PRINT: Rock Climbing in Monk's Life Wall, Mandalay Area

Monk's Life Wall

International > Asia > Myanmar > Mandalay Area > Waterfall Hill (Yaeda…

Access Issue: Keeping climbs open depends on maintaining good relationships with locals and monks Details

This climbing area is intertwined with monasteries and pagodas. It is critical for climbing in Myanmar to maintain these relationships through respectful conduct with the monks and the surrounding areas. Please be modest, respectful, friendly, and responsive to the wishes of the monks and local people. Do not climb on religious monuments, and remove shoes when crossing over established pagoda areas.

Description

This is the massive wall to the right of Fire Wall. Currently all three of the routes on this wall are 2-pitch climbs put up by Tyler Hoffart. As of Jan. 2018, one of these routes 'Homage' is still a project. Tyler also placed the Buddha statue that you can see high up on the wall. If you would like to read the harrowing account of how he got it up there, check out the blog he kept to record his bolting venture in Myanmar: goldenlandproject-blog.tumb…

WARNING: Be very careful when climbing at this crag. The rock is very loose (particularly on 3 Bros) and it can be dangerous.

NOTE: Many of the routes at Waterfall Hill are missing the hangers off of the first couple of bolts. You can either bring a couple of hangers and nuts for 3/8" bolts, or fashion a long stick clip once you arrive.

Getting There

Walk up the road from the main Waterfall Hill monastery, pass the tea house (on your left) and you will see the massive, red Fire Wall on the right side of the road. Cross a bridge on the right side of the road walk up the path until you get to a fork near the top. Turn left at the fork and follow the path up some more stairs until you reach the base of the wall. Follow the wall to the left for about 50 yards and you will reach the Monk's Life climbs.

Follow the road up as if you were going to Fire Wall.

Turn right on the bridge and follow the path until it forks, after about a hundred yards, at the top of the hill.

Turn left when the path forks.

Take this final set of stairs and follow the wall left until you see bolts.

Routes from Left to Right

5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b 1 ● Three Bros Sport 2 pitches
5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b 0 ● Homage Project Sport 2 pitches
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b 1 ● Slingshot Monkey Sport
5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b 1 ● American Outlaw Sport

● Three Bros

5.10d 6b+ 21 VII+ 21 E3 5b Sport 2 pitches

● Homage Project

5.12+ 7c 28 IX 27 E6 6b Sport 2 pitches

● Slingshot Monkey

5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport

● American Outlaw

5.12d 7c 28 IX 28 E6 6b Sport

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Monk's Life Wall topo:<br>
1: 3 Bros <br>
2: Homage Project<br>
3: Slingshot Monkey<br>
4: Slingshot Monkey Extension Project<br>

Monk's Life Wall topo: 1: 3 Bros 2: Homage Project 3: Slingshot Monkey 4: Slingshot Monkey Extension Project

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Steven Davis
Tucson, AZ

If you climb to the base of these routes by the stairs, be sure to remove your shoes as you pass through the pagodas along the base of the crag.

Wear a helmet at the base of these routes. Loose rock comes down on every other climb, and there's no place to run to. It's not just about your head--it's about ongoing access to the site. Jun 24, 2015