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Elevation: 12,713 ft
GPS: 40.3033, -105.686
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 205,010 total · 725/month
Shared By: Charles Vernon on Dec 31, 2000 · Updates
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC
Warning Access Issue: Closures DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

This is a somber, 1000 foot, northeast-facing wall which looks the part of a classic, craggy alpine face. It feels like it, too. The Culp-Bossier is probably the best route. The standard classic, the Northcutt-Carter (formerly 5.7) lost its first two pitches in 1999. It now goes at 5.10 R through the scar, or in the 5.8/9 range if starting on the route to the right. Ironically, it's now a great way to avoid traffic on the second buttress routes. Getting off-route, runout face climbing (on or off route), and steep climbing at remarkably moderate grades are consistent features of most people's Hallett experience.

Hallett's north face divides neatly into three buttresses. The chimneys dividing the buttresses are Hallett Chimney and the Slit, respectively, which are generally climbed as winter objectives. The first buttress is more broken and the routes are not as long, difficult, or sustained; the vast majority of the traffic centers on the Great Dihedral route. The second buttress sees most of the action with a variety of good routes in the 5.8 to 5.11 range. After the rockfall, the third buttress is seldom-climbed and is the spot for a day of adventure and solitude while other parties infest every nook and cranny of the second buttress ;)

Descent: there are two descents. The best descent for any route that tops out on the first or second buttress is to head down the ridge until a rappel is required from a bolted anchor below a cairn (two ropes or a single 70 works; there is also a solid intermediate sling anchor if you have a 60 meter rope). Per Aaron Glasenapp: do a second rappel from a 2021 bolted anchor to the top of a gully. From here, a well-cairned 3rd/4th Class route weaves back around through trees, gullies, and short steps to the base of the first buttress.

The other descent is much looser, but is the best, or certainly the quickest choice for any route on the third buttress. From the top of the third buttress, descend to an obvious notch (marked by a cairn), and follow a steep, loose gully which bears NW. Head down it, taking the left fork 2/3 of the way down to avoid getting cliffed. Then walk back to the base of your route. The loose rock is mostly just an annoyance but could be dangerous if others are in the gully above you.

Within this subarea, you will find only the rock routes.

Getting There Suggest change

Drive to the Bear Lake parking lot, follow signs to Emerald Lake (about 1 and 1/2 miles), and scramble up to the cliff. Most of the climbs are on the second of three buttresses which make up the face.

For a quick link to Hallett mixed/ice routes

27 Total Climbs

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Location: Hallett Peak Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Hallett Peak

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 39
Standard Route aka 1st Buttress…
Trad, Alpine 2 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 125
Great Dihedral
Trad, Alpine 3 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c R
 88
Better Than Love
Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 35
Englishman's Route
Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 474
Culp-Bossier
Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 60
Jackson-Johnson
Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 15
Second Buttress Tour
Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 84
Love Route
Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 25
Direct Second Buttress
Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a R
 13
In Between (aka Right Dihedral)
Trad, Alpine 2 pitches
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a R
 29
Hesse-Ferguson
Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a
 30
Northcutt-Carter
Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a R
 4
Storm Riders
Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b R
 4
Love at First Sight
Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 38
Jackin' the Johnson
Trad, Sport, Alpine 8 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Standard Route aka 1st Butt…
 39
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad, Alpine 2 pitches
Great Dihedral
 125
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad, Alpine 3 pitches
Better Than Love
 88
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c R Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
Englishman's Route
 35
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
Culp-Bossier
 474
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
Jackson-Johnson
 60
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
Second Buttress Tour
 15
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, Alpine 9 pitches
Love Route
 84
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
Direct Second Buttress
 25
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
In Between (aka Right Dihed…
 13
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a R Trad, Alpine 2 pitches
Hesse-Ferguson
 29
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a R Trad, Alpine 7 pitches
Northcutt-Carter
 30
5.9+ 5c 17 VI 17 E1 5a Trad, Alpine 8 pitches
Storm Riders
 4
5.10- 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a R Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
Love at First Sight
 4
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b R Trad, Alpine 6 pitches
Jackin' the Johnson
 38
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad, Sport, Alpine 8 pitches
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