West Wall: Pummeling Sector and the Gothodrome

Description 

This sector is comprised of the east-facing wall and deep, dark slot cave you first encounter at the top of the Fortress Trail. It is the westernmost flank of the amphitheater, and is in the sun until around 1:00 pm on most days, making it a good afternoon area in the hotter months, or a good morning area in the winter.

The Pummeling Wall is the large (250-foot), tan and grey "vertical" sector first encountered at the top of the trail. In reality, it is gently overhanging, and all the things that look like holds aren't. Tommy bolted the dead-vertical Pummeling (5.13b) thinking it would be a 5.11 warm-up. All of the routes in this sector require 60-meter ropes, and could easily have second pitches added to them up the striking tan-and-orange headwall. There are currently four routes here, from 5.11+ to 5.13b.

The Gothodrome is the slot cave up and right (north) from the Pummeling Wall, at the right angle where the central, south-facing cave of the Fortress (home to Kyrptonite, Flex, etc.) meets the Pummeling Wall. You can't miss it. There are four routes in here, from 5.11a to 5.13+, all of them either gently or very overhanging. Again, a 60-meter rope is required. These routes stay entirely dry in the rain.

Getting There 

The Fortress Nature Trail drops you off right at the base of the Pummeling Wall. There will be three routes directly in front of you. The Pummeling itself is out right about 100 feet on a blank, tan face.

The Gothodrome is 1 or 2 minutes up the trail and north from here, and is a good, shady place to hang out, drink water, and rest from the hike. It is also home to the Fortress' easiest route (5.11a), so a good place to warm up.

The Classics