Minnesota
Wisconsin
The Keyhole Area
Routes here entail a mixture of face and crack moves.
Access from the bottom: none.
Access from the top: Walk south on the Ice Age hiking trail and follow U.S. 8 past the Minnesota strip area to a stone walled overlook. The top of the Keyhole formation lies directly below. Descent to the base involves sliding down a small talus field north of the overlook. When the talus ends (about halfway down the hill) look for a trail leading south and to the base of the keyhole.
|
1 |
Keyhole Direct |
5.9 |
| To the left of "The Keyhole" lies a slabby face with shallow seams. A 5.11 variation uses only the left edge of the face. | ||
|
2 |
Keyhole ++ |
5.6 |
| An inviting lead that eats gear. The crux involves the awkward ordeal of entering and exiting the wide hole coined the keyhole. | ||
|
3 |
Horn |
5.5 |
| Slightly easier version of the keyhole with a nice traverse | ||
|
1 |
Narrow Road |
5.9 |
| The narrow face on the left side of the pillar. Don't use the edges. | ||
|
2 |
Double Cracks ++ |
5.9 |
| On a detached column immediately downstream from the Keyhole climbs are two parallel cracks rising to the top. Finger jams and hidden holds assist with the ascent. The bolts atop the column were illegally replaced in 1995 and are of the burly sort, making a belay anchor easier to set up, but as always, inspect fixed gear. | ||
|
3 |
Face Variation |
5.10 |
| Thin moves, edgemaster apply here. | ||
|
4 |
Hamburger Crack |
5.9 |
| Short climb up a clean crack. | ||
|
|
Reason to Believe |
5.11- |
| Face and slab moves with a mantle crux. | ||