Backstop offers a focused climb on Colorado’s Digiback Wall, just south of Denver’s famed Devil’s Head area. This single-pitch sport route stretches about 100 feet up a low-angled, slightly gritty slab that demands precise footwork and steady composure. The climb begins with easy movement across a smooth slab, inviting you to settle into the rhythm of delicate balance and silent focus. Around 40 feet in, you reach a ledge that offers a brief moment to breathe before stepping into the heart of the challenge. The crux lies just above this ledge: the terrain steepens into a vertical wall with small but reliable holds requiring sharp finger placement and careful weight distribution. This section calls for deliberate patience—rushing the moves risks wasting precious energy.

Protection on Backstop is reassuring, with 10 bolts securing the line up to a bolted anchor. The route’s lower angle and well-spaced draws encourage a thoughtful ascent without frantic clipping. One bolt, however, stays tucked behind a bush, hidden until you brush it aside—an unexpected test of awareness that rewards attentive climbers.

Above the crux, the rock eases back into a gentler slab. Here the route shifts subtly, wandering along the line of least resistance as you navigate micro-features to reach the anchor station. While the climb’s overall grade settles at a moderate 5.9, the crux sequence adds a punch, reminding climbers that smooth slabs can harbor sharp technical moves.

For descent, a single 60-meter rope is just enough to rappel—but only if you rappel carefully, aiming slightly left near the bottom to avoid swinging out against the rock. Lowering partners on this route is tricky; due to its wandering nature, a 60-meter rope won’t quite reach the ground when lowering. For safety and ease, climbers often opt to rappel themselves or bring a longer 70-meter rope.

Backstop works well as a warming challenge before tackling the steeper, more sustained routes nearby at Cam and Eggs Wall. The approachable slab combined with a technical crux offers a perfect testing ground for honing slab skills in a beautiful mountain environment. Though the climb’s grit and slip potential require good shoes and sharp focus, the setting rewards with clear views of the pine-dappled hills around South Platte and a sense of flow amid the rock faces. Time your climb for mid-morning or afternoon to catch patches of sun and shade as the wall tilts slightly southeast.

Remember to pack plenty of water and double-check your rack—while the route is fully bolted, a good harness and comfortable shoes with sticky rubber will be key to making confident moves. This is a route where composure and steady footwork deliver success more than brute strength, making it a satisfying problem for climbers looking to sharpen technique in a stunning Colorado climbing spot.