Pope's Crack
5.9 YDS 5c French 17 Ewbanks VI UIAA 17 ZA HVS 5a British
Avg: 3.2 from 685 votes
Type: | Trad, 70 ft (21 m) |
FA: | Craig Parsley & Mike Pope, 1975 |
Page Views: | 34,592 total · 130/month |
Shared By: | C Miller on Jul 10, 2002 · Updates |
Admins: | Greg Opland, C Miller, Gunkswest, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes |
1. Vegetation is not allowed to be used as an anchor.
2. Only neutral or rock colored bolt hangers are allowed.
For a complete list of climbing rules and closures visit:
nps.gov/jotr/planyourvisit/…
Description
Starting from boulders climb the prominent finger/hand crack in a flared right-facing corner which slowly arches up and left passing along the left side of a small roof.
A little ways past the roof set a high piece and then downclimb left along a dike to gain another crack system which is followed to the top.
- Descend by climbing down and right to reach rappel anchors atop British Airways.
History
The crack was first spotted by Craig Parsley and John Long simultaneously in the Spring of 1975, but a sprint to the wall allowed Parsley and Pope to make the first ascent. Long stood at the bottom of the climb encouraging Parsley to peel so he could "bag a first." The climb was completed with only one piece of protection in the first 20 feet
Don’t wish to edit the whole thing cause you got it sort of correct.... two others were involved, me- Guy Keesee and Dean Fidelman.... Craig and Pope walk by our table and Craig says “come on let’s do a new route, grab your rack” so we do.
We get on it after pushing the sharp yucca at the base over a wee bit. I forget who did the first go but we agreed one couldn’t fall. All 4 of us took turns on the yo-yo .... then up high when you can go two ways.... Crag went the easy way and we were amazed when he made it without any more pro. Then we all climbed it and while we were sitting on top sharing a victory smoke. Up comes John and Kevin Worrell. Craig yells down to John “come grab the second ascent! It’s good” that’s when John turns around and says “Naaaa.... we got better things to do” Crag wanted to name the climb “Plum Pie” because that’s what one would look like if you fell on the yucca. We didn’t have any place to turn in our “FA report” because Wolfe had stopped going to Josh and Randy had not started keeping records for a GB. Now you know the rest of the story.
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