Dam - Back Side  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  8,036. Good page?    Administrators:  Andrew Gram, Peter Gram, Greg Parker, Andy Busse, Mike Housiaux, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  Peter Gram on Jul 11, 2002 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Thu Fri Sat Sun Mon 57° | 43° 73° | 48° 70° | 50° 73° | 50° 68° | 46°

To get to the Dam -- back side, follow this trail ...

Description 

The back side of the rocks near the dam have many quality routes. Many summits run from east to west here. Since most summits are not named, any routes along the lake could be included here. The back side of the rocks that hold the lake in to the east of the dam hold good routes such as Better Than Pool & Pie and All That Glitters is Gold. To the west of the dam are some interesting routes such as Lonesome Stepchild, Blockhead, Wild Rib, and Evarete, each of which goes to a separate summit.

Most routes in this area go to fixed anchors - but don't count on it. I have been on some weird formations here that require some interesting and intuitive descents.

Getting There 

Walk around Sylvan Lake on the nice trail towards the rocks. The rocks that are just left and right of the dam are the "Dam - Front Side" rocks. Walk through the tunnel with the boulder crammed in it. On the other side, look for routes both to the left and the right. Most all routes here are bolted, so that is the best tipoff to find the climbs.

The Classics

Featured Route For Dam - Back Side

M & M's 5.7 PG13  SD : Custer State Park : ... : Dam - Back Side

In all my years of climbing in the Needles, I have never seen anyone climb this route. Too bad... 'cause it's beautiful. Even though it's "just a 7", the opening moves have a bit of a bouldery flavor. After topping the small "pinnacle", clip the first old bolt and make a couple delicate moves to the first of several jugs. Clip the second old bolt and move through the crux up and right through a few sloping holds. Keep your EYES OPEN for the third, relatively new BEEFY bolt that appears just ...[more]   Browse More Classics in SD