Scheelite Crags

BETA PHOTO: The Scheelite Crags

Description 

The first major area of Pine Creek you reach when driving up the canyon. The terrain here is characterized by soaring pinnacles, jutting buttresses, deep slot canyons and hidden gullies creating a very dimensional landscape. Many potential lines are not visible from the road. This area has only a handful of developed climbs.

The three main areas here are the 'Scheelite Wall', 'Elderberry Buttress', and the 'PSOM Slab'.

Getting There 

Scheelite Wall: 7 miles up Pine Creek Rd. After the curves, the road straightens out for the most part. Look for a pullout on the right side. Walk down a short section of what looks like an old dirt road towards the crags. At the far end is an arrow comprised of black stones on the ground pointing to the trail into the sagebrush. Follow an old and over-grown sidewalk for about 50 yards towards a small grove of deciduous trees in the distance, then break left onto the obvious dirt trail. After a ways it will turn into rock and talus- follow the cairns up the rim of the talus and into the gully that eventually runs under the huge blank boulder up the hill to your right. Bare left when you reach the small slab where the gullies fork. Follow the faint trail up and left to the base of the wall.

Elderberry Buttress and PSOM Slab: Park .3 miles up-canyon from the Scheelite Wall pullout at the trees. Follow the faint trail towards the bottom-left of the PSOM Slab. Continue up and right to the gully/corner under the obvious blank slab of Elderberry Buttress.

The Classics

Featured Route For Scheelite Crags

Chips Off the Ol' Block 5.10b  CA : Sierra Eastside : ... : Scheelite Wall

Ascends the largest right-facing corner on the 'Scheelite Wall' in 3 pitches, continuing up the obvious crack systems thru ledges to a memorable last pitch. Most of the climbing is 5.7ish, with one sequence of 5.10a/b, which could most likely be bypassed by a couple wider cracks or face climbing. Pitch 1-3: Climb a wide, flaring crack/groove in a large corner (mostly 5.7) to a tricky mini roof (5.9) to a short squeeze section just before rea...[more]   Browse More Classics in CA

Photos of Scheelite Crags Slideshow

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The Scheelite Crags from the 'Scheelite Wall' park...