Central Gorge

Description 

This is a catchall area encompassing any climbs found in the granite gorge between Post Creek (at the lower end) and Shell Falls/Brindle Falls areas (at the upper end). There aren't many established routes in the main gorge, and access can be the biggest issue since most of the flows tend to be across the creek from Highway 14. Finding breaks in the cliffs or rapping in and leaving a fixed line to jug back out are the only means of accessing the creek. However, since the canyon is so narrow, the creek flows fast and deep and only freezes over in select spots. Basically, it takes some determination and luck to get to some of these flows.

Getting There 

Detailed locations and approach beta will be provided for the individual routes.

Featured Route For Central Gorge

Gouge Away WI3+ M4  WY : Shell Canyon : Central Gorge

A very unique moderate mixed line up a tight chimney with a cool chockstone topout. The granite is excellent, the ice great, and the climbing intriguing. My vote for the coolest climb in the canyon! Quite the anomaly, this doesn't have any sizable drainage above it, yet must have a good groundwater source because it's full of good ice. It starts with a tight squeeze chimney (suck in that gut and don't get your helmet wedged). There's ice in the b...[more]