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Elevation: 1,322 ft 403 m
GPS: 47.82417, -121.56316
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Shared By: Jon Nelson on Oct 4, 2019
Admins: Jon Nelson, Micah Klesick, Zachary Winters, Mitchell McAuslan
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Description Suggest change

The Upper Cheeks has some of the steepest and cleanest rock at Index, very exposed and relatively dry. The far left has some lower-angle rock rising out of the forest (parts of the Black Sea), with the right side starting off ledge system called The Beach.

Getting There Suggest change

The most common way is to hike the UTW trail from the Country, then walk right (east) along the base of the UTW until reaching the Black Sea. But if one does routes on Duck Wall or the Diamond, then one can access the area by hiking along the base of the Lower Cheeks, heading east.

30 Total Climbs

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Location: (1) Upper Cheeks Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Upper Cheeks

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
 8
● Apes and Ballerinas
Trad 2 pitches
(c) The Beach
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 5
● Between the Cheeks
Sport
(c) The Beach
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 25
● Up'er Zipper
Trad 4 pitches
(c) The Beach
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 12
● Black Sea
Trad, Sport 2 pitches
(b) The Black Sea
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 5
● Echolocation
Sport
(b) The Black Sea
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
 5
● Gods Bones
Sport 2 pitches
(b) The Black Sea
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 10
● Albinestone
Sport
(c) The Beach
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 8
● Dead Reckoning (aka the Terry-Mi…
Trad, Sport 2 pitches
(c) The Beach
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 4
● A Turtle too Far
Sport
(b) The Black Sea
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b A3
 6
● Wilman's Walkabout
Trad, Aid 3 pitches
(a) Oz
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 4
● Crack in the Cosmic Egg
Sport
(c) The Beach
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 11
● Normandy
Sport
(c) The Beach
5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c
 4
● A Wisdom that is Woe
Sport
(c) The Beach
5.14a 8b+ 32 X+ 32 E8 7a
 4
● The Quad Crack
Trad
(a) Oz
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Apes and Ballerinas (c) The Beach
 8
5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b Trad 2 pitches
● Between the Cheeks (c) The Beach
 5
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● Up'er Zipper (c) The Beach
 25
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Trad 4 pitches
● Black Sea (b) The Black Sea
 12
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Trad, Sport 2 pitches
● Echolocation (b) The Black Sea
 5
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Sport
● Gods Bones (b) The Black Sea
 5
5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a Sport 2 pitches
● Albinestone (c) The Beach
 10
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
● Dead Reckoning (aka the Ter… (c) The Beach
 8
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Trad, Sport 2 pitches
● A Turtle too Far (b) The Black Sea
 4
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
● Wilman's Walkabout (a) Oz
 6
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b A3 Trad, Aid 3 pitches
● Crack in the Cosmic Egg (c) The Beach
 4
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
● Normandy (c) The Beach
 11
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
● A Wisdom that is Woe (c) The Beach
 4
5.13 8a 29 X- 30 E7 6c Sport
● The Quad Crack (a) Oz
 4
5.14a 8b+ 32 X+ 32 E8 7a Trad
More Classic Climbs in Upper Cheeks »

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PC Scott Welch
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