The Gym  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Elevation:  7,050' Lat, Long:  38.6329, -105.2165 Map Page Views:  35,320. Good page?    Administrators:  Ben Mottinger, Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monomaniac Submitted By:  Richard M. Wright on Nov 30, 1999 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event

The Gym features the best limestone at Shelf, abun...

Description 

Situated just North of the big hairpin and tad up the road, The Gym holds some of Shelf Roads most brilliant (and difficult) climbs. The wall is East facing and gets sun, therefore, only part of the day. Climbing at the Gym reminds me of Sinks Canyon or Ten sleep, with somewhat fewer pockets. The newer lines still retain sharp edges and spines, but for most routes these have been eroded away. Most routes can be done with a 50 meter rope, although a 60 meter is preferred overall. The occasional two pitch routes are readily done with the same equipment. For its overall climbing value, I think The Gym is the best crag at Shelf, with almost none of the discontinuities found at the Bank.

Getting There 

EDIT: The current "approved" approach is to park at the Bank Campground parking area, then follow the Cactus cliff trail down into the drainage for The Bank, up the other side, east along the base of the Bank to reach the old Cactus cliff access road, then up the road, along the base of The Vault to the pit toilet below the Cash Wall, then east again to reach the far left end of Cactus Cliff. Then follow the Cactus Cliff cliff-base trail along the entire length of Cactus, then to Spiney Ridge, along the entire legth of Spiney, around the point, then north past "The New Gym", to eventually reach The Gym. Sounds like a pretty long approach, huh? Basically its ~15 minutes further than Cactus, depending on your specific destination.

The upside is that there will be zero crowds once you finally arrive.

The Classics

Featured Route For The Gym

Solar Flex 5.11c  CO : Shelf Road : The Gym

This route is located on the black bowling ball buttress just up canyon from the Example prow. The buttress contains two routes, "Arnold, Arnold!", and to its right, "Solar Flex".You may want to stick clip the first bolt, then scramble up a chossy flake to begin the route. The hardness gets going right away, with steeper than normal (for Shelf) climbing up excellent stone. Move quickly to a good rest at a flake just right of the 3rd bolt. Past this, the crux involves spanning a long blank se...[more]   Browse More Classics in CO

Photos of The Gym Slideshow

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BETA PHOTO: just around corner from spiny ridge

Bob Robinson making it happen!