The Industrial Wall Rock Climbing

Several years ago a group of hard-core radsters from Boulder and Denver went in search of steep rock and big numbers. They picked off two dozen lines at The Industrial Wall and the crags located above TIW proper. Colin Lantz, Steve LaPorta, Scott Fry, and several others added most of the routes. Many climbers in the Front Range drooled over the photograph of Colin Lantz on T. G. V., a route that overhung by 30 degrees, at least. Some of the most difficult climbing to be had close to Boulder can be found here, including at least two lines at 5.13d/14a. Fortunately for all of us gumbies, a few more moderate lines were established as well, although very little can be found below 5.12 on the main wall. The crags above hold several lines in the 5.10 and 5.11 range.

Getting to them requires scrambling to the right round the wall and close to the railroad tracks. A little more exposed scrambling leads up over TIW and into these crags. The rock on TIW is a bit atypical of Mickey Mouse Wall in general since the overhanging lines have kicked up a few good pocketed routes and a lot less of the sharp edges or crack systems typical of the rest of the wall. TIW faces due South and holds good sun for most of the day; however, since it is situated deep in the canyon, it can get chilly in the evenings when the sun is behind Eldorado Mountain. If you make the hump up to Mickey Mouse and you are looking for a little bear, then TIW is an excellent option, and if you are just looking for bear close to Boulder, you would be hard pressed to find anything better than TIW.