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Cinnamon Hedgehog
5.10a YDS 6a French 18 Ewbanks VI+ UIAA 18 ZA E1 5a British
Avg: 2.7 from 11
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Routes in Cactus Flower Tower Summit
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Blood on the Tracks T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a |
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Cinnamon Hedgehog T 5.10a 6a 18 VI+ 18 E1 5a |
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East Arete T 5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c |
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North Face - Cactus Flower Tower T 5.9 5c 17 VI 17 HVS 5a |
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Warrior, The T 5.11a 6c 22 VII+ 22 E3 5c |
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| Type: | Trad, 1215 ft (368 m), 8 pitches, Grade III |
| FA: | Andrew Fulton |
| Page Views: | 8,053 total · 50/month |
| Shared By: | fossana on Mar 13, 2011 |
| Admins: | Luke EF, Larry DeAngelo, Aaron Mc, Justin Johnsen |
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Access Issue: Red Rock RAIN AND WET ROCK: The sandstone is fragile and is very easily damaged when wet.
Details
Holds rip off and climbs have been and will continue to be permanently damaged due to climbers not respecting this phenomenon. After a heavy storm, the rock will remain wet, sometimes for several days. PLEASE DO NOT CLIMB IN RED ROCKS during or after rain. A good rule of thumb is that if the ground near your climb is at all damp (and not powdery dry sand), then do not climb. There are many alternatives (limestone, granite, basalt, and plastic) nearby.
HUMAN WASTE Human waste is one of the major issues plaguing Red Rocks. The Las Vegas Climbers Liaison Council and the AAC provides free "wag bags" in several locations (Black Velvet, First Pullout, Kraft Mtn/Bouldering, The Gallery, and The Black Corridor). These bags are designed so that you can pack your waste out - consider bringing one to be part of your kit (just like your rope and shoes and lunch) no matter where you go. Once used, please dispose of them properly (do not throw them in the toilets at the parking area).
HUMAN WASTE Human waste is one of the major issues plaguing Red Rocks. The Las Vegas Climbers Liaison Council and the AAC provides free "wag bags" in several locations (Black Velvet, First Pullout, Kraft Mtn/Bouldering, The Gallery, and The Black Corridor). These bags are designed so that you can pack your waste out - consider bringing one to be part of your kit (just like your rope and shoes and lunch) no matter where you go. Once used, please dispose of them properly (do not throw them in the toilets at the parking area).
Description
Although the grade for the route itself is only III the lengthy approach and descent make for a "full value day" as appropriately described by my climbing partner, Jon. Given the remoteness of the route I was expecting to encounter fragile rock but was pleased to find that this was not the case.
After an initially thin 5.9 start, the route travels up varnished cracks for ~2 pitches before moving onto featured face for 1.5 pitches. With sparse (but mostly decent) gear placements the crux pitch is thought provoking. Topping out high above the park affords spectacular views. In March the route goes into the shade in the early afternoon. All in all I have to rank this as among my favorite Red Rocks routes.
ROUTE
P0, aka the "approach pitch" in Handren (5.7, 100')
Climb a tight squeeze chimney (nearly impossible with a pack until you near the top) adjacent to a heavily pocket wall, on which I gave up on trying to find a decent gear placement. After the chimney follow a dirty, low angle crack (with good gear) to a pine tree. As of 12 Mar 2011 the pine tree had functional rap slings, although I added a carabiner.
From the pine tree rap down to the ledge below. Head climber's left around the base of the rock, through some bushes and slightly uphill until you encounter a section of red and white banded rock with large huecos (see photos). Two bolts mark the start of the route.
P1 (5.9, 200')
Move up the huecos traversing right on at time thin holds past 2 bolts, then move up and slightly left into a crack. Continue to a two bolt anchor.
P2 (5.8, 200')
Continue up the crack to its end, then up and right passing 2 bolts. Pull into a thin, left-leaning crack then up a vertical crack to a bolted anchor. Watch the rope drag on this pitch.
P3 (5.8, 200')
Climb up the crack for 50' then head right onto a slab. Continue up to a bolted anchor.
P4 (5.10a, 165')
Head up the featured face over 2 bulges (one of which is protected with a bolt) following a thin left-trending crack. Gear placements are sparse so pay attention. Fortunately the rock quality is good. Belay on gear from a large ledge.
From the ledge pull onto a slabby varnished boulder heading initially climber's left then back right on a large vegetated ledge.
P5 (5.3, 150')
Scramble up a heavily featured, low-angle slab to a narrow varnished ledge (see photo). Make a small jump across to a ledge with a pine tree. Use a gear anchor if you roped up.
P6 (5.6, 200')
Note: starting here Handren's description was off.
From the pine tree pull onto a ramp to a crack. Continue up the crack to slab for a full rope's length. Gear anchor.
P7 (low 5th, 100')
Scramble up a dihedral, up some blocks, then through a squeeze chimney with a wedged log. Continue up easy slabs to the summit.
After an initially thin 5.9 start, the route travels up varnished cracks for ~2 pitches before moving onto featured face for 1.5 pitches. With sparse (but mostly decent) gear placements the crux pitch is thought provoking. Topping out high above the park affords spectacular views. In March the route goes into the shade in the early afternoon. All in all I have to rank this as among my favorite Red Rocks routes.
ROUTE
P0, aka the "approach pitch" in Handren (5.7, 100')
Climb a tight squeeze chimney (nearly impossible with a pack until you near the top) adjacent to a heavily pocket wall, on which I gave up on trying to find a decent gear placement. After the chimney follow a dirty, low angle crack (with good gear) to a pine tree. As of 12 Mar 2011 the pine tree had functional rap slings, although I added a carabiner.
From the pine tree rap down to the ledge below. Head climber's left around the base of the rock, through some bushes and slightly uphill until you encounter a section of red and white banded rock with large huecos (see photos). Two bolts mark the start of the route.
P1 (5.9, 200')
Move up the huecos traversing right on at time thin holds past 2 bolts, then move up and slightly left into a crack. Continue to a two bolt anchor.
P2 (5.8, 200')
Continue up the crack to its end, then up and right passing 2 bolts. Pull into a thin, left-leaning crack then up a vertical crack to a bolted anchor. Watch the rope drag on this pitch.
P3 (5.8, 200')
Climb up the crack for 50' then head right onto a slab. Continue up to a bolted anchor.
P4 (5.10a, 165')
Head up the featured face over 2 bulges (one of which is protected with a bolt) following a thin left-trending crack. Gear placements are sparse so pay attention. Fortunately the rock quality is good. Belay on gear from a large ledge.
From the ledge pull onto a slabby varnished boulder heading initially climber's left then back right on a large vegetated ledge.
P5 (5.3, 150')
Scramble up a heavily featured, low-angle slab to a narrow varnished ledge (see photo). Make a small jump across to a ledge with a pine tree. Use a gear anchor if you roped up.
P6 (5.6, 200')
Note: starting here Handren's description was off.
From the pine tree pull onto a ramp to a crack. Continue up the crack to slab for a full rope's length. Gear anchor.
P7 (low 5th, 100')
Scramble up a dihedral, up some blocks, then through a squeeze chimney with a wedged log. Continue up easy slabs to the summit.
Location
APPROACH
Following Andrew's advice at approaching Ramen Pride Cliff from the right side of the pink cliff band (see photo) it is a shorter approach from the Oak Creek parking lot of the loop road. The downside is that you are subject to the loop road opening hours. Alternately park at one of the Route 159 Oak Creek lots (located 0.5 and 1.4 mi from the loop road exit).
Skirt the base of Ramen Pride Cliff and enter the gully that skirts the north side of the tower. The gully requires fourth and low fifth class scrambling with moderate bushwhacking. At one point the gully bifurcates; stay left. You'll be able to see the prominent dihedral that is The Warrior as a landmark. Approximately 300' from the prominent red band look left for a mossy slab. Scramble up the slab to reach the ledge that serves as the base of the "approach pitch".
Estimated approach time: 3 hours
DESCENT
From the top of the route follow the west ridge down. The descent includes some low fifth class downclimbs and/or an (optional) single rope rap. As Scott M noted the lower rap off the tree at the end of the W ridge can be avoided by scrambling down and left. As of 04 January 2014 the route was (mostly) cairned and had functional rap anchors. The cairns, however, are not always obvious. For the most part the descent route follows the easiest path down low angled slabs. The first time I topped out we did most of the descent in the dark (not recommended), but managed to stay on route following this method. For perspective, you will end up in a side drainage upstream from the slick slab that drops you into the stream bed on the Black Orpheus descent. Head downstream and follow the main Oak Creek Canyon back to the trail.
Our initial descent time (80% in full darkness): 4 hours, 15 min
Following Andrew's advice at approaching Ramen Pride Cliff from the right side of the pink cliff band (see photo) it is a shorter approach from the Oak Creek parking lot of the loop road. The downside is that you are subject to the loop road opening hours. Alternately park at one of the Route 159 Oak Creek lots (located 0.5 and 1.4 mi from the loop road exit).
Skirt the base of Ramen Pride Cliff and enter the gully that skirts the north side of the tower. The gully requires fourth and low fifth class scrambling with moderate bushwhacking. At one point the gully bifurcates; stay left. You'll be able to see the prominent dihedral that is The Warrior as a landmark. Approximately 300' from the prominent red band look left for a mossy slab. Scramble up the slab to reach the ledge that serves as the base of the "approach pitch".
Estimated approach time: 3 hours
DESCENT
From the top of the route follow the west ridge down. The descent includes some low fifth class downclimbs and/or an (optional) single rope rap. As Scott M noted the lower rap off the tree at the end of the W ridge can be avoided by scrambling down and left. As of 04 January 2014 the route was (mostly) cairned and had functional rap anchors. The cairns, however, are not always obvious. For the most part the descent route follows the easiest path down low angled slabs. The first time I topped out we did most of the descent in the dark (not recommended), but managed to stay on route following this method. For perspective, you will end up in a side drainage upstream from the slick slab that drops you into the stream bed on the Black Orpheus descent. Head downstream and follow the main Oak Creek Canyon back to the trail.
Our initial descent time (80% in full darkness): 4 hours, 15 min
Protection
60m rope. Double rack to 3", but somewhat dependent on your comfort level on fairly sustained 5.8. Note that the two 5.8 pitches are almost a full rope's length. Fixed anchors on all pitches 5.8 and up. Small gear (<0.5" including small nuts) required for the 10a pitch, but given the availability of gear placements a single set should suffice. To avoid rope drag bring some slings (versus all draws), including a double-length one for P2.
Extra rap gear recommended for the descent in case the stations need upgrade or you get lost and require alternate station(s).
Extra rap gear recommended for the descent in case the stations need upgrade or you get lost and require alternate station(s).
Photos
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