Jur-Ass-Kicked
The biggest wall in the gorge and the hardest sustained climbing on the route. Roughly 700 feet of steep, highly exposed terrain.
Jur-Ass-Kicked is the main event of the Phase 2 expansion and the most demanding sustained wall at Ashley Gorge. It runs roughly 700 feet up steep, highly exposed rock in long sequences of near-vertical rungs with minimal rest.
This is a genuine step up from anything on Phase 1. The Pump is hard for an hour; Jur-Ass-Kicked is hard for two to three, and the exposure never lets up. Forearms are the limiting factor for most people, and there are far fewer places to shake out than lower on the route.
It is also weather-exposed in a way the lower sectors are not. The wall catches wind, and it is the wrong place to be caught in an afternoon thunderstorm. Check the forecast, start early, and be willing to turn around.
The Jur-Ass-Is-Cutoff connector joins the wall about a third of the way up and gives you a genuine exit if your party is tiring. Use it rather than pushing on out of stubbornness.
What to Expect
- ▸Around 700 feet of sustained steep climbing
- ▸The most demanding wall on the route
- ▸Exposed to wind and fast-changing weather
- ▸Jur-Ass-Is-Cutoff provides a mid-wall escape
Good fit if
Experienced via ferrata climbers with good endurance who have already done Phase 1 and want a serious day.
Skip it if
It is your first via ferrata, you are leading inexperienced climbers or a youth group, you are already tired, or there is any weather in the forecast. This sector is not the place to find your limit.
You'll Need Certified Gear
Every sector at Ashley Gorge requires a via ferrata lanyard with an energy absorber, a climbing harness and a certified helmet. Homemade setups are not permitted and the route is monitored. We rent full kits for $40 and lanyards on their own for $25, picked up from our self-service lockers in Roosevelt — 30 minutes from the trailhead, open 24/7.