Dates I've climbed this route:
- Date: May 22, 2025 (Thu); Partner: Skyeler Congdon
Route Overlay
CLICK TO ENLARGE
Intro
The 400-foot Alimony Wall is as close to cragging as you get on the South Rim. It is located mere minutes from the road, and has a number of 3-4 pitch climbs on good rock. Plus, Alimony Wall is shaded for most of the day. Alimony is an old school, wide route. It's a rad, albeit short, line! This is a great link- up and low commitment/inclement weather option that gets full shade!
Skyeler and I climbed Alimony in May 2025, where we did two climbs on the South Rim (xxx and Alimony).
Pitch-by-Pitch Photos
Approach
Park at the Painted Wall Overlook, walk up the road a few hundred yards, and then cut through the oak brush to the head of a steep gully that descends alongside Alimony Wall. There is a giant chockstone in the gully. Descend the gully (3rd and 4th), and to get to the base of Alimony, bushwhack uphill to the base of the wall. The first pitch is a long, varied OW that is obvious.
Pitch 1
5.9, 120'
Climb various OW sizes up the left side of a giant pillar. Belay on top of pillar.
Pitch 2
5.10+, 60'
Head straight up wide splitter to roof.
P2 variation. Trend right up dicey rock to 5.9 bulge. Pull over steepness, and climb straight up face, moving back left at small ledge. Belay wedged behind big flakes.
Pitch 3
5.7+, 100'
Chimney to the top.
P3 variation. Start in the chimney, but move out left to a 5.9 OW.
Top out
Top out on the top of Alimony Wall. A quick hike brings you back to the road and the Painted Wall overlook.
Other photos
Random photos from the afternoon. This was a short route and we finished around noon. We debated climbing Alimony as well, but decided to spend the afternoon driving to the North Rim (~1.5 hours drive from South Rim), nab a campsite with a cell signal in the BLM land, get some work done (Michael had a paper to write and I had some overlays needing to be created), and relax in preparation for another climb the next day.
Previous and Next Adventures
