Astrolizard

Astrolizard follows the striking wide, clean corner on the south face of Tucupit. This route is phenomenal! The rock is great the whole way, amazingly clean and absolutely gorgeous. Don’t let the rack scare you away - it is mostly wide but little actual offwidthing necessary. Endless laybacks, a couple of roofs and a techy finger finale keep the climbing varied to the end.

While establishing the route, a brave lizzy decked on the Lizard Ledge at the base of the gorgeous seamed out corner, giving a good nakesake to this remarkable line.

P1: 5.7. 25m. An approach traverse. A retro-bolt protects the follower. Stop at the first belay for the free route or continue to the stunning seam to fingers corner.

P2: 5.9+ R or 5.12+ A0. 18m. The free route follows the squeeze chimney behind the frighteningly thin Lizard's Tongue flake. Good pro available after a significant runout. A bolt protects the follower and keeps the rope out of the cams. A more classic line follows the seam to beautiful fingers at 5.12 C1 and links into the next pitch for a full value pitch of tips to offwidth.

P3: 5.11. 18m. Fists flare to cool wide hands up a 7" inch offwidth then stellar moves out the roof. The technical crux of the route.

P4: 5.10. 35m. Off-fist laybacks forever! Tagging up an aider will enhance the belay stance.

P5: 5.11. 42m. Beautiful and classic enduro pitch! This pitch is burly and may be the true crux of the route.

P6: 5.10. 35m. More off-fists take you out a crazy roof with fun varied climbing above.

P7: 5.11-. 45m. Hands to off-fingers to techy flared fingers in an acute corner with wild climbing to the top of the wall.

Astrolizard shares the traverse and up through the thumb-like feature of P4 with Bad Fish, the aid line that pendulums into and follows the corner to the left.

All anchors are two bomber bolts equipped with chain, besides the top which has webbing and cord and the anchor above the large roof is two metolius rap hangers (Bad Fish anchor).

Park at Taylor Creek trailhead and follow the trail up the middle fork for about 40 minutes, passing Astrolizard. Once the trail parallels (and is in) the wash for 20 meters, you will see a 2 meter tall sheer-faced boulder in the creek (north bank). Back track about 30 meters and head north along flat ground to a short cliff then right along the cliff, following a trail along the ridge straight toward the route. Rack up under the route then hike back west, traversing the easiest path (a prominent red band) along the slabs to easiest way up the final slab; there is a move here, 5.6 or so. I recommend rock shoes, trailing a rope and bring a .75 or two and #1 to build an anchor afterward to belay up your partner with the rest of the gear. From here it's chill following ledges back east to the anchor for the traverse pitch.

In C4 sizing:
*1x: micro cams to .3
*4x: .4
*3x: .5
*2-3x: .75
*2x: #1
*2x: #2
*2x: #3
*4x: #4
*4x: #5
*2x: #6 (Need 2 only for the crux roof, you can leave one at the anchor above.)
*Handful medium nuts useful for last pitch.

*For the 5.12 A0 variation add in a set of brassies (DMM #4-6) and extra tiny cams or ballnuts and subtract a #3 camalot; an aider to use on the lead bolt at base of the seam is useful (makes for fun 5.12A0)

*Two ropes at least 45 meters each