ROCK CLIMBING NEWS ITEM

Tam O'Shanter Peak: a new rock-climbing attraction

THURSDAY, 22 JUNE 2006

The Arizona Legislature gave the final approval to Senate Bill 1550 which would turn Tam O'Shanter Peak into a world-class rock-climbing attraction and Arizona's newest state park.

But don't pack up that gear and head for the hills just yet. Congress must first approve a complex series of federal land swaps with private owners to open a new mining site in Superior as well as to secure the nearly inaccessible peak for the state park. Then it will take 2 to 5 years to build a road park and facilities.

The new park came about because British-owned Resolution Copper has plans to build a massive new mine in Superior that would choke off access to a popular rock-climbing area called Oak Flats. Resolution scouted out and discovered Tam O'Shanter's potential as a rock-climbing park to take the place of Oak Flats.

To read more about this, check out www.azcentral.com