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Lower Grotto Wall Rock Climbing

Climbing Area Map

Routes in Lower Grotto Wall

L › R R › L A › Z

	Before There Were Nine S 5.13+ 8b 30 X- 31 E7 7a
	Coldfusion T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Crime Victim S 5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
	Cryogenics T 5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
	Engagement, The S 5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
	Espresso Love S 5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
	Girly Man S 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
	Grotto Wall Traverse T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Headless Crankin' Chicken S 5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
	Headless Franken Chicken S 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
	Insurrection S 5.14c 8c+ 34 XI- 35 E9 7b
	K - fight S 5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
	Knuckle Head, The S 5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
	Mad Arab T 5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13
	One for the Road S 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
	Pea Brain S 5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b R
	Scene of the Crime S 5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b
	Space Sluts in the Slammer S 5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
	Stage Fright S 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
	Stand By Your Van T,S 5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
	Star Spangled Dangle S 5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
	Stranger Than Fiction T,S 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
	Tarzan S 5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
	Tommy's 13b S 5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
	Twin Cracks T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
	Twins For The Road T,TR 5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
	Under Pressure S 5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
	Under Pressure - Extension S 5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
	Victims of Fashion T,S 5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
	Wire and Fire T,S 5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
	YQ T,TR 5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b R

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Elevation:	9,663 ft
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Description

The Grotto Wall, with its historic and appealing Cryogenic Corner and John Sherman's highballing masterpiece The Ineditable, is the centerpiece of the Pass. The climbing here ranges from pure sport (Space Sluts in the Slammer) to Mixed (Exotic Headache) and classics are represented at just about every grade from 5.7 to 5.13+. The wall faces due south and can be quite hot on bright summer days, but does hold shade through mid-day on its left side.

The Upper Grotto Wall, a 15 minute slog up steep talus above the Lower Grotto has some great routes as well. This is a good place to get familiar with the pass and is useful for orienting oneself and finding the other crags. Routes range from 1-3 pitches in length.

Getting There

I'm not sure about the exact mileage, but the Grotto Wall is roughly nine miles from the end of Aspen proper (measure from the City Market). It is the obvious white and black towering wall on the left as you drive up the Pass from Aspen and has a nice parking lot/pull-out on the north (left) side of the road in which to park. This pull-out is tucked into an ess curve and attracts lots of tourists, so be prepared for an audience during busy weekends in the summer.

31 Total Climbs

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Classic Climbing Routes at Lower Grotto Wall

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.

5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 156 ● Twin Cracks Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c 43 ● Grotto Wall Traverse Trad 3 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a 36 ● Stranger Than Fiction Trad, Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b 157 ● Cryogenics Trad 2 pitches
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 84 ● One for the Road Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b 40 ● Under Pressure Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a 10 ● Espresso Love Sport
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a 21 ● Headless Franken Chicken Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b 13 ● The Engagement Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b 18 ● Space Sluts in the Slammer Sport
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b 16 ● Victims of Fashion Trad, Sport 3 pitches
5.12b/c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b 4 ● Headless Crankin' Chicken Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b 5 ● Tarzan Sport 2 pitches
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b 12 ● Scene of the Crime Sport
5.13+ 8b 30 X- 31 E7 7a 5 ● Before There Were Nine Sport