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Southwest Corner Rock Climbing

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Routes in Southwest Corner

L › R R › L A › Z

	Bat Shit Crazy T 5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
	Birthday Pickle T 5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b
	Bolder Problem in Space (free) T 5.11+ 7a 24 VIII 24 E4 6a
	Boulder Problem in the Sky T 5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c
	Golden Showers T 5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
	Great Gig in the Sky T 5.12 7b+ 27 VIII+ 26 E6 6b
	Hanging Gardens T 5.10 6b 20 VII- 19 E2 5b PG13
	Hard Up for Cracks T 5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c
	Lopper, The T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c PG13
	S.O.S. T 5.10b 6a+ 19 VII- 19 E2 5b
	Shithouse Rat T 5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c PG13
	Under the Big-Top T 5.11 6c+ 23 VIII- 23 E4 5c
	Vaporizer, The T 5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b
	White Powder T 5.11b 6c 23 VIII- 23 E3 5c

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Elevation:	4,500 ft
GPS:	35.0798, -83.1432 Google Map · Climbing Area Map
Page Views:	23,144 total · 140/month
Shared By:	Andrew McDowell on Oct 4, 2010
Admins:	Ky Bishop, Steve Lineberry, Aaron Parlier Page Updates (admin only)

See Weather Forecast

Access Issue: 2023 seasonal raptor closure (January 15th-August 15th) - New online pass system Details

All routes between and including Southwest Arete to Mainline are closed. fs.usda.gov/detail/nfsnc/ne…

As of 2021, there is a new online method for acquiring day and annual passes to Whitesides here: recreation.gov/activitypass…. $3 for a day pass, $15 for an annual pass.

Description

The southwest corner also known as the boulder problem in the sky area in the Shull / Lambert Guide has some excellent short climbs with a short approach. Many of these climbs are relatively well-protected by Whitesides standards.

Getting There

From the parking lot, hike the main hikers trail / old logging road for about 600 feet until the trail splits with steep steps going up to the right. Follow the path with these steps for about 1500 feet for several switchbacks until at the corner of a switchback you are along the ridgeline. This is where the trail to the main southeast face goes down. Continue another 50 feet along the hikers trail and follow a faint climbers path to the right along the base of a cool boulder and to the wall. Boulder Problem in the sky climbs the obvious corner.

14 Total Climbs

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Location:	Southwest Corner Change
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Classic Climbing Routes at Southwest Corner

Mountain Project's determination of the classic, most popular, highest rated climbing routes in this area.

5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b 9 ● Bat Shit Crazy Trad 2 pitches
5.10+ 6b+ 21 VII+ 20 E3 5b 4 ● Birthday Pickle Trad
5.11- 6c 22 VIII- 22 E3 5c 19 ● Boulder Problem in the Sky Trad 2 pitches
5.12b 7b 26 VIII+ 26 E5 6b 7 ● The Vaporizer Trad