The Bank is an area with a very large concentration of climbs with ratings from 5.9 to 5.13, many in the 11-12 range. Some of the best climbing at shelf is found on southern section of the right side of the bank on walls called 2150 Wall, Back to the Future Wall, and Surreal Estate Wall, likewise it is one of the most crowded areas of shelf. Just past the Bank Campground along a small BLM road, the Bank consists of the north (right) and south (left) sides of the canyon. The N side faces SW, the south faces NE. So morning shade can be found on the N side and afternoon shade on the S side.
Getting There
Park at the lot outside the Bank Campground and use the road to begin access to any of the Bank's wall unless climbing routes far to the North in this canyon (past Cactus Rose Cliff on the left or #1 Super Guy and Quarry Wall on the North-right side). If you are climbing routes this farther up (north) the canyon it is possible to drive this bumpy dirt road and park past the climbs where the parking restrictions end. To reach the first 3 walls on the North side of the Bank take the obvious trail off the right side of the road continuing straight (immediate right fork leads to the Dark Side - Luke, I AM your Father). This trail leads you straight towards 2150 wall. Continue left along the cliff to reach Back to the Future and Surreal Estate Walls. Further down the road an approach trail leads left up to Cactus Rose Wall. Before the road bends left another trail leads right directly up to Surreal Estate Wall. Approach Times are 5-20 minutes.
Beautiful line up the left side of Surreal Estate Wall (the third big clean wall reached from the standard North side approach). Belayer relaxes on inclined rock as the leader tackles the continual cruxes. A few shakeouts can be found and will certainly help. The first crux pulls through on pockets, a mid bouldery crux pulls edges before reaching a final overlap and the third major crux overlap. Sequential, pumpy and awesome!...[more]
I made my first visit to this cliff this weekend and I have to say that the Bank is undoubtedly the finest crag at Shelf. You are likely to find a lot of solitude at the Bank these days, since the vast majority of Shelf visitors seem to flock to Cactus Cliff in droves.
The Bank's name came about from our feelings (Richard Aschert, D. Roth, David Dangle and me) on finding this wonderful cliff. We hit the jackpot! We were asked to leave Cactus Cliff by Mr. Robertson ( the land owner) but he told us about another cliff that looked just like Cactus Cliff that was on BLM land. Upon further investigation we found a rough road that led close to the cliff. Hiking down to the cliff I think our jaws dropped about a foot. Beautiful west-facing limestone and easy access. Richard and Dave set up "Back to the Future" and Darryl and I set up "Le Pincher". We all did "Back to the Future" ( a classic) and I went back the next day and sent "Le Pincher", the first 5.13 in the area.
By Lee Jenkins From: Buena Vista, Colorado Mar 28, 2008
Anyone know what the slab route to the right of "Pullin Down in the Fields of Cotton" in the Beyond the 2150 Wall is? It's not in the Knapp guide.
The Bank
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