TWS is a bolted arête with some super cool crystal structures and fun moves. The crux come down low, just before and then immediately after you cross the arête to the left face. The route unfortunately feels a little forced or dare I say contrived for the rest of the way due to big holds and the bordering route on the left, especially at the 2nd to last bolt (harder straight up, easier out left). Nonetheless, the climbing is on fantastic crystals and will get you psyched! As for the rating, IMO, if Beetlejuice on Hornet's Nest is 12-, TWS is 11+...

Twelve White Sticks

Tender Vittles

Chopping Block

Valdez Overhang

The Great Chimney AKA The Great Dihedral

Baba Cool

A Sioux Named Boy

Meat is Murder

Glimpse Into Paradise

Scramble up a short ramp to the first bolt.  The first four bolts are balancey climbing on the large sloping features that cover the wall.  The route slabs out as the slopers give way to a few bolts of maddeningly sustained crystal crimping.  

 I found this climb to be cryptic and the path I took meandered a lot.

From the water groove described in the location of the route, climb up the good holds (maybe 5.4) and summit onto the blunt arete that makes up the climb of Chopping Block. Now just keep your cool and follow the arete to the top. This route is listed as 5.3 in The Adventure Climbs of Herb and Jann Conn and I would have to agree (vs the 5.2 rating in Vernon Phinney's guide). Jann is quoted as saying it's a strong friction climb that had them desperately hoping for some protection along the way. I didn't see any and besides once you get going it's better just to keep moving. Once you reach the anchors for Going to Harlem you can either rappel here or make a very fun, yet super dicey step/jump across (over The Great Dihedral) to obtain the same summit as Baba Cool and Meat is Murder. You can rappel here is well. I would highly recommend a rappel vs a down climb.

Valdez Overhang is a classic 'gym' line in the Chopping Block climbing area.  Finding it is a bit tricky your first time, but this route gets so much traffic that the trail becomes obvious.   

  From the CB sign-in (with your back to the road) walk on the trail leading to your left.  Follow this up a smaller run, down a little, then way up a steep hill past large granite faces on your left.  See such lines as "Slang" and "Snow Emergency Route" overhead on the left.  Follow this trail to the crest of the hill.  The trail will again lead to the left through smaller pines, toward Rushmore Memorial, Monster, Middle Marker,Olton's Shoulder, etc.  Keep walking this path for a couple minutes and another granite formation will show itself.  Walk to the Rushmore side of the formation, in between two formations, and downhill.  Valdez Overhang is on your left in a funky river of schist stretching approximately forty feet high.  Chalk marks an obvious line through the route on jugs. 

  This is a great first 5.9 lead for beginners; whippers are very gentle.  Also a wonderful place to run laps on at the end of the day.  Feel the burn!  Overall, a wonderful route anytime of year, any time of day!

Also known as The Great Dihedral.  This is the obvious chimney/dihedral to the right of Meat Means Murder.  The first 1/3 takes very good pro, but becomes non-existant after pulling over the slight overhang and climbing into the off-width chimney.  The chimney widens as you ascend, and this section is awkward and uncomfortable for most of the way, but some people get their kicks out of this kind of stuff.  Falling out of the chimney could be nasty, and slipping and falling into it could be just as bad.  Near the top, head to the right of the chimney for rappel anchors.

Located on the Chopping Block. Hike up from the small parking area just as your leaving the Rushmore memorial. Follow obvious trail. Wrinkled Rock is on your right and the Chopping block is on your left. as the trail curves around the Chopping Block, scramble up to base of the routes. Baba Cool is the left most route on the face.Paul Piana describes it as " A perfect Route. All time classic. Climb this one! " He is right. I'd say it is a very solid 10A.

Powerful boulder problem through the roof and arete. Very similar to Atomic Slap. Though the rock is a little ricey, it shouldn't be dismissed. Rock quality would improve with more traffic. Just like other Skinner (or Piana) routes it's a thrilling lead, especially getting to the last bolt. The route did not have anchors before, so I installed some (fall '11) to make it safer and TR possible.

This is the bolted line to the right of Baba Cool.  Make a wild first move that leads up to steep, thin crystal face climbing.  A great route of its grade in the area.

A Black Hills must do!!! Start matched on the lowest shelf. Do a few moves to get to the arete (avoid the detatched block). Tall, but the mantle is easy. Powerful with a very tricky sequence of classic moves.   Hint: On the upper crux move, to get to the large hold throw out left to a high, left sidepull that looks questionable then bump to the big pod.

This is the namesake rock for this area.  This rock is steep on all sides, and provides many hard routes from 5.9 to 5.13.  The most popular routes on this rock are Baba Cool (5.9+) and Meat is Murder (5.11).

Description

Location

Protection

Routes in Chopping Block