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JHCOB Wall

Utah > Wasatch Range > Central Wasatch > Big Cottonwood Canyon

Description

The wall above and left of the "Remnants of an Ancient Sea" pullout in Big Cottonwood Canyon has a quick and easy approach which leads to multipitch climbing and good exposure. This is also sometimes called Jacob wall. Bring a helmet, because if you get off route, you are likely to run into loose rock.

Getting There

The wall is located directly above the road approx. 2.4 miles up canyon on the right side (south side) of the road. There will be a pullout there and a sign which reads "Remnants of an Ancient Sea." (Picture here.) Park in this pullout and follow the semi-obvious trail up to the wall. (Five to ten minute approach.)

Another option, depending on the climb you are going to, is to drive a couple of hundred yards further up canyon and park on the right. Follow a trail up and move to the right towards the wall using your best discretion. This is a terrible scree field right above the road, so be careful.

Routes from Left to Right

5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 1
Dualing Banjos
Trad
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 1
West Side Water Slide
Trad
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 65
Second East Face
Trad 3 pitches
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c R
 15
Prima Vista Arete
Trad 3 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 7
First East Face
Trad 3 pitches
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a
 293
Crescendo
Trad 4 pitches
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 10
Inside Corner
Trad 3 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 705
Outside Corner
Trad 3 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 10
Standard Deviation
Sport
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 3
Ream's Chimney
Trad 4 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 78
Weed Killer
Trad
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a
 48
Weed B Gone
Trad 2 pitches
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 7
Dust to Dust
Trad
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 2
Deep Dark Crack
Trad 2 pitches
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 1
Pedestal
Trad 4 pitches
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 7
Predecessor
Trad 2 pitches
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 20
Retrobution
Sport 2 pitches
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 8
Unemployment Line
Sport
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a R
 4
Spastic Funk
Trad 3 pitches
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 1
The Footstool
Trad
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 1
Abydos
Sport
5.13b/c 8a+ 29 X- 30 E7 6c
 8
Osiris
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 3
Whiplash
Sport
WI3 M4
 20
The Scottish Gully
Mixed, Ice 3 pitches
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Dualing Banjos
 1
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
West Side Water Slide
 1
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad
Second East Face
 65
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 3 pitches
Prima Vista Arete
 15
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c R Trad 3 pitches
First East Face
 7
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 3 pitches
Crescendo
 293
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a Trad 4 pitches
Inside Corner
 10
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad 3 pitches
Outside Corner
 705
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 3 pitches
Standard Deviation
 10
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport
Ream's Chimney
 3
5.8+ 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad 4 pitches
Weed Killer
 78
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Trad
Weed B Gone
 48
5.11c/d 7a 24 VIII 25 E4 6a Trad 2 pitches
Dust to Dust
 7
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad
Deep Dark Crack
 2
5.7+ 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad 2 pitches
Pedestal
 1
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad 4 pitches
Predecessor
 7
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad 2 pitches
Retrobution
 20
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Sport 2 pitches
Unemployment Line
 8
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Spastic Funk
 4
5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a R Trad 3 pitches
The Footstool
 1
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Trad
Abydos
 1
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
Osiris
 8
5.13b/c 8a+ 29 X- 30 E7 6c Sport
Whiplash
 3
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
The Scottish Gully
 20
WI3 M4 Mixed, Ice 3 pitches

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

JHCOB West Wall Routes
[Hide Photo] JHCOB West Wall Routes
JHCOB from the parking area - Outside Corner is the arete.
[Hide Photo] JHCOB from the parking area - Outside Corner is the arete.
JHCOB wall from up canyon.  The north face is in shade.
[Hide Photo] JHCOB wall from up canyon. The north face is in shade.
Outside Corner and JHCOB Wall from Liberator Ridge.
[Hide Photo] Outside Corner and JHCOB Wall from Liberator Ridge.
Remnants Of An Ancient Sea
[Hide Photo] Remnants Of An Ancient Sea

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

[Hide Comment] Anyone know what the very steep wall is on the very west end of JHCOB wall? To the right of Retrobution and Unemployment Line. It had some intense-looking routes and some permanent draws on it, but I can't find it on Mountain Project. Jul 11, 2012
[Hide Comment] Whiplash wall. In the Ruckman guide.

What's that, you ask?

It's a book. Jul 11, 2012
[Hide Comment] Jesus H Christ on a Bicycle! I had to buy the guidebook just to figure out the name of this rock! Aug 11, 2014
[Hide Comment] I lost a piece of protection on the 2nd pitch of the Outside Corner, JHCOB Wall, on Monday, October 10. Had a "Light D" carabiner attached to the pro. If you find it please contact me and I will describe the piece. -Tom (385-214-6285) Nov 13, 2016
[Hide Comment]
  • **Lost a micro cam****
A local climber called Tanner soloing this climb picked up my micro cam.
Any assistance in contacting Tanner would be greatly appreciated.

Please call 347 647 0203

Thanks May 30, 2018
Scott Melcer
Salt Lake City
[Hide Comment] People typically descend via the trail down the slope to the west, but make the mistake(?) of descending a 4th class scree shoot above the parking area. An easy 2nd class trail is the better option, and is only a few hundred feet further down the slope trail (north) adjacent to the road bridge over the creek. It's obscure to find from the top, but is easy to scout this from the north end of the parking area before heading to the climb. Jun 17, 2019
Jonathon Nichols
Salt Lake City, UT
[Hide Comment] Heads up, our friend had his window smashed in the parking area yesterday, it appears nothing was taken but be on the lookout and hide or take your valuables with you. Apr 11, 2022
[Hide Comment] As of September 27, 2022 ALL lead and anchor bolts have been replaced on Osiris, Whiplash and Adydos. All bolts were replaced Hole for Hole using stainless steel Fixe Inox glue ins.

If you are interested in keeping Wasatch climbing safe, please consider donating: saltlakeclimbers.org/

If you observe a bad bolt / anchor, please report to our observation form: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1… Oct 10, 2022
Mike Gee
Ogden, UT
[Hide Comment] Say what you want but the descent trail is tough. I did it twice today. The down climb (after crescendo) wasn't too bad, but the dusty dirt after that and the shale near the finish... I was slipping all over the place and slammed once on each trip. If you want to play it safe, bring sturdier lugged shoes (I wore light approach). And if you have it, pack a water filter (and swimwear)- you'll really enjoy the creek at the end! Jul 30, 2023