Mountain Project Logo
To save paper & ink, use the [Hide] controls next to photos and comments so you only print what you need.

G. Cowboy Poetry

Wyoming > Lander Area > Wild Iris > Main Wall

Description

One of the best sections of climbing at Wild Iris.

This crag is taller than many of the Wild Iris walls, and generally splits into two tiers. The lower tier is vertical to slightly overhanging, and is roughly 60 to 70 feet tall. Then the second tier is a big steep bulge that extends another 20 feet or so above.

Routes have been put in here in a generally smart way, with anchors at the top of the first tier, and then route extensions to the top of the second tier. So there are plenty of easier options that go 5.10 or 5.11 up to the first anchors and then offer 5.12 and 5.13 extensions to the top.

A few classics include Cowboy Poetry (11b to the first anchor or 12b to the second), Take your Hat Off (10b), and its hard extension Boy (13a).

Gets lots and lots of sun, pretty much all day.

Getting There

From the parking lot, take the first rightward trending trail down the hill (well marked with a sign). Total walk is about a half mile. This trail deposits you at the base of Cowboy Poetry.

Routes from Left to Right

5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 72
The Devil Wears Latex
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 10
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
Sport
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 54
Testosterone Alfresco
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 5
Sleeping Thunder
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 98
Cowboy Gibberish
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 98
Cowboy Poetry
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 280
Take Your Hat Off
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 139
Buffalo Soldier
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 1
Charlie Drew that Spin'n Bull
Sport
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
 32
Cowboys Don't Shoot Straight
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 16
Ambush in the Night
Sport
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 57
Princess and the Playmate
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 12
Slapping Leather
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 10
Honed on the Range
Sport
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
 13
SideWinder
Sport
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b
 13
How The West Was Won
Sport
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c
 10
Ella's Pony Ride
Sport
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 16
Burnin' Daylight
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 18
Drove Hard and Put Up Quick
Sport
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b
 5
Alaskan Tanning Booth
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
The Devil Wears Latex
 72
5.10b/c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
 10
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Testosterone Alfresco
 54
5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
Sleeping Thunder
 5
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Cowboy Gibberish
 98
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Cowboy Poetry
 98
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Take Your Hat Off
 280
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Buffalo Soldier
 139
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Charlie Drew that Spin'n Bull
 1
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
Cowboys Don't Shoot Straight
 32
5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c Sport
Ambush in the Night
 16
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Princess and the Playmate
 57
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
Slapping Leather
 12
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
Honed on the Range
 10
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
SideWinder
 13
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Sport
How The West Was Won
 13
5.10c/d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport
Ella's Pony Ride
 10
5.4 4a 12 IV 10 VD 3c Sport
Burnin' Daylight
 16
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Sport
Drove Hard and Put Up Quick
 18
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport
Alaskan Tanning Booth
 5
5.7 5a 15 V+ 13 MVS 4b Sport

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

The central, money section of the Cowboy Poetry cliff on a warm Indian Summer morning.<br>
<br>
Take Your Had Off Boy begins just left of the climber, and Buffalo Soldier begins just to the right (around the bushes).
[Hide Photo] The central, money section of the Cowboy Poetry cliff on a warm Indian Summer morning. Take Your Had Off Boy begins just left of the climber, and Buffalo Soldier begins just to the right (around…

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Monomaniac
Morrison, CO
[Hide Comment] Unfortunately some coward chopped "Cowboys Don't Shoot Straight", which used to be the 2nd route right of "Take Your Hat Off". It can still be TR'd. See route description for details. Sep 12, 2009
J. Albers
Colorado
[Hide Comment] Does anyone know what happened with the chopping? This is an OLD route, early 90's, by an original developer for the area, thus it is hard to imagine a justification for this.

I know a guy who is doing some retro-bolt work at the Iris, but he is a long time local with generous consensus amongst the community. I guess it might be possible that this was a retrobolted route that someone else took issue with and then chopped.

Cowardly indeed. Oct 25, 2009
Monomaniac
Morrison, CO
[Hide Comment] I was told by a prominent local friend of mine that the infamous Alf has been known to chop routes at the Iris. My source didn't know if Alf did the job on this route specifically. I think the community would support replacing the bolts, but its not a high priority for locals. Oct 25, 2009
[Hide Comment] is this the same alf that has no problem etching route names into the wall at IC? Oct 26, 2009
Josh Kornish
Whitefish, MT
[Hide Comment] Alf claimed that he chopped routes that he put up after a guidebook came out giving new names to his routes that were slanderous and disrespectful.

Say what you will about Alf but the author of the said guidebook was completely in the wrong.

Hopefully these routes will be retrobolted in the future. Sep 11, 2014
Ian Edison
Seattle, WA
[Hide Comment] 2021 ACTIVE RAPTOR: As of May 2021 there is a prairie falcon living at the top of Cowboys Don’t Shoot Straight. See route page for details. Based on previous years’ closures it is probably early for the bird have offspring yet, but it is most definitely living there and territorial.

I was surprised to see the closures only affecting 4 or so routes at the wall when anyone climbing at the cliff would clearly disturb the falcon. Other climbing areas close entire cliffs for the whole season just because there *may* be nesting raptors in the area, but this closure only affects four routes for one month when there is an active yearly nesting site right in the middle of the wall??? WTF? May 19, 2021