North America, United States, Wyoming—Tetons, Big Bluff

Publication Year: 1961.

Big Bluff. Probably no one who has camped at the Platforms in Garnet Canyon has given any thought to climbing the overhanging cliff directly above, that is until Royal Robbins and Joe Fitschen climbed it on August 12. This may represent the climax of the rock climbing efforts which have been concentrated in the lower portions of Garnet Canyon in the past five years. They started from the gully to the west of the overhang and ascended easy ledges to the broad terrace below the 150-foot overhang. Next, a red flake was attacked and passed to a sloping ledge where the first bolt was placed. From there the next extremely difficult lead traversed horizontally 30 feet to the right and then upward to a quartz-like rock formation where the second bolt was placed (it fell out after being used). The final pitch of difficulty diagonals upward to the left and emerges from the overhang to the level ground above.