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Elevation: 6,198 ft 1,889 m
GPS: 35.97018, -115.47445
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 71,083 total · 472/month
Shared By: Andrew Raether on Jul 5, 2012
Admins: Luke EF, Justin Johnsen

Description Suggest change

Sunny and shady walls. The deepest part of the cave almost never gets sun. The left wall gets morning shade. The cave gets morning sun. The right wall gets sun from mid-morning to mid-afternoon.

It is possible to climb at Mt. Potosi through the winter, though January through March can have some days that are just too cold - even snowing. Too hot in the summer (June through September).

Dan McQuade was the first person to develop routes in the cave around 1997 or 1998 - starting with the classic 5.12a, Moment of Clarity. Soon after, Joe Brooks, Brian McCray, Roxanna Brock, and Jared McMillan spent a lot of time in the cave opening new routes. Mike Lewis also added a number of natural routes in the 5.11 to 5.13a range.

The cave routes are mostly steep, long, and gymnastic.

Whether you disagree with the ethics involved in developing some of the routes, the cave is a beautifully majestic place to hang out and climb.

Getting There Suggest change

40 to 50 minutes. You cannot see the Clear Light Cave from the parking lot, nor during most of the hike. From the parking lot, follow the road west until it ends in the wash. Continue up the wash, following where other climbers have hiked. Stay in the wash until you can see the cave up to your right - follow a steep and loose trail up to the cave.

47 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Clear Light Cave

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 52
Whamo
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 14
PMS
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 8
Mijou
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 38
Moment of Clarity
Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 8
PMA
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 11
Santorini
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 16
Captain Caveman
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 5
Merry Christmas
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 5
Caveman Ecstasy
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 6
Countdown to Ecstasy
Sport
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
 5
The Natural
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Whamo
 52
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
PMS
 14
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Mijou
 8
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Moment of Clarity
 38
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
PMA
 8
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Santorini
 11
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Captain Caveman
 16
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
Merry Christmas
 5
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
Caveman Ecstasy
 5
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
Countdown to Ecstasy
 6
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
The Natural
 5
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c Sport
More Classic Climbs in Clear Light Cave »

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