In the spring of 2010, Will Butler took me to the Black Wall on Mt. Evans to show me the old aid line Undertow (IV 5.10 A4). When we rapped in, I couldn’t believe this gorgeous dihedral system in the middle of the Black Wall had never been freed. The rock is stellar, the approach almost nonexistent, and the line seemed obvious. While we originally thought we would add some sort of bolted variation around the A4 roof, a more natural line presented itself. Later in the season, though, I realized why the climb was never freed: The alpine moss at the top of the wall acts like a sponge, dripping water down the final pitch.

After two seasons of cleaning the route, replacing bolts, and fighting wetness in the later part of the alpine season, I was finally able to free this amazing line with Brad Wilson on June 23, 2012, with both leader and follower freeing every pitch. The majority of the route follows the original aid line, except for a half-pitch that completely avoids the A4 roof traverse. Instead, the free variation follows a wide-hands layback out the other side of the roof, before cutting back underneath another massive roof to a spectacular hanging belay on the arête. Every pitch is high quality and very sustained, with at least four pitches clocking in at 5.11 or 5.11+ (6 pitches, IV 5.11+).

Shaun Reed