Type: Trad, Alpine, 500 ft (152 m), 5 pitches, Grade III
FA: Chris Atkinson, Dan Redford, August 1989
Page Views: 10,614 total · 50/month
Shared By: Steven Lucarelli on Oct 5, 2006
Admins: Mark Roberts, Mauricio Herrera Cuadra, Kate Lynn, Braden Batsford

You & This Route


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Warning Access Issue: SNOWPATCH SPIRE ROCKFALL DetailsDrop down

Description Suggest change

This is a fun route on really good quality rock and all the pitches are rated 5.10 according to the book with the crux coming on the 4th pitch.

P1: Start about 10' to the left of a large left facing dihedral and follow finger cracks up the face. Two overhangs are encountered on this pitch which are bypassed by climbing left around the first one and right around the second. Belay just above the second overhang at a small stance.

P2: Follow cracks and face climbing to a steeper upper wall and belay.

P3: Continue climbing the face heading up and right to a chimney, struggle up the chimney and belay on top at a two bolt anchor. (It is also possible to avoid the chimney by traversing to the right and climbing a hand crack to the same stance).

P4: Step right and climb up a steep crack corner to perfect hands through a roof. Pull the roof and belay in a crack to the left.

P5: Climb straight up awkward finger to fist sized cracks to the top of the ridge.

Location Suggest change

To get to this route climb up about 40' from the Crescent Glacier to a large ledge. Follow the ledge left to get to the start of the first pitch which is about 40' to the left of McTech Arete, and 10' left of a large left facing dihedral (that's a lot of left's). To get down walk east up the ridge to the top of McTech Arete and look out on the south face for a chain anchor. The anchor is not visible from above. Only one 60m rope is needed for the rappels.

Protection Suggest change

Small cams and extra nuts for the lower pitches and hand to fist size cams up high. There is one bolted belay about halfway up at the top of a chimney but the rest you have to set up yourself.

Photos

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