the cacti as you reach for the anchors.  There are a number of other 3/4-star routes in the area including the 5.11c Jesus Thinks You’re A Jerk, and 5.12a Purple Shark.

Because of the convenient locale, The Pit can get busy on the weekends, but it sure beats the views offered at the gym.  Also, I think there is one bouldering route, so if you are more of a boulderer, you can work on that or you can head over to Sedona and check out Anvil Boulders.

Flagstaff, Arizona is one of my favorite towns.  It’s a college town (Go Lumberjacks) tucked away in the mountains at 7,000 feet and surrounded by the largest contiguous ponderosa pine forest in North America. It’s home to the Arizona Snowbowl and the Lowell Observatory.  Historic Route 66 runs through Flagstaff. In just under an hour, you can be in Sedona and in just over an hour you can be at the Grand Canyon.  It is also pretty central to some of the greatest climbing destinations in the US, and home to some very good snackies.

For my money, when eating in Flagstaff, there is one place that takes the cake, and also bakes cake, like really good cake.  Carrot Cake, Chocolate Hazelnut Cake, Chocolate Zucchini Cake…Macy’s European Coffeehouse and Bakery!

Macy’s is right in the heart of Flagstaff; dare I say Macy’s is the heart of Flagstaff?  Sure, why not?  Macy’s is the heart of Flagstaff situated right there on historic S. Beaver St.

I’m not a coffee drinker but walking into Macy’s makes me question that decision as the aroma of the house roasted beans infiltrates the olfactory receptors with a sense of wholesome goodness.

The food though!  It is always perfect.  From the bakery breads to the garden-fresh vegetables used in the salads and the sandwiches, I can taste the food just thinking about it.  Mmmmm!

Macy’s offers traditional breakfast and lunch style foods including waffles, eggs, biscuit and gravy, sandwiches, salads, etc…. They also have delicious sides including chips and salsa, hummus and pita, and fresh fruit.  All their sandwiches have a vegetarian and vegan option and they are all really equally delicious.

My recommendation is the avocado BLT with a side of chips and salsa and an Orange/Strawberry/Banana Frappe to wash it all down.  I wouldn’t bother saving room for dessert, just go back to the bakery counter and order something to go.  You’ll want to make sure you have an empty stomach and fresh palate for dessert because it is guaranteed to disrupt your notions of what a good life entails.  I’d recommend eating it in a dark room with no distractions to enjoy the fullness of what Macy’s has to offer! 

On top of all that, Macy’s goes out of their way to make sure their environmental impact is minimal, and their treatment of employees is optimal.  They use fair trade or products and buy directly from farmers.  

Aaaaaaand on top of that, the ambiance and atmosphere are phenomenal.  College town cafes always have a pulse, but when you add in the mountains, and history, and games on the shelves, and the hipster’s playing chess, the artwork on the walls, the sound of the espresso machine, the students studying, you get the perfect mix for the perfect snackies.  All this just twenty minutes from a marvelous crag makes The Pit and Macy’s one of the best Cragie and Snackie duos out there!

Location: Flagstaff, Arizona

Crag: The Pit (aka Le Petit Verdon)

Restaurant: Macy’s European Coffeehouse and Bakery

Distance: 8 miles