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On the alleged crux which felt several letter grad...
Description
This route is located in the Book Binding area immediately around and left from George's Tree and takes the splitter crack just right of the shallow dihedral start of Dead Boy. The protection is excellent, mostly bomber and easy to place nuts. The first pitch is awesome and described below. However, the guide calls the 2nd pitch "excellent 10a", though it looked somewhat junky to me.
Climb the thin crack to a difficult bulge with flaring finger and hand jams (burly 10+). Cop a rest above the bulge and climb the tips crack past a crux (11b) that is more hard-to-figure-out than actually hard. Rappel from the two-piton anchor or continue with the 2nd pitch.
Protection
Small to medium stoppers. Set of cams up to #2 Camalot.
The second pitch is good especially after you get going. It's a lot like the first pitch but easier. Follow the left leaning finger crack from the pins on top of pitch one. Off the belay it's a little committing .9ish climbing off a good nut. The 10a is delivered near the top of the pitch. This pitch would get better with more traffic, it's got a couple vegetables and crispies down low. It might be a good idea to bring some fresh webbing for the top anchor.
The left of the two pins at the top [first pitch] could use replaced. It's solid now, but looks a bit dubious. Would have done it yesterday if we'd had one in our crew... If you head up there to do this, take pliers to move the chain to the new pin as well.
Also agree that the top anchor could use some fresh webbing - and a bit of re-adjustment. [Slings are at the top of the second pitch (same finish as for Dead Dog Direct).] As it is now, most of the weight is taken by the backup knot shoved in a crack above the horn. If you head up there - I'd take enough to replace this and reinforce the webbing slinging the horns (maybe 4'?).
Both pitches now end at stations with two new stainless bolts with stainless rap rings. From the second pitch anchor it is about 102ft to the ground. We barely made it with a single sixty meter line. Both pitches are excellent. The second pitch is wild and unusual for lumpy.
This is one of those non typical lumpy climb(bulges, vertical). the first crux was way harder than the top crux. switch the 2 cruxes around and give the first one 5.11c. i also remember saying sorry to my fingers after pulling that bulge. very texured rock
The three climbers in our party all felt that the crack/bulge sections was way harder than the thin crack/slab above. The lower crux involves sequency hand and feet moves combined with nasty hand and finger jams.
See Road Kill for a photo of this and nearby routes.
By Bob Rotert From: Broomfield, Co Oct 9, 2005 rating: 5.10d
Good route, but as with most posts here, I would not agree with the rating. I can see a lot of people feel the first crux, which I believe was rated 10c in [Gillett's] guide is harder than the supposed 11b upper crux. I would almost agree. Lower crux is definitely more strenous & painful the upper crux is more technical but not as hard if you have good footwork & stay calm. To help with a consensus rating I would rate this climb 10+ or maybe 11-. If you think this is 11, you're really in for a surprise when you get on Dead Boy Direct or Corner Pump Station.
By Jeff Giddings From: Fort Collins Jul 3, 2006 rating: 5.11b
I agree with the book ratings on this one. The bottom is burly but seems about 10d. The top is thin, balancy, and pretty tenuous, I would give it 11b.
After leading 1st pitch on sight, (and falling) I agree that the upper section is harder than the lower section. Fiddling with small nuts while hanging on to small finger holds. While the lower section is more pumpy but not as diffcult to lead due to good locks and key hand jams. The pocket at the top near the last move helps to make this climb 4 stars.
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