Ort Wall, The

Open, with restrictions: private property MORE INFO >>> Climbing access is open but parts are on private property. Please be respectful of property owners. Keeping climbing areas open and conserving the climbing environment

BETA PHOTO: Oort Wall from across the way, as you can see the ...

Description 

This rock has six vertical sport columns on juggy basalt, which makes smearing a simple and required task.

You will find the Ort Wall always in the shade, being opposite to the Columny Grotto and the rest of the 200 feet of Table Mountain. All routes require being lowered off or a rappell, as the top anchors are a few feet from the loose roof, and the area above the wall is literally covered in poison oak.

Color Coded Quickdraws (5.10b) is probably the best route on the wall, and is an interesting must do for the grade.

Getting There 

From the point where Shell Road turns to dirt, the trailhead to The Welcome Wall, The Pit, Cave Wall, Ort Wall and Mid Wall is 1.2 miles further down road. There is a very steep turnaround on the left side of the road, but better parking can be had another few hundred yards past the trailhead. You'll know you're on the right trail when you see a telephone pole with the numbers 40 with an arrow to the left and 41 with an arrow to the right spray-painted on it just to the right of the trail (its about 25 yards from the road, and you won't be able to tell until you get closer). Once you're on the correct trail, it gets pretty simple. Follow the trail (watch out for poison oak) until it reaches a large talus field. Continue diagnally up and left as you're looking uphill on the talus, and soon you'll be beneath the Welcome Wall.

From the Welcome Wall, simply continue left and down another 2 minutes on the trail. You'll go down a steep trail between some rocks, and you fill find the Ort Wall on your left, The Grotto to the right, and The Cave Routes ahead and left.

The Classics