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Inversion Therapy Wall
Utah
> Wasatch Range
> Central Wasatch
> Big Cottonwood Canyon
Description
Starting on one of the largest climbable roofs in Big Cottonwood canyon, and extending upwards to a sweeping, steep wall covered with many tiny holds, the Inversion Therapy wall offers an opportunity for the true hardman to establish some very hard routes. The crag enters the shade at 2 pm and has a nice breeze in the late afternoon making it a nice summer evening crag. The crag currently holds only two sport climbs the classic Inversion Therapy which climbs out the sweeping expanse of the roof, and the much harder two pitch Soylent Green that sits slightly uphill from Inversion therapy on another very steep wall. This wall is essentially undeveloped and offers the opportunity to establish much harder climbs (due to steepness and small holds) than most crags in Big Cottonwood canyon. All these routes need more climbers to ascend them to establish consensus grades.
Getting There
Park at the S-curve and take the Lake Blanche trail to the bridge. Rather than crossing the bridge, turn right and follow a less obvious trail through the brush until you arrive at the talus field. Follow the talus up to the Millstone crag. Climb up along the Millstone to the highest route (Yuppie Love). Turn left at this point and follow a faint trail back into the Talus traversing across the very slightly up hill past cairns. When you reenter some trees you are at the top of the Treadmill crag traverse down along the downhill side (north) of this crag to a flat area near two large trees at the base of the obviously overhanging wall. From here walk out away from the wall to the trees that parallel the wall heading uphill. Try not to scramble straight up the slope due to erosion concerns. Instead follow the faint zigzagging path uphill to the obvious huge roof. This roof contains Inversion Therapy. Uphill 30 more yards Soylent Green ascends the steep sweep of green rock. There is a cave uphill from this that nesting buzzards use in the spring so please leave them alone and do not establish new routes near their cave (we have plenty of rock). Total approach time from when you leave the Millstone wall is 10-15 minutes. Total time from car is 35-45 minutes.
Routes from Left to Right
Route Name |
Location |
Star Rating |
Difficulty |
Date |
●
Soylent Green
|
|
1
|
|
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
Sport 2 pitches
|
●
Inversion Therapy
|
|
|
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
Sport
|
[Hide Photo] The route. Once through the crack, bust left out to the hidden arete via the yellow rock.
Grand Junction
My initial mistaken impression was that this wall was on the same cliffband as the millstone, as the book says to traverse south, which is upcanyon. I would suggest hiking directly toward the lake blanche trail, not upcanyon. Jul 29, 2012