Hammer Wall & The Keyhole  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  2,332. Good page?    Administrators:  Burt Lindquist, Doug Hemken, Chris treggE, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Doug Hemken on Oct 7, 2011 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon 63° | 39° 66° | 45° 61° | 45° 64° | 50° 72° | 55°

The juggy handrail and Vince's mohawk.

Description 

The lower level of Major Mass is bounded on the East by the formation that culminates in the Keyhole, a smaller version of the Doorway. Hammer Wall is the large, clean expanse of rock that faces East at the bottom.

This area is complicated in the guidebook because it can be divided into as many as three "pitches". It is more common to just climb through in a single pitch, or just climb partway and scramble off to the West. You often have a choice of just which lines you want to link

Getting There 

The approach that requires the least effort is to hike up the Potholes trail, and cut West across the boulder field where the trail emerges from the trees below Red Rocks. There are currently (summer 2011) some massive old logs down along the trail just where you leave it.

An alternative that many people find easier when they are first checking this area out is to hike up to the Doorway, then descend the gully just West of that area (as if you were headed to the Upper Level or Jungle Gym. That gully lies between Major Mass and Minor Mass, so as you get toward the bottom, cut to your right and you will be at Hammer Wall and Stettner's Overhang.

The Classics

Featured Route For Hammer Wall & The Keyhole

Hammer Case 5.12a  WI : Devil's Lake : ... : Hammer Wall & The Keyhole

Left of Hammer Crack. Find a nice starting hold, grab it, and climb up and left along a Seam/crack. Nice moves, very little traffic. A gritty lead......[more]   Browse More Classics in WI