PRINT: Rock Climb Ground Zero, South-West & Tacoma

Ground Zero

5.12, Trad, 400 ft (121 m), 4 pitches, Grade III,

Avg: 4 from 2 votes
FA: Jim Opdycke, Bill Coe FFA P1 and 2, Bill Coe, Frank Cornelius, P2 and 3 Mark Cartier and Darryl Nakahira
Washington > South-W & Tacoma > Columbia Gorge > Beacon Rock > S Face

Access Issue: CLOSURES: South and East Faces (NW & W Faces Remain Open) Details

The South Face and access trail is closed from Feb. 1st through July 15th, depending on peregrine falcon nesting. Portland Area Climbers Coalition, Washington Climbers Coalition, and the Access Fund are coordinating on this issue. Disregarding this closure will harm their efforts to adjust it and their relationship with land managers.

The east face is closed to climbing year-round due to possible sensitive/endangered plant species.

The NW face and West face routes remain open.

See Closure section below for more details.

Description

Originally done with only passive pro and no cams for pro. P1 - up the low angle dirty start to a shallow dihedral/thin crack/. Belay on a small pillar or if you slung your pro well keep on to the anchor that ends P2. You can avoid clipping the anchor and actually run P2 together as well, very small cams/wireds on a right rising traverse ends P3 under the roof. P4 - clear the roof on the left (Lone Wolf is on the right and ends here as well) for a full length/long extremely hard pitch to the top.

Location

Start approx 30 feet right of Reasonable Richard/Local Access Only heading for the noted spot under the roof 200' up.

Protection

Tiny Wired nuts to 1-1/2" and small cams

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

P.3

Fred Evans nearing the top of a dirty P1. Be prepared to build your own gear anchor and possibly leave gear if rappelling due to existing loose Piton anchor!

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

Eric Linthwaite
Vancouver, WA

good climb for practicing your big wall game - done as 2 pitches the middle pitch is a great place to throw up a portaledge and spend the night - being the first of the year to ascend pitch 2 is a treat as you're constantly plucking out tiny flowers from the crack and throwing them down on your belayer :) Feb 8, 2022

Billcoe
Pacific Northwet

5.12

Brian, the first pitch origonally went from the ground to the anchor under the overhang. Then folks started stopping at Jims rappel anchor and belaying. Just need to climb up a bit to get to either one of those. Aug 12, 2025