The Trough, Tahquitz
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I just got done leading the trough but I think I started in the wrong area. |
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James, I'm quite certain I started this way once after not finding the trough start. I thought that finger splitter in the picture here was real nice and harder than trough p1. I remember thinking 5.7, protected great and difficulty over fairly quick. I remember 4th class climbing higher than the trough start before we roped up right at the base of the this crack. |
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The crack I climbed is not pictured. It is simply about 50 to 100' left of the crack pictured. It is more of a dihedral than a crack I guess. |
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James... if you are 50-100 left of the Trough, your not doing the Trough, there are many many roots left. it's hard to understand your Q. |
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After the first pitch I had to step down and to the right to gain the trough. So pitches 2 and 3 were on track |
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Left Crack
After revisiting the area the other day, I had a friend lead the same crack in question. It's in the photograph above on the left (highlighted with the hard to see blue and red line). We felt pretty confident that the crux section was in the 5.8 range - but in the spirit of Tahquitz, we called it 5.7+ Has anyone climbed this crack before and does it have a name? The crack everyone else has climbed and pictured originally is just to the right of the highlighted one. The trough continues up and to the right above the crack in the right side of the photo (not the highlighted one). The trough can still be reached from the highlighted crack, by traversing on a ledge to the right and stepping down (low 5th). |
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And to Justin, |
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Though not intending to climb this alternative, we began this "Direct Start" to the Trough today. Embarrassed to say I popped off at, or neat, the crux. The protection was solid, but with not expecting to have any problems, I ran it out a bit. I had some minor air time and now have some small route rash to show for it. We simply traversed over to the regular Trough and completely enjoyed the remainder of the pitches. |