"Drive by Truckers is a brisk, enjoyable sport climb on the West Wall of 10 Mile Canyon. With six well-spaced bolts and a shared two-bolt anchor, it’s a focused slab climb that rewards precise footwork and steady composure."
Drive by Truckers offers a straightforward, engaging sport climb on the West Wall of 10 Mile Canyon, sitting within Colorado’s broad mountain landscape. The route starts with a brief but lively scramble onto a low boulder, an inviting prelude that pitches you upward onto the smooth slab. From this vantage, the rock shifts subtly in texture, challenging you to find balance and precision with each move. The climb’s six bolts are spaced to encourage thoughtful clipping and steady rhythm, rewarding careful footwork over brute force. As you ascend, the rock’s character changes, displaying patches of grippy edges that keenly test your slab skills without veering into technical extremes.
The first bolt, which appears after the initial scramble, acts as a quiet beacon guiding you through the climb’s middle section, while the final bolt cleverly doubles as a directional marker, leading you toward the anchors shared with the adjacent route, Andy's. These shared anchors ease the descent, neatly concluding the climb.
The rock of 10 Mile Canyon holds a gritty texture that feels alive beneath your fingertips, and the open exposure on the West Wall allows for cooling mountain breezes to keep you grounded even as you mount the vertical face. The surrounding Colorado wilderness frames your ascent—a mix of towering pines and expansive blue skies that stretch beyond the rimrock. The route moves quickly, making it ideal for climbers seeking a crisp, focused challenge bolstered by natural beauty.
Approach is minimal, often just minutes from trailhead parking, and the straightforward nature of the climb makes it an excellent choice for sport climbers eager to sharpen slab technique or tune their lead climbing skills without committing to lengthy multi-pitch routes. Precision, steady breathing, and a calm mind are your best tools here.
Plan your visit in spring through early fall when daylight is generous, and temperatures moderate. Be sure to bring shoes with sticky rubber for those subtle smears and sticky feet placements. Hydration matters in these high-elevation climbs; even brief efforts can sneak up on you. While the route’s moderate rating keeps the upper crux approachable, persistent focus on slab balance is key to linking the sequence from ground to anchor.
In essence, Drive by Truckers delivers a compact climb that balances rock quality, route design, and natural setting into a satisfying package. It holds value for climbers at many levels — a modest test on Colorado’s famously diverse vertical terrain with enough character and exposure to leave a lasting impression.
The slab surface demands steady footing; loose dust can accumulate near the start. Take caution approaching the anchors, as the shared stance requires careful rope management. Avoid climbing wet rock after rain, as the slab becomes slick and hazardous.
Arrive early in spring or fall to avoid hottest sun on the slab.
Wear climbing shoes with sticky rubber for delicate slab smears.
Stay hydrated—high elevation dries you out faster than expected.
Use the last bolt as a clear directional marker for the shared anchors.
Equipped with 6 bolts leading to a two-bolt shared anchor with Andy's route, requiring standard sport rack and quickdraws. Bolts are well-spaced, supporting confident clipping and comfortable rest positions where footing allows.
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