The Grey Slabs is a fun little crag above I-70. It offers some of the canyon's best sub-5.10 routes. All day sun makes it perfect for those warm winter days.
Getting There
Park at the Puoux pull off. Take the Superpuoux trail until you come to the old aqueduct. Here, turn right and follow the trail through the tangle of trees and rusty metal until you come to the obvious low angle slab.
Routes Left to Right
As per the guidebook there are 8 routes at the Gray Slab and one other route, New Arrival 5.8, somewhere in the vicinity. Here they are from left to right. Keep in mind the approach trail meets the cliff between The Thread and Pinhead.
All routes equipped with either bolts, pins or a combination of the two. This place bakes in the sun, good in cool weather, but you might melt up there in the summer.
The alcove below The Wave has an impressive amount scat, my guess is either bighorn or elk, a good warm spot in the winter.
The Classics
Mountain Project's determination of some of the classic, most popular, highest rated routes for Grey Slabs:
Once you hit the aqueduct, head east along the debris for about 200 yards until you pass a large alcove. A recent tetanus shot could be helpful in this section of rusty metal and nails. Then begin angling upward and right to the base of the slab.
The trail does have some cairns here and there, not too hard to follow. The easier routes are right of the trail hitting the wall and the more difficult ones to the left.
Hiked up there last week and was a bit disappointed. Tried climbing Via Cassia and the first hold broke off in my hands. Third pin was loose and bent. I ended up aborting since the pro seems a little lackluster. Also, another new route has been bolted just west and down from the left side of the crag. We tried it, but the first bold was a bit high for our likings. Looks interesting, though. Bring a headlamp to explore the cave behind the wood door. We climbed up and rapped off. Forgot lite though:(
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