Casually Off-Route 5.9

Overview

 

The Black Canyon is dark, mysterious, and sometimes very forbidding. The two-thousand-foot void is an anomaly so impressive that the Black has recently become America's national park. Joining the ranks of Yosemite and Zion, the Black Canyon can truly hold its own among the natural marvels of the world.

The Black is a striking chasm. Some will come back and never return, but a demented few will fall in love for eternity. This dark void has inspired climbers and explorers alike. The massive cliffs – carved by the river over vast geologic time – reveal stories spanning millions of years. The walls stand tall and proud, frightening yet strangely seductive, holding a special place in many people’s hearts. In fact, the canyon has shaped many lives and taken few along the way.

From Black Canyon Rock Climbs by Robbie Williams



With its remote circumstances, tick and poison ivy infested approaches, loose and unpredictable rock, challenging route finding, difficult and unprotected pegmatite bands, and long committed routes of up to Grade VI, climbing in the Black Canyon of the Gunnison is not for novices or for climbers who are not fully competent in free climbing on big, remote walls.
In fact, climbing at the Black Canyon - Colorado's version of Yosemite - is as much a form of mountaineering as it is pure rock climbing. The limited view of incoming weather or unforeseen problems on an otherwise "moderate" route can turn a pleasant day's outing into a nightmarish epic. Remember that every climber needs to be thinking "self rescue" in Black Canyon. No helicopter will pluck you to safety. Still, for experienced, competent and committed climbers, the fearsome "Black" offers some of the North America's greatest rock climbing challenges in a wild and rugged setting.

Getting There

 

To reach the North Rim: Take Hwy 92 past the town of Crawford and turn right (west) onto the North Rim Road, follow the signs for the national park for 11 miles to the North Rim Ranger Station and the North Rim Drive. The first half of the road is paved; the second half is graveled, but suitable for all vehicles. The road and the North Rim Ranger station are closed in the winter.

Note there is no road that links the rims within the National Park - you have to drive around. It is more than 70 miles.

To reach the base of Casually Off-Route (same as the Casual Route) you have to hike down the SOB gully. The SOB gully is a dramatic but non-technical descent into the canyon and has long been popular with hikers, fishermen, and climbers. This gully accesses classic routes such as Escape Artist and Comic Relief, and one can head downstream to the base of the Painted Wall, passing the start of various Arete climbs. The length of the descent is 1.8 miles all the way to the river, but to the base of the climb you descent just a little bit over halfway (about 1 mile). It is class 3 trail down, no rappel necessary (Cruise Gully accessing Maiden Voyage requires 2 rappels).

Vehicles can be parked in the pull through near the North Rim Campground registration station, or at the North Rim Registration Station. The route begins at the access ladder, along the fence line on the North Rim Drive about 100 feet east of the junction of the campground circle road, or a short distance west of the ranger station. There is a sign at its start.
As I mentioned above, you need to descent about 1 mile, or 2/3 down the gully. Count about 45 min on the hike.
The first climb you will pass is Dragon Tooth, look for half dead tree just past Dragon Tooth formation. This marks the start of Casual Route and Casually Off-Route (both routes share the first 2 pitches).

Route Description

Casually Off-Route is a significant variation to the Casual Route. The first 2 pitches follow the Casual Route to the base of the steeper wall, then you traverse left for pitch 3, 4, 5, and 6, and at the top of 6th pitch you join back with the Casual Route. You can climb one more pitch, about 5.8 difficulty and then you scramble out a steep and overgrown gully. You will end up back in the campground.

Why Casually Off-Route and not Casual Route? Casually Off-Route is slightly more challenging and has a reputation for better climbing.

Fist Ascent: Robbie Williams (author of the Black Canyon Rock Climbs) and Terry Schmidt, spring 1991

It is one of the easier climbs in the Black, rated as 5.9, grade III. Please despite its relatively low rating (only one pitch is 5.9) do not underestimate this adventure. There are some sections, which I found challenging enough, and not everyone feels comfortable leading laybacks on slippery lichen.

The route is located on the left side of SOB gully, and does not get sun until late afternoon. Plan accordingly, e.g. if climbing in the summer start early to avoid hot sun, and during the cooler months dress warmly.

There are nice views of Dragon's Toth. Dragon Tooth is a 4 pitch, 5.8 climb up the prominent tower. We were lucky to see a climbing party on this formation - Close up photo of climbers on Dragon's Tooth.

Pitch 1 - 5.6	The first pitch wonders up the easy slab, and gains a small ledge with a tree. There are many variations. It is rated as 5.6R, but I did not feel unprotected when leading this pitch. Length: 45 meters.		1st pitch: Looking down
Pitch 2 - 5.8	Climb finger crack and then continue up on low grade 5th class to the base of the next steep portion of the wall. Only the first part is 5.8, and it does get much easier after about 10 meters. Total length of 2nd pitch: 30 meters.	Finger Crack	Looking down from the top of 2nd pitch
Pitch 3 - 5.8	Traverse left into an obvious right facing flake. We stopped above a little roof since the rope drag became an issue. Length: 40 meters.	Start of pitch 3	Belay at top of 3rd pitch
Pitch 4 - 5.8+	Climb a short section of offwidth to easier laybacking and jamming above. Pull through a small bulge and continue up easier ground to a sloping ledge. Length: 50 meters	Start Pitch 4
Pitch 5 - 5.9	You have 2 choices: either going left and undercling 5.9+ left-arching flake, or climb right and layback a 5.9 initially slightly overhanging flake to a large ledge. We did the 2nd choice: the first section of laybacking was difficult, but as we got over the overhanging section, the climb became easy. Length: 30 meters
Pitch 6 - 5.7+	Starts with a short slab section, then really just a couple of 5.7+ moves, and easier climbing towards the top of buttress. Length: 45 meters		View across SOB gully
Pitch 7 - 5.8	You can avoid this pitch and scramble into an overgrown gully, but we preferred to climb out. A short section of 5.8, then mostly lower 5th class until the end of the rope. We continued unroped from this point, and you may encounter an occasional low 5th class move between bushes. You will eventually run into a climber's trail, which leads up to the rim of the canyon and joins with the chasm view trail. If you follow this trail, you end up back in the campground.

Essential Gear

1 set of nuts and set of camalots up to #4. Anchor building supplies - you can sling trees at some anchors.
One 60 meter rope is sufficient.
Loose rock - so, definitively a helmet!
Be cautious of cacti on the climb.

Camping

 

North Rim Campground is open from Spring to Fall. There are 13 sites in pinyon-juniper forest with vault toilets, tables and grills. Water is available mid-May to mid-September (we had no water in October). Please do not waste water, park rangers have to haul it in. All sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis (no reservations).

Fee: 16.00 per night.

External Links

• New guide book for the Black by Vic Zeilman
• Sharp End Publishing Black Canyon Rock Climbs
  
• Climbing Weather - Black Canyon 
  
• Casually Off-Route on Mountain Project
  

Images

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