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Fish Face

Montana > Southwest Region > Gallatin Canyon > E Side

Description

West-facing wall uphill and between Blackline Buttress and Waltz Formation.. The buttress is split by a sizable horizontal roof at one third height with lighter yellow colored rock below and dark grey rock above. Several routes of classic status can be found here.

Getting There

Hike to the Blackline formation skirting around the western protuding edge of the formation to continue traversing north. Follow the climbers train from the prow of blackline north staying relatively at the same elevation until the wall is visible on one's right. Scramble up mossy 3rd and 4th class terrain to a small ledge where the climbs begin.

Routes from Left to Right

5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b
 14
● Not in Vein
Trad, TR
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 19
● After Dance
Sport, TR
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c
 55
● Fire Escape
Trad
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c
 41
● Crystal Delight
Trad
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a R
 3
● Bill the Cat
Trad
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a
 1
● Fish Lips
Trad
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 2
● The Bif Memorial
Trad
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
 10
● Guppy Roof
Trad
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Not in Vein
 14
5.6 4c 14 V 12 S 4b Trad, TR
● After Dance
 19
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Sport, TR
● Fire Escape
 55
5.9- 5c 17 VI 16 HVS 4c Trad
● Crystal Delight
 41
5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c Trad
● Bill the Cat
 3
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a R Trad
● Fish Lips
 1
5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a Trad
● The Bif Memorial
 2
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Trad
● Guppy Roof
 10
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b Trad

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Climber on the Guppy Roof
[Hide Photo] Climber on the Guppy Roof
Unknown bolted route. Scramble up to the ledge left of Guppy Roof; the start is up the gully right of the massive flake. The first bolt is easily visible from the ledge on the face right of the gully.
[Hide Photo] Unknown bolted route. Scramble up to the ledge left of Guppy Roof; the start is up the gully right of the massive flake. The first bolt is easily visible from the ledge on the face right of the gully.
Crystal Delight on the left
[Hide Photo] Crystal Delight on the left
Bill laying the sauce on bif memorial.
[Hide Photo] Bill laying the sauce on bif memorial.
Fish Face from the top of P2 on The Waltz. Guppy Roof and Diesel Driver clearly visible.
[Hide Photo] Fish Face from the top of P2 on The Waltz. Guppy Roof and Diesel Driver clearly visible.
Fish face - lookers left. <br> Fire escape visible, Not in Vein (5.6) and After Dance (5.8) on face to left. Photo credit - derek.
[Hide Photo] Fish face - lookers left. Fire escape visible, Not in Vein (5.6) and After Dance (5.8) on face to left. Photo credit - derek.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Byron Igoe
[Hide Comment] Some serious improvement is needed for this MP listing. The photo and description for Fish Face only applies for Guppy Roof and a couple unlisted routes to its left. The other 5 routes here on MP (from Not in Vein to Bill the Cat) are on a separate cliff about 250 feet uphill, which faces West. So, either these 5 routes are not on Fish Face, or Guppy Roof is not on Fish Face (maybe it's on Fish Freezer?), or we should create 2 sub-areas within Fish Face. Aug 10, 2020
Pat Dyess
Bozeman, MT
[Hide Comment] The whole wall has always been referred to as Fish Face even in the old 90’s guide books. Not in a Vein through Crystal Delight go on the broken, more Westerly aspect of the face; while Dockins’ newish 11B (not on MP) through Guppy Roof lay on the NW aspect of the wall. There should probably be an overview shot of the whole face though. Aug 11, 2020
Fr0g n T0ad
[Hide Comment] Pat,

Is the newish 11b just right of Chrystal delight with 3 bolts high on the face? If not anybody know what that route is? Mar 22, 2024