Weeping Wall Climbing

Weeping Wall is a 40-50 ft. high cliff formed by erosion of the basalt bedrock by the East Fork Touchet River (see map 3). In places the river has undercut the cliff so that it overhangs. The rock itself is exceedingly fractured and unsuited for climbing. About 40 feet above the river, a series of springs issues from a ledge that marks the boundary between two basalt flows. The springs seep down the cliff and drip into the river below. In winters that are both cold and wet enough, the water streaming down the cliff freezes thick enough to climb. Once formed, the ice often persists for weeks due to its permanently shaded location. A series of 6 double bolt anchors have been installed along the ledge to facilitate descents and top-roping. It is sometimes necessary to chip through 6-8 inches of ice to reach the anchors. If you want to set up top-ropes and don't want to lead-climb the ice, you can walk around the right side of the cliff and rappel down to the ledge from trees on the hillside above. The ice climbing increases in steepness and difficulty moving from right (WI2) to left (WI5) across the cliff. In good ice years it is possible to climb large icicles that overhang the river.