Dam - Back Side  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  8,034. Good page?    Administrators:  Andrew Gram, Peter Gram, Greg Parker, Andy Busse, Mike Housiaux, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Peter Gram on Jul 11, 2002 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

To get to the Dam -- back side, follow this trail ...

Description 

The back side of the rocks near the dam have many quality routes. Many summits run from east to west here. Since most summits are not named, any routes along the lake could be included here. The back side of the rocks that hold the lake in to the east of the dam hold good routes such as Better Than Pool & Pie and All That Glitters is Gold. To the west of the dam are some interesting routes such as Lonesome Stepchild, Blockhead, Wild Rib, and Evarete, each of which goes to a separate summit.

Most routes in this area go to fixed anchors - but don't count on it. I have been on some weird formations here that require some interesting and intuitive descents.

Getting There 

Walk around Sylvan Lake on the nice trail towards the rocks. The rocks that are just left and right of the dam are the "Dam - Front Side" rocks. Walk through the tunnel with the boulder crammed in it. On the other side, look for routes both to the left and the right. Most all routes here are bolted, so that is the best tipoff to find the climbs.

The Classics

Featured Route For Dam - Back Side

All That Glitters is Gold (AKA For A Snickers) 5.10  SD : Custer State Park : ... : Dam - Back Side

Next Rock over from Pieces of Eight. Starts in the middle of the face following the bolts up and right and then back up and left. This route starts steep and stays fairly sustained but the stances are good for clipping the bolts. It is a full grade harder than Pieces of Eight but just as fun.Follow the first 3 bolts up and slightly right. There may be a fourth bolt higher up right but I usually move up and left to the next bolt. You can move up and left to the tree and sling it and I think y...[more]   Browse More Classics in SD