South Face

A local climber once told me, "If the South Face of Moro Rock was positioned so that it was close to the road, people would be taking ticker tapes and waiting in line.....it's a real classic climb." For gentlemen of the Sierra Club like Carl Jensen, bagging the first ascent of South Face in the infancy of rock climbing was a plucked gem long cherished and rarely shared. For those who want to experience the beauty of such a gem, there's a little work to be done. And I'm sure back in 1939, patience and a bunch of bushwacking was part of that work load. Today, a fairly well marked climbers trail descends the East Gully to reach the base of the South Face and many other routes established on the east face. Adventure is the theme and the payoff......Moro Oro!

Pitch #1:

Some feel the first pitch is the crux pitch. It is one of the highlight pitches of South Face. Start by leaving the belay by following a slanting crack up and to the right, passing a tree that is in the same crack. Once past the tree, move out right and then up onto the face. Climb past a detached flake and up to a small footledge with good pro nearby (small to medium nuts or cams). Continue up and slightly left to an obvious hand crack (pro to #2 Camelot). Climb this crack (5.8-) for 40 feet, which eventually eases up and ends at a triangle shaped corner with a nice flat ledge. Belay here.

Pitch #2:

From the triangle ledge, head straight up a left facing corner. The first gear placement is 15 feet off the belay but the climbing is superb (5.6). It may appear harder at first but the holds show up when you need them. A combination of stemming, friction and crack climbing is the right combination to lead to the top of the corner, which has a flat ledge. Continue above this ledge on open slab. Although runout, the climbing gets no harder than 5.6. Trend up and right toward a large boulder. Belay at the boulder (large gear...#1 and bigger).

Pitch #3:

This is truly a thankless pitch but a short one, which tops out on Big Ledge (be extra careful there....many pointed cactus!). From the boulder, move out right for 30 feet and then around the corner and up left. Locate clear ledges and rock outcroppings. Traverse back left and head toward a clearing on the left. Belay in the clearing to reduce rope drag.

Pitch #4:

One may opt to move the belay higher or belay here. The recommendation and better choice to prevent rope drag, unrope here and locate boulder with a roof over it's top. Climb this boulder (a few V0- moves) to its top and pass underneath the roof. If wearing a pack, it presents an awkward and ungraceful top out. Once on top, locate a 10 foot chimney. Scramble the chimney (low 5th) to another small clearing. Rope up again to finish the remaining 70 feet, by climbing a series of slabs and ledges. Head toward the base of a green lichen streaked wall. Belay at a slanting ledge.

Pitch #5:

The Glory Pitch!! Certainly another highlight to the South Face route. From the slanting ledge, climb out to the left for 10 feet and then slightly up and right on knobs (some tieoffs) but easy and enjoyable climbing (5.6). Head upward to where the roof on the face above comes to a point above the knobs (good gear, pro to 1/2"). As the climbing steeps, climb just past the "point" and move out left. Exposed and exhilarating climbing on knobs (5.7+)!! A finger crack provides ample protection. Continue up and above to the left until the crack peters out. Make an exposed move out toward two large crack/chimney systems. Upon reaching the crack/chimney system, move to the left most crack and up into the crack 25 feet further. Locate a one person ledge on the right and belay from here. (Caution: this is a full rope length pitch...200 feet plus! Take care in protecting those that follow with an adequate supply of slings.)

Pitch #6:

This is a short pitch (90'). Continue up the crack/chimney system, passing a chockstone along the way. Upon surmounting the chockstone (5.6), move up and right to a nice ledge. Locate the only 2 bolts of the route on this ledge. Belay here.

Pitch #7:

Get ready to have fun! This is a slightly runout slab section (2 lead bolts and small cams) but provides amazing views of the great Western Divide and the Castle Rock area. Climb directly above the belay bolts, passing two new bolts on sustained 5.6/5.7 slab. Additionally, there are pro opportunities about 50 feet off the belay (3/8" Alien) in a thin left slanting crack. Above the slab are two possible ways to go. One may opt to move up right onto a wild and exposed knob covered face (5.9) and head straight up. Or head up and left, climbing over a right facing corner. The pro is small but the holds are there. Should you choose to do the later of the two choices, climb above the corner up for ~60 feet to where a crack appears on the right, which continues up and right. Belay here at the intersection of the corner and the crack.

Pitch #8:

Climb the crack that leads right and continues till in becomes a slanting ledge that ends at chimney. Climb the holds on the outside of chimney to a larger ledge up and to the right (4th class). Once at the ledge, the remaining section of the South Face become 3rd class (600 ft). Top out on the tourist observation deck on top of Moro Rock.

From the Moro Rock parking lot, locate a trail to the left of the stairs that begins to descend a steep wooded gully. This is the East Gully. The first part of the climbers trail descends down the western side of the gully, through cedars, black oaks, and mazanita. Use caution when taking this trail, there are many loose sections composed of pine needles, chapparal leaves and broken root systems. One good trip could lead to the end of a trip! About 1/2 way down the gully, begin to hug the base of the east face. The trail tends to stay close to the rock but does switchback down into the gully about 2/3's the way down but will turn back toward the rock and hug it most of the remaining way. You'll know when you are at the bottom when the toe of the south face comes to a low point. Directly above this low point, one can see the start for South Cracks (5.9), a 3-pitch variation start to the South Face. Travel 75 yards to the left and uphill along the base. Locate a tree filled mini-gully that heads around the corner to the right. Climb this gully (3rd class plus!), passing under a few trees, dirty corners and blocks. As the foliage clears, locate a ledge that appears to the right. Near the end of this ledge and slightly upward, is a small tree. This is the start of the South Face. Belay on the ledge.

When done, take the stairs back to the parking lot.