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

Wild Rose Buttress

California > Eastern Sierra > Bishop Area > S Lake

Description

Nice white granite crag shortly before the South Lake dam. Cracks and a few new face routes above a small aspen forest on the southeast facing slope opposite the road.

Getting There

See the Marty Lewis guide or the old '88 eastside guide.

Routes from Left to Right

5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 2
● Thin Man
Trad
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 3
● Wild Rose
Trad
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 3
● Ass Pin
Sport
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 5
● Bob-Bob-a-Ramp
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 2
● Bobcrack
Trad
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 2
● Over & Out
Trad
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a
 4
● Spiral Staircase
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 9
● Rose Gardening
Trad
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Thin Man
 2
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
● Wild Rose
 3
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Trad
● Ass Pin
 3
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Sport
● Bob-Bob-a-Ramp
 5
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
● Bobcrack
 2
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
● Over & Out
 2
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Trad
● Spiral Staircase
 4
5.5 4b 13 IV+ 11 MS 4a Trad
● Rose Gardening
 9
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Wild Rose Buttress near South Lake, above Bishop. Red is Thin Man, blue is Wild Rose, green is Bob-bob-a-ramp, yellow is Over & Out.
[Hide Photo] Wild Rose Buttress near South Lake, above Bishop. Red is Thin Man, blue is Wild Rose, green is Bob-bob-a-ramp, yellow is Over & Out.
Top of WRB with alpine wonderland in the background!
[Hide Photo] Top of WRB with alpine wonderland in the background!
Approaching Wild Rose Buttress in the fall.
[Hide Photo] Approaching Wild Rose Buttress in the fall.
Over & Out at Wild Rose Buttress.
[Hide Photo] Over & Out at Wild Rose Buttress.
Undocumented route. Lots of fun!!
[Hide Photo] Undocumented route. Lots of fun!!
Oh the Ambiance!!!!
[Hide Photo] Oh the Ambiance!!!!
Su Dude following Da Thin Man!! <br> SPLITTER!!!
[Hide Photo] Su Dude following Da Thin Man!! SPLITTER!!!
Overview of the Wild Rose Buttress as viewed from South Lake Road. The Columbine Cracks are located on the smaller buttress near the left edge of the photo.
[Hide Photo] Overview of the Wild Rose Buttress as viewed from South Lake Road. The Columbine Cracks are located on the smaller buttress near the left edge of the photo.
Overview of the Wild Rose Buttress as seen from South Lake Road. Rose Gardening (aka Blackwater) goes up the sun and shade arete on the right side of the cliff to the right of a large chimney/corner.
[Hide Photo] Overview of the Wild Rose Buttress as seen from South Lake Road. Rose Gardening (aka Blackwater) goes up the sun and shade arete on the right side of the cliff to the right of a large chimney/corner.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Bryan G
June Lake, CA
[Hide Comment] It should be mentioned that this is called Wild Rose Buttress because of the many wild (and thorny!) rose bushes that guard the base. They are mostly on the left side of the formation, which is also where most of the climbs are. It looked like they were at one point trimmed back, but have since regrown.

I suppose making your rappel into a thicket of rose bushes lends a certain amount of 'character' to the place. Aug 27, 2011
J Smith
[Hide Comment] Park at La Hupp picnic area which is about 6 miles up South Lake Road off of Hwy 168. Walk up the road a short ways to a gated dirt road on the right. Walk the dirt road until cabin #13 and head up the hillside on a trail. The trail peters out for a bit in a small drainage, look for a ducks leading to a trail that heads up through the aspens to the crag. Take the time to find the trail or you are in for a miserable bushwhack. Sep 8, 2018