Höhe Hinterland

The "high" or upper Hinderlands area is between Dolt and Giant man, but above all the established climbs on the lower ledge. This has been a destination of interest for Bradley White since the 1980 when he spotted the magnificent Wünderkind roof from Hole in the Wall. Catastrophic inspiration led him into a free solo attempt to scout out the area via the dirty gully right of Dolt. Thirty feet up into the dike, a hold of rotten rock broke loose sending him for a mighty slide inevitably spitting him out all the way back to the trail next to the belay for Hinderland Highway. Thirty years later, Bradley was inspired to reach out again for this region after reading about the mistake in the new guidebook which drew the Mean Lean directly on what later became Wünderkind.

   Hohe Hinderland now holds a handful of routes and variations over convoluted landscape making the topos difficult to draw out along with all the other routes on the Hinterlands proper.  The area has seen minimal human impact, and therefore users must use great caution navigating the terrain as there are still loose rocks which could easily spill down onto climbers below despite recent efforts to clean up the ledge to make it a safer environment.  The dirty gully is especially treacherous as a lot of the rock is wet and rotten and when dislodged can easily launch out across the path just right of the Dolt and Hinterland Highway belay stations. 

   Geologically, the Hinderlands is one of the most fascinating areas of Rumney in many peoples opinion, and the same holds true of its upper walls which contain a variety of quartz / schist conglomerates.  The belay ledges are very secluded and comfortable and for the adventurous, they offer a prime getaway from the sometimes overcrowded cragging community.   

   For retreat, there are a variety of options, all of which require mindful caution.  Topping out and walking off from the Crow's Nest trail is always an option.  Otherwise, the group of trees at the base of Schwarze Weissnergrat will take you down Back Crack direct to the base of the gully.  A third option would be to traverse to the Ale 8 anchors left of Cold Feet and rap off the chains.