Gossamer 

This is my favorite route at Rushmore.

This is a serious lead for very short climbers. The first bolt is a stretch to reach from a comfortable stance for me, and I am 6' tall. For short people, a very thin and hard for 5.7 move must be made before clipping the bolt - yikes! Placing a nut is a very good idea as you can fall a long way after the traverse onto the shoulder before you clip that bolt.

Wonderful starter Black Hills route. Great start, gets you thinking before you even leave the ground. Kinda neat getting lowered off and looking thru the picture window.

This route is on a massive angled flake with a huge picture-window hole in the middle. Doing a layback all the way up the huge flake makes this one of the most unusual and thrilling climbs in the area.

This climb definitely deserves 3 stars. I think it is great because there is no other climb anywhere like it (that I am aware of). The lieback moves are super fun too.

Yep. You can place a nut in the first small crack. Once on the small ledge below the first bolt, you may want to throw a runner over the big jug. This makes clipping the first bolt a breeze. Love the new top anchors, too!

If you want to protect the first moves but didn't bring gear try knotting a runner & wedging that in the cracks. I found a 'placement' that might have actually held a fall...

Climbed it 08/01/04 with my wife pulling the second for me. I counted only 3 bolts, maybe I blew past one but I doubt it. In the morning it was shadey (nice for a 90+ day) and cool. Gossamer is a MUST for the Dead Presidents Area.

Cool photo Greg! That's an interesting perspective.

Fun, interesting route. In the shade till late morning.

Important Safety Note: The use of top anchors for top roping should be questioned. At many sport climbing areas the top anchors are used repeatedly for toproping. Visible wear can be seen and climbers still top rope directly from the top anchors. This is a Lazy Practice that should be stopped! It takes only moments for the leader to set up the top rope using quickdraws. This saves the anchors, saves time and money and it could even save someone's life! As the last climber, take the time to rappel verses being lowered down, rappelling will help save the anchors. Please help by setting an example.

Beautiful route that gets your attention right away. Don't go here on a cold windy day. The wind funnels up the draws and slams into the rock. The first time I climed the route I was worried about getting blown off. The most recent time I damn near froze. When it is nice and warm out ... well then don't pass up the opportunity to climb this one of a kind route.

I was climbing with a large group of guys and Sam Papendick was on lead, once he topped out and was on belay something happend a miss communication and Paps was dropped from just below the window, a ground pound the most gnarly shit I have seen in a long time.

Probably the most fun route Ive ever done, anywhere! A definite must do! Very easy and very photogenic route... bring the camera!

There is no way you could convince me this route is not 4 stars, super classic. I remember three bolts when I did it last. Bring a camera!!!

We were just there July 8, 2009 and were very disappointed to find the first bolt chopped. Since you start mid-way up, now the first bolt is a good 40' from the ground, making this route much more dangerous than before. Definitely need some nuts or cams to protect yourself at the start now.

We'd checked this route out in 2007 when we were in the area, but weren't quite ready to try it. We were ready to go this year, but not with the new exposure. Be sure to bring some pro to make this climb reasonable, especially given the low difficulty rating.

I was on this recently...no chopped bolts then. There is only 4 bolts on this route and it has always been advisable to place a nut or cam down low.

I just climbed this again. Sweet laybacking and just enough bolts to make it an easy lead. I would advise that you check out the shuts at the end of the climb. They have serious wear groves from T/R and or lowering. You may need to back this anchor up.

An absolute classic route. A must do for the 5.7-8 leader in the Black Hills imho. Work your lay-back and smearing to cruise to the top. Slot a small stopper down low to protect the opener.

Climbed this one tonight as my second climb in the Black Hills. It was great, and I'd recommend it for anyone.