Airation Buttress  Photos:  Recent | Best | Popular Page Views:  37,278. Good page?    Administrators:  Jay Knower, M Sprague, lee hansche, Tom Erickson Submitted By:  lee hansche on Feb 16, 2007 Make this area a Favorite What's New   Print a Mini-Guide with routes Add Route  Add Photo  Add Comment  Add Event  Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri 77° | 50° 64° | 45° 64° | 52° 79° | 50° 68° | 45°

Airation Buttress atop of the Thin Air Face

Description 

This section is perched atop of the Thin Air face. It is the whitish buttress at the very top of the cliff.

The best thing about Airation Buttress besides the killer routes is the exposure. You start from a ledge, so right away you are 400ft up so with little commitment you get the maximum experience. The ledge is spacious and tree-covered on the right and gets smaller the farther left it goes. You can access the ledge by parking on the road near the summit (look for a flat rock next to the road). Follow a trail toward the cliff and around to the ledge. You can walk right up to many routes without having to rope up. Airation (5.11a) and Pinetree Eliminate (5.8+) are two classics that are easy to get to.

The left-hand routes can be gained by traversing the ledge (rope up for this one) or climb Still in Saigon to Miss Saigon (5.8+). This will put you in the middle of the left side of the ledge just beneath Camber (5.11b), one of the most spectacular routes at Cathedral. Camber is also one of the first routes to dry after rain.

Getting There 

You can access the ledge by parking on the road near the summit (look for a flat rock next to the road). Follow a trail toward the cliff and around to the ledge.

The left-hand routes can be gained by traversing the ledge (rope up for this one) or climb Still in Saigon to Miss Saigon (5.8+). This will put you in the middle of the left side of the ledge just under Camber (5.11b).

The Classics

Featured Route For Airation Buttress

Airation 5.11a  NH : Cathedral Ledge : Airation Buttress

Airation is a perfect straightforward finger crack. The crux is dealing with the pain of the sharp fingerlocks. This is a great example of 5.11a fingers. Footwork is key as there are many small feet on the face. Pitch 1: 5.11a follow the picture-perfect, finger crack to a tree with a fixed sling and rings. Most people only do the first pitch.Pitch 2: Follow the lower angled rock to the top. ...[more]   Browse More Classics in NH

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BETA PHOTO: The namesake is on the right, Stage Fright is on ...

Airation Buttress and The Prow on the left