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The Hen House Rock Climbing

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Routes in The Hen House

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Free Range T 5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c

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Elevation:	5,200 ft
GPS:	37.30232, -109.82959 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	1,606 total · 14/month
Shared By:	Trevor Bowman on Feb 28, 2015 · Updates
Admins:	slim, Andrew Gram, Nathan Fisher, Perin Blanchard, GRK, D C Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Access Issue: RAIN, WET ROCK and RAPTOR CLOSURES: The sandstone around Moab is fragile and is very easily damaged when it is wet. Also please ask and be aware of Raptor Closures in areas such as CAT WALL and RESERVOIR WALL in Indian Creek Details

WET ROCK: Holds rip off and climbs have been and will continue to be permanently damaged due to climbers not respecting this phenomenon. After a heavy storm the rock will remain wet, sometimes for several days. PLEASE DO NOT CLIMB IN MOAB during or after rain.

RAPTOR CLOSURES: please be aware of seasonal raptor closures. They occur annually in the spring.

Description

This butte presents a fairly narrow south face above the VOG Loop Road, but runs nearly 1/3 of a mile to the north, making for lengthy east and west faces. It presents steep walls on all aspects, but seems to have avoided any climbing activity until recently. We don't know of any previous ascents, and didn't see any evidence on its top or its flanks. Despite its neglect, it offers some quality climbing to a cool summit sky island.

The formation somewhat resembles a battleship when viewed from the west, but given the abundance of ship themed rock features scattered around the southwest, we didn't exploit that name. We bestowed the current handle due to its proximity to the Sitting Hen and the Rooster Butte (one of several names for Petard Tower).

Getting There

This sits directly north of VOG Loop Road a short ways beyond the Sitting Hen. There aren't any parking pullouts under its south face, but we pulled off of the road into a wash.

The south face is guarded by several choss bands on the talus cone. It's best to hike around the east face a ways, until a break in the choss bands can be found. Once near the base of the butte, contour back south to the south face. This takes 20-30 minutes from the car.