The Wild, Wild West By Sean James include "header_root.php

By Sean James.

Wild Iris is probably and wrongly known for just one route, Throwin the Houlihan. A pocketed 5.14a (8b+) that was first climbed in 1991 by Paul Piana. At one stage this route was amongst the hardest in America. As a consequence the area rose in popularity during the mid 1990s and many new routes were put up. Many climbers particularly from the power hungry British cellar scene, left Sheffield, visited the area and dubbed it the "French Buoux". The rock is white limestone, the routes are not long, the pockets are sharp and most of the crags are south facing. All of this made the area even more popular with climbers intent on straining their tendons and getting strong. The type of climbing can definitely be considered euro pocket pulling. If you like Buoux or Verdon type climbing but prefer a Big Mac and Budweiser to a baguette and box of French supermarket plonk, then Wild Iris is definitely the place for you.

"Former" cowboy and Indian country, Wyoming is a vast, empty state in the northern parts of the US. The whole state is hidden deep under snow for most of the year and baking under the sun for the rest. Indeed what strikes you most when you visit Wild Iris is the harsh extremes of the environment, the isolated location, the quality and variety of the landscape. It is a true "frontier" experience. But luckily for you, someone has been there already with a large bolt gun and robbed you of the chance of being a pioneer.

There are many crags within this area of Wyoming and Wild Iris is a true sports crags - no cracks or multi-pitch routes to be seen. Only small bulges of white rock, covered in pockets. The majority of the routes are in the 5.9 - 5.12a (F4 - F7a+) range, so the area is ideal for the intermediate climber. The cliffs and routes are easy to find, the walk in pleasant and not too long and the bolts and lower offs all placed appropriately, unlike some of those at Buoux.