Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.
Elevation: 13,156 ft
GPS: 39.6064, -105.65409
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 153,794 total · 572/month
Shared By: Julian Smith on Feb 19, 2002 · Updates
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC

Description Suggest change

The Black Wall is the premier multi-pitch alpine rock climbing venue at Mt. Blue Sky (formerly Mount Evans). This is where the long, committing routes are. The reason is simple, situated at a very high altitude, between 12,000 and 13,000', the easiest way to reach the routes is to rappel in. The Black Wall offers a fine selection of multi-pitch trad routes that face east. The easiest route would appear to weigh-in at 5.10. Good Evans is the classic line on the Black Wall. Check out the Road Warrior for some sick off-width action. From the parking area at the lake, head north. Most of the routes are accessed by hiking up and over the big hill to the north of the lake. Just past the col on the other side of the hill, start looking for rappel anchors on the top of the cliff. These may be hard to find, but they are there. They are at the top of a route named the Rappel Route. What else? You will probably want to take 2 200' ropes for the rappels. Mt. Evans can throw some gnarly weather your way, no matter what season it is. Be prepared to be committed on the routes on the Black Wall. Beta seems hard to find for this wall. Use Front Range Crags by Peter Hubbel - out of print unfortunately - as a reference. Additional topo information may be available on the Internet.Definitely go check out this awesome wall.

Getting There Suggest change

From the parking lot at the lake, head north. Hike up and over the hill in front of you. At the col on the other side of the hill, start looking for anchors on the top of the cliff. Peter Hubbel suggests that you can descend from the col at the lake and walk beneath the cliffs to access climbs.

24 Total Climbs

Route Finder - Best Climbs for YOU!

Location: The Black Wall Change
Type:  to 
Quality:
Pitches:
Sort by:   then:
 

Classic Climbing Routes at The Black Wall

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a C0 R
 6
Undertow
Trad, Aid, Alpine 5 pitches
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 51
Road Warrior
Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 18
Cannonball Corner
Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 6
The Emerald Highway
Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 74
Rainbow Highway
Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 170
Good Evans
Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 15
Coffee Achievers
Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 16
Phil-a-Guster
Trad, Alpine
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
 7
Mer Dascht (We Thirst)
Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 120
Cary Granite
Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 18
Undertow (free)
Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 8
High Variance
Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 38
Sinners On Sunday
Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Undertow
 6
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a C0 R Trad, Aid, Alpine 5 pitches
Road Warrior
 51
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
Cannonball Corner
 18
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
The Emerald Highway
 6
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
Rainbow Highway
 74
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
Good Evans
 170
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
Coffee Achievers
 15
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
Phil-a-Guster
 16
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad, Alpine
Mer Dascht (We Thirst)
 7
5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
Cary Granite
 120
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad, Alpine 5 pitches
Undertow (free)
 18
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
High Variance
 8
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
Sinners On Sunday
 38
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
More Classic Climbs in The Black Wall »

Sun & Shade Suggest change

Weather Averages

High
 
Low
 
Precip
 
Days w Precip
 
Prime Climbing Season
J F M A M J J A S O N D
J F M A M J J A S O N D

Photos

loading