PRINT: Rock Climb Pebble Pinching Pagoda, Denver South

Pebble Pinching Pagoda

5.10b/c, Sport, 50 ft (15 m),

Avg: 2.8 from 31 votes
FA: unknown
Colorado > Denver South > Castlewood Cany… > Neanderthal Wall

Access Issue: Historical seasonal raptor closures with 2023 updates Details

Per Castlewood Canyon: there is a new closure for nesting raptors this year: Five and Dime will be closed March 1st through July 31st. If you have any questions please feel free to reach out to me, Rachel Chaffee (Park Ranger) at dnr_castlewood.canyon@state.co.us or by phone at 303-688-5242.

Per Garrett Garner-Wells:

the current raptor closures, announced by CPW and reported on Denver7:

The following climbing route closures are currently in place:

- Morning Sun Wall is closed March 1-July 31.
- Porky’s Wall is closed March 1 - July 31.
- Vultures Wall is closed March 1-July 31. (per Rachel, CCSP Ranger, dnr_castlewood.canyon@state.co.use or 303-688-5242)
- Shakespearean Theater is closed March 1-May 31.
- Mind Meld is closed March 1-May 31.

As of 2020:

There is a very new and active nest of owls midway up the cliff at the north end of the Neanderthal Wall between Cro-Mag and Up The Red. There is no active nest around the south end of Neanderthal Wall.

As of June, 2017:

The 3 toprope routes at the far south end of Neanderthal Wall (far north end of Allied Wall) have a nesting pair of Snowy Owls. Please stay off these routes until further notice. The park has been notified and hopefully some signage will be put up. The route Rock Rat is included.

As of March 7, 2012:

Shakespearean Theater - restricted March, April, May.
Mind Meld - restricted March, April, May.
Porky's Wall - restricted March, April, May, June, through July 31.
Vulture Wall - restricted March, April, May.
Morning Sun Wall - restricted March, April, May, June, July.

Access Issue: Snowy Owl nesting closure Details

Per Matt Hearley: as of 2020, there is a very new and active nest of owls midway up the cliff at the north end of the Neanderthal Wall between Cro-Mag and Up The Red. There is no active nest around the south end of Neanderthal Wall.

The 3 toprope routes at the far south end of Neanderthal Wall (far north end of Allied Wall) have a nesting pair of Snowy Owls. Please stay off these routes until further notice. The park has been notified and hopefully some signage will be put up. The route Rock Rat is included.

Description

Start in a small seam (reachy for the shorter) that leads to a ledge. From here, fire up through a fantastic sequence of gastons, sidepulls, flakes, and a cobble to reach an undercling and a large move to the next ledge. This is very fun and thoughtful. It is much more continuous than it looks from the ground. If you are walking south (left) from The Grocery Store, get on this route!

I am adding this route, because it is not listed here. Please update any information if it is your route or you know more about it. I created a temporary route until the correct information is found.

Location

This is currently the only sport route at the Neanderthal Wall. It is between the large roof system of Primal Jam and Cheater Five. It is on a clean face looking east.

Protection

7 bolts to 2 bolt anchor.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

The rope is on the line. It is easy to find as it is the only fully sport route at Neanderthal Wall to date.

Leading the route.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Lucas deHart
WNC -> Denver

5.10b

This route has good flow with fairly straightforward moves. Some of the flake system after the ledge sounds pretty hollow, but the bolts are all in better rock and seem solid, and I wasn't worried about pulling anything off, just be aware.

This is actually not the only sport route on Neanderthal Wall, but it is pretty easy to find. Oh Face, a little further south, is bolted and is a solid 5.8. It could make a good warm-up for leading this route. Jun 17, 2019

Billie Griffin
Colorado Springs

5.10b

Beginning is a little polished, but the rest of the route is a blast. Feb 20, 2022

Connor Flynn

5.10b

The Pebble which gave this route its name is now gone I believe. I remember the pebble pinch feature, which is pictured in the 2018 photo, is now gone. Can someone confirm this? Mar 29, 2023