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Pony Express 
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Pony Express 

5.9

   
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Type: Trad, 2 pitches, 170 feet
Consensus: 5.8+ [details]
FA: 1st P: Dick Long, 2nd: Gene Drake, Jim Hicks
Submitted By: Brian Quiter on Mar 8, 2005

You & This Route  |  Other Opinions (63)
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Mike Dahlquist rides the first pitch of Pony Expre...

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Description 

Pony Express is a great way to start the day. The first pitch is worthy of 3 stars, a lieback flake for a ways then it turns into a left-facing open book.

The second pitch only deserves 1 star... continue up from the belay on easy climbing for ~20 feet then use a wide crack in the gully to pull a bulge (5.9). After the crux its 3rd class to the top.

Finding Pony Express is quite simple too. It starts in the middle of a clean face on a very obvious flake - the only one in the vicinity.


Protection 

Up to 3 inches, there are bolts atop the first pitch, and plenty of huge boulders to sling atop the second.

Walk off to the north.



Photos of Pony Express Slideshow Add Photo
First pitch of Pony Express (5.8) at sunset

BETA PHOTO: First pitch of Pony Express (5.8) at sunset

There are frequent big rests.

There are frequent big rests.

The corner above the first ledge.

The corner above the first ledge.

Laybacking to surmount the step in the upper corner.

Laybacking to surmount the step in the upper corne...

Paul making a big layback move. Is it really this low angle?

Paul making a big layback move. Is it really this ...

Beautiful panoramic shot highlights the west side of Sugarloaf as I start up the stellar Express.  Yee ha!   <br /> <br />Photo by Laine <br /> <br />April 2009

Beautiful panoramic shot highlights the west side ...

Perfect spring day for Pony Express

Perfect spring day for Pony Express

Pony Up

Pony Up


Comments on Pony Express Add Comment
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By caughtinside
From: Oakland CA
Feb 19, 2008

Fun handcrack. Would be a great warmup but it's on the shady side of the Loaf in the am. Brr!!

It's worth toproping the .11b to the left from the bolted anchor if you're so inclined. thin edging fun.

By M.Morley
Administrator
From: Sacramento, CA
Feb 28, 2009

If just climbing the first pitch, a singe rope is sufficient to get you back down. Somewhere around 80' or so.

By tallmark515
From: San Francisco
Mar 31, 2009
rating: 5.8

More like 5.8 (Supertopo rating)

Crux consists of a few 5.8 lieback moves. Great gear.

I used the anchor out to the right on the face. To spice up the route, bypass the bulge and go out and right directly onto the face (direct to anchor), no gear for ~8 ft or so and maybe a 5.9 move or two.

By Aerili
From: Salt Lake City, UT
Apr 26, 2009

I didn't bother to climb the second pitch since I hadn't read or heard anything good about it, but this one pitch alone is utterly fantastic and a must-do! Not a single bad move on the entire thing.

By Blitzo
Aug 24, 2010

The first pitch is classic.

By Colonel Mustard
From: Reno, NV
Mar 14, 2011

The second pitch isn't classic by any means, but it is still fun. Your experience probably won't be tainted unless your psyche crumbles at the thought of touching 2 star terrain. A #4 gnu skewl camalot is recommended.

By Josh Cameron
Jul 17, 2011

First pitch starts out at 5.7, has a distinct 5.8 section (perfect for a #1 C4) and finishes with 5.6 liebacking. The second pitch is 5.9.

By Floyd Hayes
Aug 15, 2012
rating: 5.9

Pitch 2 has a committing 5.9 lieback section about 10' long protected by big #4 and #5 BD cams, followed by a rest on a ledge and then another 15' or so of 5.7 crack. Don't underestimate the "5.9 move to 3rd class" described in the SuperTopo guide.

By Mitch M
Nov 27, 2012

Pitch 2 was an awesome awkward wide crack,a #3 fits just off the deck and a #4 BD fits perfectly about halfway up. Don't let all the haters deter you, it was a fun grovel past the bulge with some fists and chicken winging tossed in the mix.

By Mitchell Rhodes
Apr 17, 2013

onsight freesolo