Coke Bottle

BETA PHOTO

Description 

This is one of the three prominent, south facing formations of Southeast Central Vedauwoo. Its sunny most of the day. From a distance, it is easily identified as the big bulge separating Fall Wall from Walt's Wall. It is very steep, grooved with vertical water streaks, embedded with warts of foreign rock, split by cracks from finger size to some that can swallow you, and as a general rule, has a gnarly surface. Needless to say, both sport and trad climbs found here kick butt. Some of the routes are 'stuff of legends' and if you can climb them, you will probably become part of the story. Two routes, Silver Salute (5.13b) and Panther of the Weak (5.13a), have seen less than 4 free ascents, and the second pitch of 'Panther' has not seen its first. Maybe its for you? Your endurance will be tested by the Fourth of July (5.12a, fingers and hands) and Horn's Mother (5.11a, offwidth). Space Oddity (5.12a) ascends an extremely impressive, steep slab on Coke Bottle Right and T! M Chimney (5.7+) ascends the entire formation on the inside! How about that for contrast? Mainstreet, the 5.10a offwidth testpiece is located on Coke Bottle Right. So ask yourself "am I up for the home of the hardmen?". If so, its all yours.

There's a 2 bolt rap anchor at the top of Fourth of July, and a commonly used rappel down the Fall Wall area (two rappel stations to the bottom, 60M rope recommended). Alternatively, you can rappel down the Waterstreak area of Walt's wall (three rappel stations to the bottom). You can also hike down a well worn path on the 'backside' (NE side) of the formation.

Getting There 

Park in the Fall Wall Parking Lot, hike up to Fall Wall and look directly west. It starts with 'Coke Bottle Right', that ominous, steep slab that you are looking at - and continues around the corner. (As above, it separates Fall Wall from Walt's Wall.) You simply can't miss it

Featured Route For Coke Bottle

Boardwalk 5.11b  WY : Vedauwoo : Coke Bottle

This is route 1 on the photo of the Coke Bottle. This is an area classic which is marred by a potentially dangerous pure hanging belay. Start on the east side of the Coke Bottle, at the bottom of Bell Crack. P1 (5.10): Climb Bell Crack (chimney ~5.9) to the very obvious horizontal crack. Hand traverse left for about 30' until beneath the Boardwalk Crack. This traverse has very few footholds and while technically straightforward is quite stren...[more]