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Elevation: 9,000 ft
GPS: 32.43251, -110.79804
Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views: 61,673 total · 524/month
Shared By: Hendrixson on Jul 21, 2014
Admins: adrian montaño, Greg Opland, Brian Boyd, JJ Schlick, Kemper Brightman, Luke Bertelsen
Warning Access Issue: Potentially unavailable to climbing February through July if raptors are breeding here. DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

The Orifice Wall, which is one of the most popular and unique crags in Southern Arizona, boasts some of the steepest and hardest climbs in the region. Classic lines include Hard Day at The Orifice, Orifice Politics, and Coup d'etat.

The wall is relatively impervious to the frequent summer monsoon rains, sees shade almost all day (after 10:30am), and is almost entirely fixed chain draws. On summer weekends the crag is frequently busy with lines on some routes.

The overhung nature of the climbing demands heel-hooks and knee-bars, a rarity in Tucson. A knee pad is recommended for some of the lines.

Getting There Suggest change

Approach the The Fortress using the directions up one level. Trend left without losing elevation until a fixed chain appears. Put on your harness and clip into the chain using either a quickdraw or sling. Carefully traverse onto the ledge from which all the climbs start.

22 Total Climbs

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Location: Orifice Wall Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Orifice Wall

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 104
Unattended Consequences
Sport
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 34
Disfigured Foreigner
Sport
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a
 54
Gettin' Off The Porch
Sport
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
 85
Hard Day at The Orifice
Sport
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 18
Huck Fin
Sport
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 26
Oedipus Complex
Sport
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
 4
Disfigured Oedipus
Sport
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b
 73
Orifice Politics
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 45
Eureka
Sport
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c
 13
Ape Debate
Sport
5.13- 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c
 31
Coup d'etat
Sport
5.13a/b 8a 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c
 12
Heel-A Monster
Sport
5.13a/b 8a 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c
 4
Davin's Route (Teegerstrong)
Sport
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
 24
Granite of the Apes
Sport
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c
 14
In Search of Silence
Sport
Route Name Location Star Rating Difficulty Date
Unattended Consequences
 104
5.12a 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Disfigured Foreigner
 34
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Gettin' Off The Porch
 54
5.12- 7a+ 25 VIII+ 25 E5 6a Sport
Hard Day at The Orifice
 85
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b Sport
Huck Fin
 18
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Sport
Oedipus Complex
 26
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Sport
Disfigured Oedipus
 4
5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b Sport
Orifice Politics
 73
5.12c 7b+ 27 IX- 27 E6 6b Sport
Eureka
 45
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
Ape Debate
 13
5.13a 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E6 6c Sport
Coup d'etat
 31
5.13- 7c+ 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c Sport
Heel-A Monster
 12
5.13a/b 8a 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c Sport
Davin's Route (Teegerstrong)
 4
5.13a/b 8a 29 IX+ 29 E7 6c Sport
Granite of the Apes
 24
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c Sport
In Search of Silence
 14
5.13b 8a 29 IX+ 30 E7 6c Sport
More Classic Climbs in Orifice Wall »

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