The Bench
The Bench on Animas City Mountain is the East facing shelf above X-Rock it has a heinous approach but its quality will not disappoint. Over the years it has seen a rash of development from local climbers but it always seems to disappear back into obscurity. Hopefully now with the latest development being documented here it will remain on the radar and see the traffic it deserves.
The Bench Overview
The Bench Map- Main Area
View From Atop Boulder C
Boulder A (aka) The Bum Cave Boulder
Boulder B
Drew Hoch crushing ballz on "Wet Dream". Bum Cave Boulder
Alex Bridgewater working the "Alex Proj".
Boulder C, North face
Alex on "In The Out Hole" aka "The N Word"
Boulder C, South Face
Boulder D
Boulder E (aka) The Hanta Wall
Boulder F
Alex Bridgewater rounding the corner on "Addicted To What The Dick Did"
Boulder G AKA Font Boulder, South Face
Boulder G AKA Font Boulder, North Face
Durango Bouldering 
Most of the problems on Boulder C were put up by Jimmy Simons & Zach Lingerfelt back in 2004. Problem #2 on the North Face of Boulder C “In the Out Hole” was originally called “The N Word”. Problem #3 on the South Face of Boulder C “The Black Streak” was originally called “Blacktastic”. Both of these problems are defiantly some of the best V6s in Durango.
June 18, 2011 at 8:01 am
Dope! We knew most of these problems had been done before us but due to a lack of info we gave’em our own names for a point of reference. This is why we need a site like this, clarification and motivation!
June 18, 2011 at 8:56 am
The South Face of Boulder G was also developed by Jimmy Simons in 2004. He called this boulder the Font Simulator Boulder. Eric I totally agree that these are the best slab problems in DGO.
June 18, 2011 at 11:35 am
Problem #1 on boulder c, the project, was done last week by a visiting climber. Don’t know who brought him up there, but why are visiting climbers sending projects in Durango?
October 7, 2011 at 9:09 am
I recently spent several days in Durango and tried to check out as many of the different areas as possible. Noah was kind enough to give me a tour of the Bench and I managed to send the project and dubbed it Unicorn Killer. Repeaters should be warned that the block that makes the slot/jug sounds hollow when you hang and knock on it. I don’t think it will actually come off but I’d be a little weary of yarding on it after a rain.
I didn’t get any footage of Unicorn Killer but I’ll be posting pictures and videos of other stuff around Durango on my blog, http://www.kearneyjourney.blogspot.com
cheers
walkerkearney
October 8, 2011 at 9:51 am
we are all just visitors here
October 11, 2011 at 7:39 pm
we did a variation to the Vagtastic Voyage. make your way to the large hole, and then up through gaston. funner harder version of vagtastic. we named her “Hand Jammies Sick Say What”
February 11, 2012 at 8:33 pm
Went to the far far end today and did some quality problems. One of them ascends a 40 degree orange face on perfect crimps. Amazing problem. Probably been done before. V5-6ish.
January 2, 2014 at 8:51 am
Just did the project on boulder c today with Adam Markert. It goes around v9.
February 16, 2015 at 4:35 pm
We also did a straight up variation to the N-Word. This seemed like the most obvious line. Goes around v5/6 as well.
February 16, 2015 at 4:44 pm
Moved to town in August. Here for the duration! Loving this town so much. Have been bouldering in the hawks a bunch and repeating all the greats (put up a couple too) and having so much fun. Just went up to the bench with a pad for the first time today! Repeated all but a couple of the established lines. Very good stuff! Thanks for putting in the cleaning time on those! I have a couple more I want to do up there as well, bunch of projects still (I think) standing around up there! Psyched to go climbing with anyone that wants.
Adam
p.s. you can catch me at the Rock Lounge setting routes or training…
February 16, 2015 at 5:12 pm
Hey Adam,
We need to get together and document all the new problems you have been putting up. I have been seeing some of the pictures that Charlie and Skylar have been posting.
Ian A.
March 2, 2015 at 6:48 am
HEY! You are still looking at this site! If you’d like to talk about the domain name and letting us work on the site a bit, we’d be happy to. Lot’s of great problems, lots of great local climbers working on lines and cleaning stuff (College, high school, etc.), keeping traffic on old ones too. I’m working on a vid project for the bench too, not just scattered single vids of a line or two, but all of them together in a three part series (First boulder, main area, far end). It’s looking good so far.
You can find me on FB or through Charlie/Sky/Wyeth if you’d like. Let’s work out some new stuff.
(Cleaned off Boulder D. Best line in the area (IMO) is the far right arete. Simply awesome…)
ADAM
April 12, 2015 at 9:29 am
Adam,
Lets get together this week if we can and discuss. I am available Wed. and Fri. Marcus should have my number or hit me up at durangobouldering @gmail.com. We can meet up at The Rock Lounge. I will also find you on facebook.
April 14, 2015 at 9:33 am