The Cookbook Area Rock Climbing

‘The Cookbook Area’ contains all of the climbing located on the east side of Cooks Wall. ‘The Cookbook’ itself is the main feature on this side of the cliff but you will pass the other smaller areas on the way to The Cookbook as they are all very close in proximity. The climbing in this area varies from short to tall and easy to hard but each area has its own distinct characteristics. 

The Cookbook has many interesting and radically exposed lines and is worth climbing here at least once just for the exposure and awe of the formation. There are a few easy trad warmups but mostly sport, which starts around 5.10+ to 13d. 

Sky-Net is accessed literally just before you enter The Cookbook by walking up a gully and then doing a long slabby 4th class solo of pretty significant exposure. So the climbing itself is located way, way up high off a ledge 150’ up and right of The Cookbook itself. The climbs here are probably the best concentration of high quality 11’s and 12’s in all of Cooks but it’s also the most adventurous climbing area at Cooks hands down. From the exciting access, the fairly small ledge you’ll call home for the day, the super exposed climbing and ending with the 70’ completely free air rappel will have your adrenals begging for a few days off. It’s a  blast!!   

The Lion’s Den by contrast is the first buttress seen on the way into The Cookbook and is more of a conventional climbing setting whereas the other areas within this eastern side of Cooks are either highly unusual areas like Cookbook itself witch is an experience in and of itself, Sky-Net which is located super high up on the cliff face and the other areas which are tucked up into the woods on the hillside out of sight. The routes ant Lion’s Den are 70’ at the tallest with many shorter options nearby but you’ll need a few pieces of gear for quite a few lines so plan to have at least a thin rack of cams from large to micro and rack of nuts up to medium with you.