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Meat Grinder

5.10c, Trad, 100 ft (30 m),  Avg: 3.1 from 12 votes
FA: 04.11.2006, Jon Stewart, Jim Opdycke
Washington > South-W & Tacoma > Columbia Gorge > Ozone > (6) Shield Wall

Description

This route ascends the corner just left of High Plains Drifter. Climb up to the "razorblade flake" and place gear in the flaring crack. Continue on to the next ledge system and climb easier but run out terrain to a good placement about 20-30' higher. Stay in the right facing corner system and jam through a crack (crux). Exit the crack to High Plains Drifter's anchors or continue directly to the top of the cliff as per the original line.

This is another Ozone classic that should be climbed more than it is. A super fun and very well protected route.

Location

In between Short Straw and High Plains Drifter

Protection

Set of nuts
0.3-3.0 BD Camalots
Double 0.5 & 0.75 sizes

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

Meat Grinder & High Plains Drifter on The Shield Wall
[Hide Photo] Meat Grinder & High Plains Drifter on The Shield Wall
Meat Grinder, showing the start on The Shield wall
[Hide Photo] Meat Grinder, showing the start on The Shield wall

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Topher Dabrowski
Portland, OR
  5.10c
[Hide Comment] Another guide described this as "Meat Grinder 5.10d R - Very hard, sustained and steep with poor gear. Use the steep corner system left of High Plains Drifter."

I can see the R rating for the run out section but it's easy climbing given you are jumping on a mid 10 route. I found gear to be very reasonable especially larger nuts and the crux can be protected well; I did not clip any bolts and did not feel it was R rated. Apr 13, 2015
Jonathan Stewart
  5.10a/b
[Hide Comment] Bruh? May 19, 2015
Nate Ball

  5.10
[Hide Comment] This route has its own anchor at the top of the crack, about 15' higher than the HPD anchor. Don't cheat yourself out of the last few moves of awesome climbing. Second only to Rauch Factor in my favorite trad climbs at the crag. Going to trim that pesky bush at the anchors tomorrow... May 10, 2018
Ben S
Portland, OR
[Hide Comment] I didn't find it to be runout, but I've never climbed something that benefited from micro nuts so much, I would've had trouble without. Triple of the smallest ballnut would've been better (though I placed no ballnuts).

Double cams were somewhat helpful, though I wish I took hexes instead. Mar 18, 2023
Carl Fischberg
Vancouver, WA
  5.10c
[Hide Comment] Super fun climbing, not sure why it took me so long to try it! Gear is generally small and can be a little sparse through easy terrain early on, but I never felt it was particularly dangerous. The crux is super well protected by finger size cams. I didn't place anything larger than a BD #1. Mar 29, 2026