Counterstroke 

FA:  Steve Levin & Andy Donson New Route:  Yes Type:  Trad Consensus:  5.11+ [details] Length:  1 pitch, 80 feet Views: 312 page views Submitted By: Steve Levin on Nov 30, 2002 Add Photo  Add Comment

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Description 

Counterstroke is the obvious and independent line between the second pitch of Point Break, and Another Pipeline Bone Crusher. The climbing is interesting, technical, and strenuous.

Above and right from the 2-bolt anchor atop P1 Point Break is a wide, pink corner leading to a roof and a leaning, right-facing corner above. One can solo to the 2-bolt anchors via a broken 5.0 ledge system directly below, or climb the first pitch of Point Break.

Start left and down from a small tree and make a poorly-protected 5.11- move to establish yourself in the base of the corner. Positive holds lead up 10 feet to a ramp (on the left) and the start of the crux climbing. With good gear, make moves up and right onto the face, then mantle up and left to the roof (watch out for a flexible flake under the roof). A radical stem is used to surmount the overhang. Reach to the hanging tooth above, then handjam and layback up and right, in a right-facing corner.

The climb was established "head point" style on natural gear. It is only dangerous at the boulder-problem start and could certainly be led onsight now that it has been cleaned up a bit. Andy: British E5/6 6a, or something like that.

Protection 

Several #2 and #3 RPs, small to medium wired stoppers, double set TCUs, two #1 Friends, #1 Camalot. We used a #2 Ball nut to protect the 5.9 corner after the initial unprotected start. There is very good gear from the start of the hardest climbing to the top of the pitch. 1 (or 2) ropes off from the slings around the tree at top of P2 Point Break.