The Real Pocket Wall

BETA PHOTO: The Real Pocket Wall and routes.

Description 

I scratched my head when I first read Benningfield's guide to Carter Lake as there appeared to be two Pocket Walls listed. Was this an error? A Pocket Wall, and then The Real Pocket Wall, which mysteriously did not show up on the topo. I filed it away for future notation.

I mucked around the North Area for quite awhile getting used to the layout, which is quite confusing at first blush, and found some fun hand cracks that suited my style on the upper tier. This was great as I'm not that great a boulderer, and I use the excuse that bouldering is just a way to stay fit for my real passion, trad crack climbing. (Yeah, whatever, I'm just weaker than a Dollar on the foreign exchange.)

Anyway, one day I'm walking back from a session down by Lone Star, my new favorite crack area, and I run smack into this amazing wall. There weren't pockets in this thing (well, ok, there were mono's, two fingers and slopers even), but Mailslots. Chalk covered the horizontals that came out the small roof at the base, and then choice four finger jobbers that begged to be pulled on sat at the base of this amazing smooth slab.

Of course, I took the bait.

The Real Pocket Wall is not that tall, only 10 feet or so at the top, but sits in a very pleasant corridor on the upper tier. Pine trees are scattered on the corridor and provide nice shade as well as a cozy atmosphere.

Getting There 

The easiest way to find this spot is to first find the Skunk Rub boulder as this easy to identify boulder sits right on the main trail between the North Area (that is, the Monster Boulder and environs) and the South Area (Little Boulder and Chain Rock areas). Once you're standing at the top of the Skunk Rub traverse, keep walking uphill and stay right of the next boulder you come to, the Call It Crock boulder with its tiny crimp and sloper chalk smudges. There isn't a trail, just scramble up the right of the rock to the tier above. Just to your right will be the Dead Trees Rock and the Flakey Pull Roof, and to your left will be the Real Pocket Wall.

The Classics