Anchors: Big Cottonwood Canyon

From June 1-3, 2026, the Anchor Crew split up to tackle several high-use areas in need of maintenance, including Challenge Buttress, JHCOB Wall, Ledgemere, and Dogwood.

Challenge Buttress

Work at Challenge Buttress focused on three routes: Coral Bells, Moral Bells, and Mega. Only a handful of routes remain before the entire crag is fully updated with modern hardware. Challenge Buttress continues to be an area we revisit regularly to address maintenance needs and ensure hardware remains in good condition. With its variety of routes and cooler temperatures, it remains one of Big Cottonwood Canyon's premier summer climbing destinations.

JHCOB Wall

Work at JHCOB Wall focused on the first pitches of Crescendo and Weed Killer.

Two bolts were replaced on Crescendo: one spinning and loose stud bolt, and another that had been heavily damaged by rockfall. 3/8’’ bolts were installed to facilitate future replacement with bigger bolts: 3/8’’ to 1/2’’ to 1/2’’ glue-in bolt On Weed Killer, all lead bolts were upgraded to 1/2’’-inch stainless steel mechanical bolts, and the anchor was updated with new stainless hardware.

Dogwood and Ledgemere

Dogwood and Ledgemere saw the most activity during this three-day work period. At Ledgemere, several anchors were upgraded with Mussy hooks to improve usability and reduce wear on fixed hardware.

At Dogwood, multiple routes received new stainless steel glue-in bolts and anchor upgrades. Routes such as Life During Wartime, Ain't No Party, Ain't No Disco, and Crosseyed and Painless all received hardware improvements, helping ensure these popular climbs remain safe and sustainable for years to come.