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Donner Summit Bastille Slab also known as Practice Slab bellow School Rock

Original Post
AuburnClimber · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2015 · Points: 35

I'm looking for more information on the practice slabs bellow School Rock at Donner summit. I can't find a lot of information about the slab. I often take my young kids here to climb--both started at 2 y/o here.

The "Climber's guide to Tahoe Rock" by Mike Carville, calls it Bastille Slab in the photo and Practice Slab on the climbing topo map for School Rock, and there is not anymore information on ratings for the routes.

On the site here at the "Mountain Project," the slab is listed as an individual route, "Bastille Slab 5.4," under School Rock. But the slab has multiple TR routes with bolted anchors. I think it should really be listed as a separate area because of the multiple TR routes.

Does anyone know the ratings for the routes on this little slab? Or even history on its naming. I think some people are calling it Nursery Slab as well.

I know it is quite easy as I often free-solo the crack system to the TR bolt anchors (some of the face/friction climbing is a lot harder), and that is probably why no one cares to name or rate the routes; but, for such a popular area, I have seen boulder routes better documented:)

Kevin DeWeese · · @failfalling - Oakland, Ca · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 981

What benefit do you gain by knowing the "ratings" of every inch of a TR practice slab that doesn't even require climbing shoes?

These sorts of areas that are mainly useful for introducing noobs and young children to the sport are better off just being a climbing area rather than climbing routes. Noobs and young children don't need to chase numbers, they just need to climb.

Come to think of it, most climbers would do better ignoring numbers and just climbing (with the exception of knowing ratings such as PG, R, and X for obvious reasons.)

AuburnClimber · · Unknown Hometown · Joined May 2015 · Points: 35

Well, I've been climbing longer than you probably have been alive. The slab has multiple top rope climbs, and I think consensus route information would be useful especially to new climbers and kids that frequent the slab as a reference.

Kevin DeWeese · · @failfalling - Oakland, Ca · Joined Jan 2007 · Points: 981
AuburnClimber wrote:Well, I've been climbing longer than you probably have been alive. The slab has multiple top rope climbs, and I think consensus route information would be useful especially to new climbers and kids that frequent the slab as a reference.
A reference to what? How much fun they had? How connected they felt to their body and/or the the outdoors?
blza · · Unknown Hometown · Joined Mar 2010 · Points: 0

hahahahahaaaa. this is a funny thread. it's all 4th class at most...

Guideline #1: Don't be a jerk.

Northern California
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