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Elevation: 6,961 ft 2,122 m
GPS: 38.63364, -105.23047
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Shared By: Aaron Glasenapp on Dec 29, 2021
Admins: Leo Paik, John McNamee, Frances Fierst, Monty, Monomaniac, Tyler KC
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Description Suggest change

Surreal Estate is a mega classic wall at Shelf! This is the left of the 2 obvious, clean, tan faces of stone in the middle of The Bank (the right hand one being Back to the Future).

The amazing trifecta of Unusual Weather ,11c, Heavy Weather, 12a, and Surreal Estate ,12c, are each among the best of their grade at Shelf. Just left of the "weather" face are more classics like Staying Power, 11c, and Sparkle in the Rain, 12c, and to the right of the "weather" face is the maybe-classic Le Pincher, 13a. There are also some hidden gems and 5.10s worth climbing if your fingers aren't feeling up for the hard crimping and burly pocket pulling.

This wall is a destination in and of itself and is worth a visit or five.

Orientation within The Bank Suggest change

North Side walls L -> R are:

  1. Piggy Bank.
  2. Bank Rob.
  3. Machine Gun Kelly.
  4. Dave Dangle.
  5. Thunder Tactics.
  6. Surreal Estate (YOU ARE HERE).
  7. Back To The Future.
  8. Lesser Of Two Evils.
  9. Ethics? What Ethics?
  10. 2150 Wall.
  11. Toasty Corner.
  12. Beijing.

Getting There

Suggest change

The shortest approach is to use the Surreal Estate Shortcut: from The Bank parking area, hike down the dirt road for maybe 5 minutes, past the usual turn to 2150 Wall and before the Piggy Bank. Look for the 2 obvious, clean panels of rock, Surreal Estate being the left. When you are directly across from Surreal Estate, look for an unmarked but well defined trail to the right, leading a short way down to the bottom of the wash, then go up the hill, depositing you at the prominent arete route Staying Power.

Alternatively, you can hike left from 2150 Wall for maybe 10 minutes, passing Back to the Future wall just before reaching Surreal Estate Wall.

You can also come from Piggy Bank by staying along the cliff and hiking east.

15 Total Climbs

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Location: 06. Surreal Estate Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Surreal Estate

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 86
● Leverage
Sport
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b
 14
● Feverish
Sport
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 21
● Sicilian Style
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 82
● Once Upon a Time
Sport
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c
 53
● Ice Cream Hangover
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 279
● Unusual Weather
Sport
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a
 161
● Staying Power
Sport
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a
 24
● Courage and Enlightenment
Sport
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a
 235
● Heavy Weather
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 77
● Surreal Estate
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 62
● Sparkle In The Rain
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 38
● Le Pincher
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
● Leverage
 86
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● Feverish
 14
5.10c 6b 20 VII 20 E2 5b Sport
● Sicilian Style
 21
5.11a/b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
● Once Upon a Time
 82
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
● Ice Cream Hangover
 53
5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c Sport
● Unusual Weather
 279
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
● Staying Power
 161
5.11c 6c+ 24 VIII- 24 E4 6a Sport
● Courage and Enlightenment
 24
5.11d 7a 24 VIII 25 E5 6a Sport
● Heavy Weather
 235
5.12a/b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6a Sport
● Surreal Estate
 77
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
● Sparkle In The Rain
 62
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
● Le Pincher
 38
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
More Classic Climbs in Surreal Estate »

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Photos

Ric Geiman - Unusual Weather.<br> <br> Photo by Dan Heidenreich, 1988,<br> from Mark Van Horn & Sally Moser's<br> <em>Rock & Ice</em> Guide, issue #26<br> (the first Shelf Road topos).
Ric Geiman - Unusual Weather. Photo by Dan H…
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