In need of a little history lesson, Church Buttress.

So I've started looking at the immensity of the rock at Church Buttress up LCC a little more as I head up or down canyon. I know it's (primarily) off limits, being it is owned by the LDS Church.

So the Ruckman guide doesn't give much detail on this, but why is it that we can't climb on the buttress while elsewhere in the canyon climbing on private property is possible. I remembering hearing, most likely a rumor, about people getting injured climbing there awhile ago and it was forbidden there after.

What happened? Have there been any changes to access?

Too near the vaults.

Fatality in the mid 60's. Mark McQuarrie. Rope cut. Route in the middle of the buttress.

The buttress is right over the vaults and the road leading to them.

To add to what Brian said...my understanding is that the church originally closed access to all of the climbing areas that it owns in LCC. That includes most of the popular crags on the north side. Prominent local climbers were able to negotiate reopening everything except church buttress.

Alex, these aren't the droids you're looking for. Go about your business--move along.

Just in case anyone reads this and, like me, says, "vaults, what vaults?"

deseretnews.com/article/700…

nooky brown wrote:Alex, these aren't the droids you're looking for. Go about your business--move along.

Technically everything west of the Gargoyle Gully to the Grit Mill is off limits and is private property. That includes Missionary Jam. The reason for the closure is for the safety of the people who work in the vaults. The there has been numerous cases of rock fall damaging vehicles parked at the vaults. Climbs to the east (again which are on private property) I.e. the Fin up to the Gate Buttress are open to climbing.

Over the years there have been various closures all of which have been enforce to a certain degree by the LDS Church. In the late 80s closures were due to liability. In the late 90s due to a quarry (or as the county would like to put it mineral extraction). All of which have been worked through via many members of the climbing community - efforts which continue today.