PRINT: Rock Climb Skinwalker, Southeast Utah

Skinwalker

5.11, Trad, 110 ft (33 m),

Avg: 3.8 from 40 votes
FA: Jay Smith
Utah > Southeast Utah > Potash Rd > Wall Street South

Access Issue: RAIN, WET ROCK and RAPTOR CLOSURES: The sandstone around Moab is fragile and is very easily damaged when it is wet. Also please ask and be aware of Raptor Closures in areas such as CAT WALL and RESERVOIR WALL in Indian Creek Details

WET ROCK: Holds rip off and climbs have been and will continue to be permanently damaged due to climbers not respecting this phenomenon. After a heavy storm the rock will remain wet, sometimes for several days. PLEASE DO NOT CLIMB IN MOAB during or after rain.

RAPTOR CLOSURES: please be aware of seasonal raptor closures. They occur annually in the spring.

Description

This stellar route is upriver from Long Canyon and downriver from Day Canyon. It is characterized by a leaf-shaped pod halfway up the route. It starts with some chossy, face climbing with huecos past two good bolts. The splitter starts with some fingerlocks and some stemming that leads to thin hands. Some face holds on the left of the crack make this section not so desparate. The pod offers some chimney rests before you blast out the perfect hands that take you out of the pod and to the anchors.

Protection

Double set of cams from #1 to #3. Extra 1.5 and 2 Friend-sized pieces. Two bolts protect the inital chossy face climbing. 70m rope or 2 ropes required.

Location

0.8 past miles marker 4. If you pass mile marker 3 go back about 100 yards or so.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Mark Ferguson on skinwalker. Photo by Bob Rotert.

Skin walker

Mark Ferguson flashing Skin Walker

View from the potash road

Mary H. onsighting Skinwalker. Even for small hands there is a hard section, but hand size definitely will make a difference.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Joe Auer
Utah

5.11c

a 60m rope DOES NOT reach the ground. you will end up with about ten to fifteen feet of sketchy downclimbing. Jul 27, 2006

Mark Ferguson

5.11

One of the best cracks in the Moab area. Oct 16, 2008

Steven Lucarelli
Grand Junction, CO

5.11

Correction on the location of this route. It's about .8 past mile marker 4. If you pass mile marker 3 go back about 100 yards or so. Jun 14, 2012

Joe Auer
Utah

5.11c

thanks for the correction, steven. i also think that this route is not as hard as the 11c rating implies. some might think this is only 11a, especially if you're good at #2 friend cracks. Jun 25, 2012

Bob Rotert
Broomfield

Like most all #2 friend, #1 Camalot size desert cracks. Personal hand size is really going to influence difficulty one direction or another. Just sayin .. Realize, most folks can be awesome at #2 friend size cracks if their hands fit in them. \;o) Feb 10, 2014

Gregory
Fort Collins

5.11a

This thing is simply amazing, best single pitch I've done around Moab! May 10, 2015

Spencer Weiler
Grand Junction

This climb is NOT downriver from Long canyon. It’s upriver from Long and downriver from Day. The mile markers listed are correct. Rack: .4(1) .5(2) .75-2(3-4 each) camalots plus Qds for bolts. The thin hand section is tight! Great route. cold shut and one bolt Anchor with fixed locker is looking a bit worn. Mar 17, 2018

Joe Auer
Utah

5.11c

Thank you for the correction, Spencer. Looks like the description has been updated. I was never good at giving directions lol. I'd like to add that due to the aspect of the route it's easier to see it while driving upriver back towards Moab. Mar 28, 2018