Cascading Crystal Kaleidoscope (CCK) 

CCK Direct finishes left instead of right at the final traverse. As nice as CCK is, the Direct is even better. This also cuts out a belay.

Be very careful on the PG13 move off the GT ledge - this was the scene of a serious accident. In my old age I refuse to lead this anymore and take the corner to the right instead - just as hard but protectable.

The 3rd pitch is truly one of the best here. I agree the start of the 2nd pitch has the potential for a nasty fall. Never done the 5.10 variation on the 3rd pitch, how good is it?

On pitch 3 there is a fixed orange TCU, the sling is a little crusty but the piece looks solid and it isn't poorly placed for darg, so clip it and keep on moving on this increbile pitch.

Linking 2-3 seems logical, way more classic, and going out left to the sling belay in the corner seemed pointless...except for photo ops from the belay. You can still go left after the mantle move with long runners to keep the difficulty low (skipping the sling belay) and then do the P3 traverse back right (to avoid CCK direct 5.9). Besides the photo op. from the belay it is a shame to break this nice pitch up.

Also agreed that falling at the 5.8 mantle move on P2 is not an option. Pretty sure you would hit the ledge below.

Did the Williams's second pitch. I went up from the pine tree and then moved a little left at an overhang. Went up trending left and then hand traversed into the normal belay alcove. Not sure if I did it right. Overall, my impression was that the third pitch was short and fun but the first two pitches did not excite me. Also, I was hung over.

It's a good idea to have belayer anchored firmly and closely to the tree. May or may not keep you off the deck but will keep your belayer from being dragged off the ledge if the green cam blows and you bounce over the edge off the ledge as happened to a party 3 or 4 years ago.

Regarding slings on the oak tree. Because they are there doesn't mean you should consider rapping down CCK, one of the most popular lines at the Gunks. As noted in the route description above, there is a bolted rap line to climber's right(north). If you have doubles a single rope rap will get you to the GT ledge bolted anchors and the doubles will get you to the ground from there.

As for the debate over the start of the second pitch: I took option #3, which was strenuous and a little heady. From what I can tell, the leaders that find themselves in R/X climbing get mixed up and end up on a "direct start" to overhang notch described in option three. So, instead of traversing to the notch from the left with good gear, they climb straight up to it from the pine tree on the GTL where gear is nonexistent. I'm guessing they just read the route incorrectly, thinking that they're on the original 5.7 PG line that Williams describes?

from the Admin: Michael G. gets kudos for clarifying & writing out the three options, which I've inserted above. Thanks, Michael!

I've climbed this route 3 times using "option #3" - I was shown this way originally and it certainly makes a fantastic line!

Just climbed it using Dick Williams' directions, option #2. I took just a single (crouched) step right from the stance, going up the bulging right side of the overhang, not any appreciable distance from the purple Camalot. I'm 6' and had to reach far and search to find the magic hold that makes it work.

Consider me another climber confused about where the original CCK pitch 2 is supposed to go. Yesterday we were trying to do it, but after much debate did the direct start (Option 3 above) because it was the obvious line. My friend led it, not me, and I thought it would have been a nasty fall if he blew it at the overhang. The gear is there, but it is to the left as you pull the overhang and it isn't at all far to some ankle-breaking stuff. It's a challenging sequence, mostly in the moves to the right before you pull over. There are good feet but you can't see them!

This was a super fun lead, it really lives up to its reputation. Something interesting on every pitch.

Regarding the P2 options, I did it by the book, as noted in #2 above. As I was perched below the bulge, feeling around for something positive above me, I was intrigued by the notch in the rock to my left. Someone had climbed there at some point, as there was a tiny fixed nut in the crack at the back of the notch. But the climbing there looked dubious, so I doubled up on pro and pulled the bulge move. I'd say that was the hairiest part of the whole route.

This is one of the most fun climbs I have ever done. I stepped right at the roof at the beginning of P2 and pulled the bulge, but I leaned out left and clipped the fixed nut first. I agree with the above comment that the bulge is the toughest part of the climb, but still pretty straightforward once you find the right holds.

First pitch protection is adequate but not that good, the climbing is relatively straightforward, almost like an easier version of Classic. I actually found first pitch of updraft more enjoyable than CCK and it brings you to the same place.