Warning Wall & Highway Pond

At the south end of Pocatello, out by Century High School, is a band of basalt. This basalt is actually a continuation of the Sunny Side and has a number of climbs. This area is mostly known for all of its bouldering (see Poky Bouldering ).

You get to these areas by heading out South Fifth Street. Drive down until you reach Hildreth Road and then turn west on Hildreth. Hildreth is just north of Century High School a few hundred yards.

Follow Hildreth west and pass under Interstate 15. Once you pass under I15 the paved road turns right (north). There is also a gravel road that turns left (southward) and then is blocked by a big gate. Park at the gate if you are going to Warning Wall. If you are going to the LaTasca Wall or Movers and Shakers (Highway Pond area) continue on the paved road.

Highway Pond

The highway Pond is a low area at the bottom of the Mink Creek watershed. During times of plenty percipitation the gravel pit will be full of water. In the recent past, drought has caused the pond to dry up and it is now a huge gravel pit. At the Highway Pond there are three walls with some fun climbs and great bouldering.

Motion Wall

As you drive on the paved road it descends down a basalt cliff band. The walls to your left are the Motion Traverse as described in the Pocatello Bouldering section. There is a break in the band and then the rift starts again. There are two routes on this wall. The north most climb is on the crag north of the break and the other climb is on the motion traverse section.

  • Un-named, 5.11 ?, 3 bolts & anchor. Where the paved road turns west again toward some houses there is a fence line that runs perpendicular to the cliff. This climb is located right where the fence runs into the cliff. Unfortunately it is on the private property side of the fence and the land owner will kick you off.
  • Un-named, 5.12 ?, 1 bolt no anchor. Along the Motion Traverse is a roof section. bisecting the roof is a crack. Boulder the crack, place a cam, pull lip, clip bolt and scamper to top. This is more of a highball boulder problem.

LaTasca Wall

Just after the overhang problem above there is a left turn into an open gravel area. Turn into here and then head south. To the west of you will be the Highway Pond/gravel pit. The road will be blocked, park here. To your left (east) will be a crag. This has one of the best traverses in town on it. It also has six climbs. Routes are listed left-to-right.

  • Un-named, 5.?, 2 bolts & anchor. Climbs up nice face.
  • Un-named, 5.12, 2 bolts, pin, & anchor. Climb up overhanging prow, to face and dihedral.
  • * Deep Dish, 5.10a, 3 bolts & anchor. Climb up smooth sandy like bottom through huge hueco, pull over little roof onto fun face.
  • ** Pepperoni Pizza, 5.10b, 3 bolts & anchor. Climb up tweaky face to a few large holds on gently overhanging face.
  • * Thin & Crispy, 5.12, 3 bolts & anchor. Climb up tweaky face through small pockets on overhanging prow

Movers and Shakers

At the south end of the LaTasca Wall is a break and then the basalt wall starts up again. This wall has eight climbs.

  • Un-named, 5.11+ ?, 3 bolts & anchor. Climb up right side of kicked back south west facing arete.
  • Un-named, 5.11 ?, 4 bolts & anchor. Climb up face to chain anchor.
  • 336, 5.12 ?, 4 bolts & anchor. This route gets its name from 336 spray painted at the bottom. Climb up hard face to arete and finish at Metolius rap anchors
  • * Un-named, 5.10c, 3 bolts & anchor. This route starts in a gently overhanging flaring crack and pulls on to a slabby face. The crux is at the bottom and the top is a fun stroll on classic basalt edges to Metolius rap anchors.
  • * Un-named, 5.8, 4 bolts & anchor. This is a fun face climb on the left side of an arete. Ground falls away to dug out section to right of climb giving start a little airy feeling.
  • Tar Baby, 5.10, 3 bolts & anchor. This climb gets its name from the tar streaking down the face. The climb is n the left side of the area that is dug out on the base of the crag. Start in crack on smooth face and then climb through featured middle onto pocketed finish to cold shut anchors. May want stick clip as base has settled since routes established.
  • Move It or Lose It, 5.12, 5 bolts & anchor. This climb is in the center of the dug out area. Climb up fracture edge on smooth face to holds below a bulge. Pull bulge and work up technical face to cold shut anchors. May want stick clip as base has settled since routes established.
  • * Stretch, 5.10c, 4 bolts & anchor. This climb is on the right side of the dug out area. Climb up smooth bottom on edges in fracture then through pockets and edges to cold shut anchor. May want stick clip as base has settled since routes established.

Warning Wall

Park at the big gate just after passing under I15. The gate has a no trespassing sign on it. It is debated whether the no trespassing sign is for the area around a pump house down in the bottoms or to the Warning Wall area. With that said tread at your own risk.

After the gate a maintained gravel road winds down to the river bottom. At the top end of this road is an old two track road that heads south along I15. Follow this road for eight or nine power poles starting with the one closest to the gate. You will come to an old rusty downed barbed wire fence. Follow along this fence on its south side. You will come to the edge of the cliff. Scramble down the bouldery scree and it will lead you to a clearing at the base of the first set of climbs.

This area has a bunch of poison ivy so be careful.

There are a number of climbs here and we are in the process of getting more information. The old classics are Corner Pocket 5.11, Stay Out of The Crack Jack 5.12, and Nerve Damage 5.12+