Shadowboxing

This is one of the most difficult and inspiring rock climbs in the country.

All of Rifle’s hardest lines are beautiful, long, and unique, and Shadowboxing is no different. Begin by climbing a 50 foot 5.11+ to a big ledge. From here, it’s 90 feet of relentless underclings, pockets, and crimps with bad feet and no kneebars, very atypical to Rifle. The only good rest on the route is a large, flat undercling a bolt or two below the first crux (there is a no hands kneebar here but to get to this point it’s only about .13a). Climb into the first crux - a long and sustained V11/12 boulder problem with a few tiny crimps and a flat undercling, then tech up into a shallow corner with a very strenuous rest on a pocket. The upper crux has some of the smallest holds in Rifle and is a vertical V9/10 with shallow 2 finger pockets and small crimps. Fight to a victory jug, and keep it composed for a couple more bolts of chossy 5.11 (scary).

Once 5.14c, this line has broken a few times but has been reclimbed by half a dozen or so, and consensus is 5.14d.

This ascends a massive, overhanging panel of rock across from Project Wall. It is not to be missed.

A couple extra draws and maybe a low end kneepad, not important.