Anchors: Melting Mud Wall

For three smokey days, June 22–24, 2026, the crew worked at Melting Mud, the most accessible wall in the Hell Gate area. Melting Mud is home to some unique rock. A form of ancient limestone, it often feels more like sandstone due to its rough texture, sandy character, and fragile nature. Despite being a relatively young crag, the style of bolts originally installed in this rock needed an upgrade.

During the week, the team worked from right to left, upgrading hardware on 12 routes. While not every route at Melting Mud was completed, the crew made a strong start. Every bolt that was replaced was upgraded to 1/2-inch Team Tough glue-in bolts. Glue-in bolts are well suited for the sandy nature of the rock, creating a stronger, more durable, and longer-lasting anchor system for the area.

Despite its close proximity to the road, Hell Gate is known for unpredictable rockfall, hollow flakes, and loose holds. Climbers should always wear a helmet while climbing and belaying in the area and remain aware of the potential for natural rockfall.