Rock Climbing

Rock Climbing

Images of the World Rock Climbing

needles eye, custer state park, south dakota

Needles Eye, Custer State Park, Black Hills, South Dakota.

We didn't really start rock climbing until we were in our 40's, when Bruce got over his fear of heights, and Tass began gearing down from mountain bike racing.

The Black Hills is the perfect area to embrace our new sport, as we have world class climbing at a number of areas just out our back door.

The Needles in Custer State Park is our most famous local climbing area.

Bob Archbold climbs the committing and runnout Hairy Pin, 5.10d.

Pinfest is a somewhat yearly climbers gathering in the Ten Pins area of the Needles.

Ten Pins area, Custer State Park

Traditionally, local climbers award style points for standing on top of Superpin, 5.10 R, after climbing it for the first time.

For others, just sitting on top is exciting enough.

Bruce on Superpin during Pinfest. Webbing around the top makes the anchor. The last person removes the webbing and simul-rappels or lowers off on a single line drapped over the summit, the other end tied to the ground.

Bruce climbing Stardancer, a classic 5.8, Middle Marker area, Mount Rushmore.

Bruce and Tass on top of Stardancer, Mount Rushmore

Tass and Bruce on top.

Rock Climbing Guide Book

Spearfish Canyon Limestone

Black Hills, South Dakota

by
Bruce B. Junek

For more info click on
Spearfish Canyon Limestone

Tass on Tricouni Nail, a classic 5.8 route first climbed by Royal Robbins in the 1960s.

Bruce climbs Picture Window, Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

Bruce climbs Picture Window, a beautiful 5.7 at Mount Rushmore Memorial.

Tass climbs Bubba Cool, Mount Rushmore, South Dakota

Tass grabs a giant quartz crystal on Bubba Cool, a pumpy 5.9, Mount Rushmore Memorial.

Granite is an igneous rock crystallized from magma. Black Hills granite features huge crystals of quartz, feldspar and tourmaline, along with sheets of mica.

A near fist-sized ball of tourmaline and quartz crystals makes a great climbing hold.

Heather Heynen on Blood Brother, 511.d, Mohican Wall, Spearfish Canyon.

Mike Cronin climbs the notorious Trail of Tears, 12a/b Mohican Wall, Spearfish Canyon.

Although most of the Black Hills is in western South Dakota, a portion of the Black Hills spills into eastern Wyoming and includes Devils Tower National Monument.

Bruce leading Assembly Line.
More Devil's Tower climbing.

July 4th, 2006 The Black Hills Climbers Coalition was asked by the Devils Tower staff to take a flag to the top for a special celebration. Tass and Bruce with Uncle Sam on top.