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Charon's Boat 
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Merlin's Enigma 

5.12a

   

FA: Richard Rossiter and Pebby Johns, 2005
New Route: Yes
Type: Sport
Consensus: 5.11c/d [details]
Length: 1 pitch, 40 feet
Views: 231 page views

Submitted By: Richard Rossiter on Aug 9, 2005


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BETA PHOTO: Merlin's Enigma climbs the corner and roof just le...


Description 

Hike to the Wall of the Goddess on the ledge above the second tier of Avalon. Continue around to the east and descend slightly to a gully full of boulders. Identify two obvious dihedrals capped by a roof. The route ascends the right dihedral, maybe 5 feet left of Charon's Boat and joins that route above the roof.

Stem straight up the V-shaped dihedral past two bolts, then power right to good holds on the arete (very cool). Stretch up and clip the third bolt, then crank straight up past one more bolt and gain a tiny stance with a 2-bolt anchor. Lower off.


Protection 

4 bolts to a 2-bolt anchor. Lower off. The last bolt and the anchor are shared with Charon's Boat.



Add Comment Comments on Merlin's Enigma
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By Kevin Neilson
From: Boulder
Aug 28, 2005

This is a nice, albeit short, new route. I won't give it a rating, but I suspect it might not be a 5.12. I am able to clip the third bolt from the undercling under the roof, a technique I recommend if you have the height. The crimpers on the arete under the third bolt are surprisingly decent. After I got my feet on the arete and stood up, I reached a bit off to the right on a hold that is probably also on "Charon's Boat"; these routes converge near that point, so I'm not sure if that hold is off-route or not.

By Tony Bubb
From: Boulder, CO
Jun 5, 2006
rating: 5.11c

Fun Route, but sure seemed like a gimmie for 5.12. Too short to say much more about.

By Zach Allen
Jun 9, 2006

Coincidentally, it's also a gimme for 5.11.

The bolt on Charon's Boat is about 20 inches away from the bolt over the lip on this route.

The climbing on this route is kind of fun. Too bad Charon's is such a ridiculous squeeze job. Do we really need to bolt every single piece of choss in BC?

By Ron Olsen
Administrator
From: Boulder, CO
Jun 9, 2006

Charon's Boat isn't choss; it's actually quite a fun climb.

By Tony Bubb
From: Boulder, CO
Jun 9, 2006
rating: 5.11c

Whoooa there hard man... This climb is a gimmie for an 11? As in you are saying it is a 5.10? I guess we strongly disagree on that point.

By david goldstein
Jun 19, 2007

Cons: 20' long; avoiding Charon's Boat is tremendously contrived.
Pros: Every move up to the last bolt, esp. if you play the contrived game, is thought provoking; this is a rare non-overhanging climb that is probably easier if short.

I was torn between giving it one or two stars but the 2nd Pro tipped the balance to two.