Amzkhssan Wall - Pinnacle Slab

The Pinnacle Slab on the Amzkhssan Wall offers around 130m of enjoyable climbing with little technical difficulty. The Amzkhssan Wall could be climbed hundreds of times without ever using the same holds. Although this particular route is only graded Diff, it should not be underestimated. Finding gear in the quartzite rock can be difficult and the leader can easily be enticed off the route in pursuit of placements, leading to serious rope drag quite quickly. In addition, route finding is more or less impossible to follow once on the wall. That said the climbing doesn’t go above V. Diff / Severe anywhere on the right side of the rock face. A confident leader with a mixed rack, particularly smaller gear, will be rewarded with enjoyable and easy climbing, an ideal option for a short warm up climb, especially given its easy approach and nearby parking.

The Route Topography

This is the route Pinnacle Slab on Amzkhssan Wall in Jebel el Kest, Morocco. It represents 130m of Qurtzite rock climbing, usually over 3 pitches, of a max grade of D 3b. Clicking the image will load the full screen high resolution Pinnacle Slab climb topo.

Original Image: our own image

Approach & Descent Information

Approach: Parking can be found on the higher side of the nearest hairpin bend. There is space for 2 cars. From here it’s a short walk around the corner to the base of the Amzkhssan Wall.
Descent: From the summit move over the back and trend North West (left with your back to the climb). This will allow the climbers an easy scramble down to a path that moves around the west side of the wall bringing climbers back towards the road.

See Amzkhssan Wall on the climb map Open climb location in Google Maps

Pitch By Pitch Information

The Pinnacle Slab starts about 10m right of the Amzkhssan Rib climb (graded V. Diff itself) which follows most obvious break up the middle of the wall. The goal is climb up to a small black overhang split by a crack, the climber passes this and heads up the wall to create a second anchor at the pinnacle, with the final pitch taking the easiest line through the steep overlap to the top.
Pitch 1 –50m
Start 10m right of the main break and a meter or two left from the outcropping bulge at the base of the wall. Climb up the slabs as far as the rope and any rope drag will allow, until you reach a suitable belay.
Pitch 2 –50m
Continue up the slab heading to the obvious pinnacle not too far from the top of the wall.
Pitch 3 –30m
There are a few options to get though the steeper overlap at the top. Take the easier line directly above the pinnacle to create the belay at the top of the wall.