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Zebra Wall beta??

Original Post
Anson Call · · Reno, NV · Joined Jan 2010 · Points: 45

Hey everyone.

I've seen photos and read little snippets about a place called the Zebra Wall in the Tahoe area. I understand it's a granite sport crag. It's apparently the same place Joe Kinder climbed a route called Treebeard and then cut down a juniper tree.

Anyways, I understand it's pretty new and still somewhat secret and I totally understand if you want to blow me off. That said, I'd love to give this place a shot and I swear on the Holy Bible I'll keep your info secret.

PM me if you're willing to help a brother out!

Anson Call · · Reno, NV · Joined Jan 2010 · Points: 45

Anyone, anyone...?

wsperry · · Lafayette, CA · Joined Aug 2014 · Points: 115

I agree with Anson, I would love to know where this is at.

Anson Call · · Reno, NV · Joined Jan 2010 · Points: 45

Alright, well, I found it. I climbed one route and looked at a handful of others but I have no idea which routes are which or exactly how hard they all are. Since I already know how to get there, someone local and generous may as well send me their topo. Otherwise, I'll continue to piece it all together from tiny instagram photos (thanks Joe Kinder).

Anyone willing to share will get a personal thank you note and a chance to sleep on my couch if you ever want to come climb Maple Canyon.

And yes, I'll keep it secret for you. Especially if you help me. If not, I may just invite the Boy Scouts next time....

Eivind F · · Norway · Joined Oct 2014 · Points: 0

Ha! I've been looking for beta on this crag myself after seeing Kinder's insta feed. Let me/us know if there's some good stuff there.

Anson Call · · Reno, NV · Joined Jan 2010 · Points: 45

Yeah, I don't know what the deal is with this place or why people are being so stingy with beta. I even saw a good group of climbers headed up to the crag when I was on my way down. I asked one of them where they were headed and if they had any route beta. All he said was, "We're headed up there (nodding). I dunno about the routes, but I know they're all pretty hard."

Yeah, no kidding, I know where they are and I know they're "hard." Thanks for not sharing anything useful, although I'm 99% sure that at least one dude in a group of 6-8 people had some real beta that they were just too cool to share. Apparently I don't look like the kind of guy that belongs up there. Whatever.

Like I said, if you want to blow me off, that's fine. Maybe you're a developer and you want to keep the beta to yourself for awhile. Cool, I get it. If I were you, though, I'd let the crazy approach and lack of moderate grades sort out the riff raff.

For everyone else, the Zebra Wall aka Cascade Cliff is just up the hill from Cascade Lake. Head like you're going to the falls, then peel off to the right. Scramble up boulder fields and loose trails to the obvious granite face, just below the peak. There's a 5.11ish slab on the far right, harder routes everywhere else. That's all I know.

Make sure to bring the boy scouts with you.

jfjiang · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2014 · Points: 0

How hard was the "hard stuff"? What grades would you estimate

Anson Call · · Reno, NV · Joined Jan 2010 · Points: 45

I don't know, but probably 5.12 to 5.14. I've heard that Treebeard is one of the classics at 12c.

Rob Dillon · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2002 · Points: 759

Treebeard is the name of the route that used to have the juniper? What a horrible irony.

Jeff Gicklhorn · · Tucson, AZ · Joined May 2008 · Points: 295

Treebeard climbes up through a huge old Juniper and onto the wall at about 30' height. Solid 12c, no stopper moves just continuous resistance climbing, amazing route, 80m rope mandatory.

I've only been there once, and besides the warmups (low-mid 11s) on the left side Treebeard was the only route I got on.

I concur that the majority of climbing is in the mid 12-low 14 range (well, what it looks like anyway).

This is an undercover local spot, and there is a reason that there is little to no published information on it (probably why you're not getting any responses from the locals). What is Rule #1 of Fight Club? While all of the other popular Tahoe crags are getting gang-banged on weekends, this area still feels remote and pristine (cut down juniper excluded). Taking the approach that you deserve beta just because this area has been developed is not a respectful one to take. When the developers choose to publish info they will, until then try to make some friends in the local community that will take you out there, or better yet go have an adventure and figure out what the grades are for yourself.

Owen S · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Jul 2010 · Points: 3,363

Too bad for them joey is spraying everywhere about this.

Dave Vuono · · USA · Joined Jan 2008 · Points: 762

Thanks, Anson, for the beta. Sick of crusty and pretentious Tahoe locals.

Anson Call · · Reno, NV · Joined Jan 2010 · Points: 45

Wow, I haven't seen this thread for a minute... Anyways, after re-reading my posts, I realize that I do sound like an entitled little brat. I know some people must have put in some really hard work to bolt that cliff and if they want to keep the info private, that's totally their right. Tahoe is pretty much a zoo these days, so maybe it does take a heinous approach AND strict secrecy to keep the crowds at bay. Jeff's right, I don't have a 'right to know' about every crag out there.

That said, I still want the full story on this place, IF anyone is willing to share. I see that Vlad S has shared some beta here under "Cascade Cliffs," so the cat seems to be fully out of the bag. I had no idea that some of these routes are from the 90s. How popular was/is this place and how did it stay under the radar for so long?

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northern California
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