West Shoulder

The route follows the path of least resistance up the west shoulder of Mammoth Rock. It offers a fun alternative to the short and easy scrambles up the southern side. The rock is not very good and would be hard to lead, but if you are comfortable soloing roughly 4th class terrain over loose rock, this route may be for you.

Start at the obvious ramp system about a third of the way up. It is a stair-like break in otherwise steep face. This is the start of the route. From there, follow the path of least resistance trending to climber's right. A few awkward moves are encountered, but never more than a move at a time. Once on the summit, descend by heading south towards the saddle between the Sherwins and Mammoth rock to downclimb the southern face by either the South Chimney (2nd Class) or the South Face (3rd Class).

To find the route, start at the mine at the base of Mammoth Rock and continue straight up towards as if climbing up and behind Mammoth Rock. As you are skirting the western shoulder, look for an obvious ramp system about a third of the way up. This is the start of the route.

The rock is limestone/marble and very broken. To protect it, I would recommend: small cams to #1, nuts, and a pin or two. Pro is questionable though and you are better off leaving the rack and rope at home.