The CAM Project: Rock Springs Buttress Audit
Join us in safeguarding the future of one of Jackson Hole’s iconic climbing areas through proactive inspection and maintenance efforts.
RSB Needs our love
Join the Effort
Help us establish a baseline assessment of the state of the hardware at Rock Springs Buttress
About the CAM Project
Our Climbing Area Modernization (CAM) Project ensures the safety, sustainability, and environmental integrity of our local climbing areas. Launched in 2022, the CAM Project focuses on inspecting, repairing, and replacing aging climbing hardware, reducing environmental impacts at popular climbing sites, and engaging the climbing community in proactive stewardship efforts.
Rock Springs Buttress: A Teton Gem
Multi-Pitch Routes in an Alpine Setting
Rock Springs Buttress is a ca. 1,000-foot, south-facing wall on Bridger-Teton National Forest land adjacent to Jackson Hole Mountain Resort. Once home to a handful of traditional routes, RSB saw a surge in development beginning in the early 2000s, resulting in a wide range of trad, mixed, and alpine sport routes up to six pitches in length. Today, RSB is home to more than 70 routes, making it one of the area’s best and most popular multi-pitch climbing venues.
The Rock Springs Buttress Audit
Overview
To date, the CAM Project has focused on local crags such as Blacktail Butte, Rodeo Wall and the Hoback Shield. The Rock Springs Buttress Audit marks an expansion of the Project to include Jackson Hole’s premier multi-pitch alpine cragging area.
The Catalyst
In July 2025, the TCC installed four camouflaged posts to keep packs safe from wildlife while minimizing visual impact. At the same time, a TCC team climbed Birthday Suit after reports of loose top anchors. They found more than half the route’s bolts required tightening, while climbers on Do It for Doug reported bolts that could be turned by hand.
The Audit
Many RSB bolts and anchors are nearly two decades old. The audit will allow us to establish a baseline assessment of the state of the hardware and perform any necessary maintenance.
The audit will also help us assess the area’s environmental integrity—part of the TCC’s mission to take care of the places we love.
Engaging Climbers in Proactive Stewardship
The Rock Springs Buttress Audit is a comprehensive initiative aimed at preserving the integrity and safety of this beloved climbing area. Inspection of existing hardware will help us identify bolts and anchors that require maintenance to ensure climber safety. Additionally, the climbing community’s vigilance will help guarantee the area’s ongoing environmental integrity.
Call to Action
The TCC has created a Google spreadsheet of all known routes at RSB. We invite climbers to:
- Inspect routes as they climb them, checking bolts and anchors for safety.
- Take photos and document observations (date, names, conditions, recommended actions) in the Google spreadsheet.
- Report urgent issues (e.g., suspect hardware) to the TCC for coordinated maintenance.
Participation in the audit will help us maintain the safety of the climbing routes at Rock Springs Buttress—but environmental stewardship is part of being proactive too. Climbers are encouraged to pack out all trash and abandoned gear. This collective stewardship effort will help ensure RSB remains safe, sustainable, and accessible for Teton climbers.
Photo: Wes Gooch
Rock Springs Buttress represents an iconic addition to the rich climbing heritage of the Teton region. The audit aims to address aging hardware, manage impacts, and reduce trail erosion, ensuring RSB remains a cherished site for this and future generation of Teton climbers.
Want to get involved? Reach out.
Climb a route at RSB and spot something that needs our attention? Drop a line and let us know. We’re always excited to hear from you.