Valdez Overhang is a classic 'gym' line in the Chopping Block climbing area. Finding it is a bit tricky your first time, but this route gets so much traffic that the trail becomes obvious.
From the CB sign-in (with your back to the road) walk on the trail leading to your left. Follow this up a smaller run, down a little, then way up a steep hill past large granite faces on your left. See such lines as "Slang" and "Snow Emergency Route" overhead on the left. Follow this trail to the crest of the hill. The trail will again lead to the left through smaller pines, toward Rushmore Memorial, Monster, Middle Marker,Olton's Shoulder, etc. Keep walking this path for a couple minutes and another granite formation will show itself. Walk to the Rushmore side of the formation, in between two formations, and downhill. Valdez Overhang is on your left in a funky river of schist stretching approximately forty feet high. Chalk marks an obvious line through the route on jugs.
This is a great first 5.9 lead for beginners; whippers are very gentle. Also a wonderful place to run laps on at the end of the day. Feel the burn! Overall, a wonderful route anytime of year, any time of day!
Protection
FIve or six draws are required. Drop-in anchors up top!
Interesting note: Record for number of times this route has been lead up and lead down continuously (without stopping at the top or bottom) is TEN!!!
M.S. holds the record. Any challengers? :)
By Peter Gram Administrator From: Salt Lake City, UT Aug 29, 2002
I was on this route earlier this summer, and a small hive of wasps was living in a pocket somewhere around the 3rd bolt (just to the right). Although they buzzed around each person who climbed it, only one of us got stung.
The photo below isn't of Valdez Overhang. It looks like Jeremiah is on Double Chin (11c) (just before it cuts out right) or he is on Tomcat Tracer (13a) that goes straight out the roof above him.
Greg is right. That is not Valdez. It looks more like Double Chin, as Tomcat Tracer is, I think, a bit left of where the climber is positioned. Good eye Greg. Not only do you know every hold in the northern hills, but the southern as well. Ha!
This route is nowhere near the Chopping Block formation. It is on a formation called Birthday Rock that is well southeast of the major formations in the Chopping Block area.
Brad! You're nowhere near the Chopping Block, silly! You are in Gillette! So, is Valdez Overhang in Monster then? Or is it at Sylvan Lake!? How about South Seas? Which area is it closest to? Oh, now I am all mixed-up. See what you've done, you big gerbil. :)
While Valdez is in the Chopping Block Area, it is not on the Chopping Block formation (The formation that contains Baba Cool, Twelve White Sticks, Meat is Murder, Puppy Stew, Going Up to Harlem with a Pistol in My Jeans, ect.), where you have it listed... Posting it on the same rock as Baba Cool might lead to confusion... and who are you calling a gerbil? I think Verdell needs his supper, you fruity little man!
Oh, I see what you mean. Yeah, this route isn't on the Chopping Block per se. It's at Inner Outlet at Sylvan Lake.
Brad, you should've seen Verdell the other day after you left. He was SOOOOO tired! He hadn't drank any water in...must've been eight hours, and he hadn't eaten since the night before. He was practically passing out!! He's funny like that--passing out when he's severely dehydrated. I just yelled at him to move whenever he woke up and he did...kind of--he twitched. It was funny. Anyway, this silly, fruity bastado is going to shoot some video with some Minneapolis freaks. Peace in the Middow East, Bones. And when it gets hard, well you know the rest. Gottagetitgoodmyman!
Hey Dan, I once ran up and down a ladder 32 times without stopping. Any takers? Seriously is this what you all have reduced climbing to in the hills? Lame!!! Not Anonymous Coward!
You ran up a ladder 32 times! SWWWWWWWEEEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!! Any climbing is good climbing, right!?! I'm really excited for you. You should seriously post some pics of you climbing that ladder, dude! Pictures and stuff help to motivate when the weather's this crappy.
Rain, rain go away; come again on a rest day* (opera-style singing)
Rock on!
Love Always,
The Veal Chop
PS. Renegades: when are you coming back down to Baldy? I need a good laugh. Oh, and you need to shave Noah, Bo. I want to see the reactions of the climbers in South Seas when you bring your yellow-haired Chow in there shaved like a lion. Do you have to have a permit to walk your lion in the monument area?
This route is an awesome route. The holds are sweet all the way up. I climb this route any time I come to Rushmore. Except the third bolt is getting a little loose. other than that the route kicks ass.
I find this route appeals to those whom are to lazy or uncapable of climbing 100+ foot pitches. The route is okay at best. Not a good lead for the begining 5.9 leader. This route would be rated 5.8 in Spearfish or Lander.
For AC submitted 6/26/05: Why the negativity? Why even take the time to write in if you gotta slam something someone else has taken the time to put up? There is so much good to say about this route. Why isn't it good for the beginning 5.9 leader? You say that but don't explain why. I think it's great for the 5.8/5.9 leader. Great route to practice downclimbing, great for a lazy day after 3 days of burly ripping (which is subjective, by the way), well-protected, great hangers on top, great for beginners looking to step up from routes like toy boat and boxcars, great for getting your head together if you're not used to leading steep climbs... Some of us don't have the head space to be 20 feet above the last bolt on little crimpers with 10 feet to go, but hey, we can encourage those who don't and admire those who do.
Not everyone starts off leading 100'+ pitches in the canyon or up in Lander. The vast majority start on easier, short climbs and work their way up from there. Climbs like Valdez are rungs on the ladder that we all have to step on to get to the harder, longer stuff. It takes all types to make this world diverse, and diversity is what keeps it interesting!
I would encourage 5.9 leaders to get up there and give it a try. If it's too short for your taste, do it twice.
Also, I see alot of people trying to compare granite to limestone. Why even try? They're so different... Let's be thankful that we have both in the hills and the freedom to choose where we go.
AC - thanks for not attacking. I respect disagreement, but I believe it would be more constructive if you took time to give reasons why the route sucks. I am curious, and perhaps would agree with you and see it in a different light if I knew your reasons. To a new climber like me, a comment like "this route appeals to those lazy or unable" doesn't say anything except that you are bitter for some reason. Peace,
Eric,I did not say the route sucks. I just believe it to not be very engaging nor thought provoking plus it is very short in the land of longer pitches (Lead Fillings or Roadside Plum). Likewise in the City of Rocks,ID or Boulder Canyon, CO it would be rated 5.8. Ratings are ratings... Opinions are opinions! The Canyon is stiff but on a national standard Valdez is 5.8 when compared to other granite areas. There are some whom believe it is only 5.7. Expand your horizons and travel, travel, travel. Sorry to have a delayed response but I've been on the road myself the last couple of weeks.AC
Chopping Block
RSS Feed
