Grotto Wall Area
The Grotto Wall Area bouldering is located around the parking area and into the large talus field to the west of the Lower Grotto Wall parking area. Many of the problems have rocky (talus) landings but most can be padded well and with a spotter or two aren't too bad. A number of classic problems are located in the area and there is potential for new problems among the blocks in the vast talus field.
Directions
Lower Grotto Wall parking is located a little over 9 miles from Aspen (can't miss it in the hairpin turn between mile markers 50 and 51) Most of the problems are located in or around the talus field (World of Hurt) at the base of the wall, with the exception of the Husky Boulder and the White Face Boulder (see topos below for directions).
Grotto Wall Area Overview
Felix and surrounding boulders
TOPO COMING SOON...
Ineditable Boulder and surrounding boulders
TOPO COMING SOON...
Devious Boulder
The Devious Boulder is located directly uphill from the Inedible boulder at point where trees meet the talus
1. Devious Façade [V6] Obvious golden face on uphill side of boulder. Start with a left hand sidepull/undercling and a right hand crimp to topout. Looks easy huh...
Arena Area
A cluster of four boulders in the World of Hurt. The Child of Darkness boulder, the Graystone boulder, and the Large Grain boulder form a kind of arena with classic World of Hurt landings in the middle. Hike uphill from the Ineditable boulder, through a small clearing and then straight uphill into the talus.
1. Left Grain [V2] Climbs the left arete.
2. Mid Grain [V3] Starts on the left rail and moves up and right to top out same as #3
3. Right Grain [V2] Start as low as you can on the rail and traverse left and up to good holds and the top.
4. Warm-up Crack [V0] Climbs the right leaning crack.
5. Georger Crack [V1] The layback crack just left of the large tree. Scary and with a bad landing.
6. Ex Sex [V7] Stand start on bad crimps with a high left foot. Move up left to better holds and an easier top out.
7. PROJECT Start with the left hand on the Ex Sex handhold and pull big moves to the lip.
8. PROJECT The line of obvious and small crimps moving up right.
9. Child of Darkness [V9] SDS on sloping crimps and move up and slightly left to the lip and pull over on positive holds.
10. Lichen Line [V1] The left-most corner of the boulder up lichen covered holds.
11. Right Face [V4] Start low just right of the arete and climb straight up.
12. The Seam [V0] Start at the bottom of the right leaning seam/flake and follow it to the top.
13. Graystone [V2] Start low with a right-hand undercling and climb straight up to meet the seam and top out directly.
Husky Boulder
The Husky Boulder is located near the river below the road at the Lower Grotto Wall parking area. Park at the Lower Grotto Wall parking area and walk along the road towards the river, crossing the road before the sharp turn. Head down and left through the trees following a faint trail parallel to the river. The boulder is approximately 100 yards along the trail and situated 50 feet in from the edge of the river.
1. Jim’s Arete [V4] Start matched on the low jug and move up the overhanging arete.
2. Poodle Doo [V0] The slab just right of #1.
3. The Laeser Chicker [V2] Start on the horn at chest level and climb the arete with somewhat awkward moves.
4. Doberman Dihedral [V2] Great movement up the obvious dihedral. Start on large underclings and climb straight up. Starting low bumps it up to V4.
5. Husky [V5] A classic problem with great moves and a satisfying finish. Start low on good edges and climb up via underclings and sidepulls to a throw for the jug on the face.
6. Bull Mastiff [V6] Start the same as #5 but traverse right on underclings and top out via the seam on the right side of the prow.
7. Labradoodle [V7] Start on the large sidepull 15ft right of #5 and traverse left into a gaston and then up and left to a good hold then straight up to top out.
White Face Boulder
This immense boulder is located at the bottom of a talus slope below the road 1/4 mile past the Lower Grotto Wall. Either approach from above by hopping over the guardrail and descending the talus or from below by walking past the Husky boulder. From the Husky boulder follow the trail left along the river until you come to a talus slope, continue along the base of the talus until you come to a large, freestanding boulder a field. Turn left, up into the talus, just after passing this boulder.
1. The White Face [V11] The obvious crimpy line up the middle of the face. Beautiful.
2. Reanimator [V8] Start on the flat jug 5ft right of #1 and climb straight up through a slanted crimp and a good rail.
3. The Stacks [V??] Around the corner from #2 is a short problem with good holds and bad feet. Start as low as you can and power to the lip.
4. Hubcap [V??] On the slab opposite the White Face boulder is a classic smooth slab that used to have a hubcap balanced on a high edge.