'I call it Yosemite with an attitude' says Jim Donini of Colorado's Black Canyon. The imposing chasm certainly has a forbidding reputation, even among the rough and ready climbers who frequent its walls. Once you get over the sheer size of the place, plunging 2,000 feet straight into the earth to split the otherwise flat landscape, there are other factors to consider. The canyon is notorious for its wildlife with both tics and poison ivy running rampant at the base. Add to this a reputation for stiff grading and you have the makings of a seriously hostile place to climb. With such a reputation, the area might never have found favor were it not for the incredible quality of its climbing. Among the most vaunted routes to grace its walls is 'Scenic Cruise,' which despite climbing from the base of the canyon to its lip through unremittingly steep terrain, weighs in at a modest 5.10. Few climbs can claim to provide such a committing, testing experience at such an accessible grade and it is undoubtedly this that places it among America's most classic climbs. A Hidden Gem In Colorado's 'Yosemite With An Attitude' | North America's Fifty Classic Climbs, Ep. 3