Cenotaph Spire
5.8 YDS 5b French 16 Ewbanks VI- UIAA 15 ZA HVS 4c British C1 R
Avg: 1.6 from 5 votes
Type: | Trad, Aid, 400 ft (121 m), 3 pitches, Grade III |
FA: | Paul Ross, Todd Swain, Paul Gardner |
Page Views: | 2,151 total · 9/month |
Shared By: | Andrew Gram on Sep 13, 2003 |
Admins: | slim, Andrew Gram, Nathan Fisher, Perin Blanchard, GRK, D C |
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Access Issue: RAIN, WET ROCK and RAPTOR CLOSURES: The sandstone around Moab is fragile and is very easily damaged when it is wet. Also please ask and be aware of Raptor Closures in areas such as CAT WALL and RESERVOIR WALL in Indian Creek
Details
WET ROCK: 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 MOAB during or after rain.
RAPTOR CLOSURES: please be aware of seasonal raptor closures. They occur annually in the spring.
RAPTOR CLOSURES: please be aware of seasonal raptor closures. They occur annually in the spring.
Description
Interesting route to a cool summit, but lots of bad rock limit the appeal.
P1: From the ramp on the Tombstone side of the spire, aid up an overhanging dihedral that apparently goes free at 5.10 - C1' for me. Walk along a third class ramp, and then enter a heinous bulging 5.8 squeeze chimney. This thing is not protectable for 20 feet or so without really wide gear of some kind - i left a tipped out 5 camalot at the start of the chimney, though it gets easier towards the top. Natural belay on a good rubble covered ledge above this. 80' 5.8R C1
P2: Climb up and then straight left with a little downclimbing to a bulging sandy crack. Pull one hard move and then easy to the anchor. Route finding is tricky and the rocks sucks on this pitch. I took a big fall getting off route going up too high too early - don't be suckered by the stopper I left to get off that part after the fall. 100' 5.8R
P3: Really cool pitch. Climb up to a 4 bolt ladder, and then left up 5.7 munge to the notch. Mantle onto the ledge and then aid up and right on bolts past an optional intermediate 2 bolt belay to a GORGEOUS splitter on the opposite face of the summit tower. Climb the incredible thin splitter on small aliens and tcus to a three bolt ladder and then a mantle to the summit. This pitch is three stars, and makes the first two pitches worth suffering through. The rope drag can be very bad - if you have any at all at the intermediate belay stop there or prepare to suffer on the topout mantle. 140' 5.7 C1
To descend, make a double rope rap to the top of the second pitch, and another straight to the ground. Bring webbing to replace the rap slings, and a register would be nice too.
P1: From the ramp on the Tombstone side of the spire, aid up an overhanging dihedral that apparently goes free at 5.10 - C1' for me. Walk along a third class ramp, and then enter a heinous bulging 5.8 squeeze chimney. This thing is not protectable for 20 feet or so without really wide gear of some kind - i left a tipped out 5 camalot at the start of the chimney, though it gets easier towards the top. Natural belay on a good rubble covered ledge above this. 80' 5.8R C1
P2: Climb up and then straight left with a little downclimbing to a bulging sandy crack. Pull one hard move and then easy to the anchor. Route finding is tricky and the rocks sucks on this pitch. I took a big fall getting off route going up too high too early - don't be suckered by the stopper I left to get off that part after the fall. 100' 5.8R
P3: Really cool pitch. Climb up to a 4 bolt ladder, and then left up 5.7 munge to the notch. Mantle onto the ledge and then aid up and right on bolts past an optional intermediate 2 bolt belay to a GORGEOUS splitter on the opposite face of the summit tower. Climb the incredible thin splitter on small aliens and tcus to a three bolt ladder and then a mantle to the summit. This pitch is three stars, and makes the first two pitches worth suffering through. The rope drag can be very bad - if you have any at all at the intermediate belay stop there or prepare to suffer on the topout mantle. 140' 5.7 C1
To descend, make a double rope rap to the top of the second pitch, and another straight to the ground. Bring webbing to replace the rap slings, and a register would be nice too.
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