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The Puzzle Rock Climbing

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Routes in The Puzzle

L › R R › L A › Z

	Conundrum T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Cross Words S 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a

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Elevation:	8,000 ft	2,438 m
GPS:	40.5754, -111.7083 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	3,511 total · 17/month
Shared By:	James Garrett on Nov 19, 2007
Admins:	Perin Blanchard, GRK, David Crane Page Updates (admin only)

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Access Issue: Gate Buttress Area Recreational Lease: Climbs on Church Buttress above vault remain closed Details

Climbers Partner with LDS Church on Stewardship of Little Cottonwood Canyon Climbing

June 1st, 2017:The Salt Lake Climbers Alliance (SLCA), the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church), and Access Fund announce the signing of an unprecedented lease for 140 acres in Little Cottonwood Canyon (LCC). The parcel, known as the Gate Buttress, is about one mile up LCC canyon and has been popular with generations of climbers because of its world-class granite.

The agreement secures legitimate access to approximately 588 routes and 138 boulder problems at the Gate Buttress for rock climbers, who will be active stewards of the property. The recreational lease is the result of several years of negotiations between LDS Church leaders and the local climbing community.

Access Note: The climbs on the Church Buttress above the vault as well as the Glen boulders that have been traditionally closed will remain closed.
Please help us steward this area and leave no trace.

Read More:

saltlakeclimbers.org/climbe…

SLCA and AF recreational leased area on LDS Church land

Description

The Puzzle is a west-facing slab about 400m above the Butterface routes. It continues to receive sun quite late in the day, but is prone to more wind than lower down in the gully. As a consolation prize, one captures amazing views into upper Hogum Fork and Thunder Ridge. A Hogum Fork perspective is actually pretty rare in Little Cottonwood Canyon and this is the place to ogle it.
While ascending the steepening gully, The Puzzle is just below a very large Chockstone wedged into the narrow sides of the slide path. To go further or to pass this would require some 3rd class climbing, so if you encounter this section, The Puzzle is just to your right!

Getting There

Hike up the great trail in Maybird Slide Area past the Purple Wall and The Butterface Buttress. This is up a boulder field in at times, a narrow gully and the going is a bit more tenuous than up to the lower crags. Luke Douglas and Greg Martinez and others surely deserve the credit for a 15 minute well cairned trail to these lower climbs.

Continue about 15 more minutes and approx 400m directly up the gully. This upper approach section can be prone to spontaneous rock fall, so please take your breaks in sheltered sections of the added approach.