Road to Lhasa

Lhasa, of course, is the capital of Tibet, and it would take Ed four more years, until June of 1986, to get there. Perhaps the golden streak of rock just to the right of this climb was reminiscent of the “golden” roof of the Potala, the building which is seen in the spectacular cover photograph of Galen Rowell's book “Mountains of the Middle Kingdom”.(Published in 1983)

This was one of the more difficult climbs to find, as in Ed's guidebook he mentions only a "birch tree" and very little info on the topography of the rock. When I first looked for it the birch tree was long dead but not quite gone. ( It is now!) Fortunately, the directions below will get you there. It is definitely worth seeking out! 

START- The usual approach is from the Face Dances area. About 100 feet left of the belay for Face Dances. After the path along the base ( on a dirt ledge ) passes Herm. flake, it rises about 20-25 ft to the true "height-of-land" area. On your right is a flat-ish slab area. [Photo(s)]

Since the real Road to Lhasa twists and turns, it seems reasonable the right-side variation is the route of first ascent, and is now so listed. When you climb this think :" Nuts Only" as cams were still a few years in the future.

Pitch 1 is a true gem! If only P2 could be equal, BUT there's no need to climb P2, AND you can always climb Var 1 

P1 - Start on the flat-ish slab and then move left up a very short and shallow "corner" to reach the left end of the arching crack. [Var1] (Gear here, small TCU, then a 2nd, and better, piece can go in a few inches higher. Ed used only nuts.) Traverse right, passing an unbelievable hand hold (and gear placement, a med. cam, purple (0.5) Camalot) and make a thoughtful move to a flake ( hidden crack behind it)  Standing on the flake, ( the bolt high on your right is on Golden Potola ) move back left and then up moon-scoops to an anchor.  75 ft 5.7, (although a bit more difficult if you don't see the transition sequence)

Var 1 - Place pro in the crack, then Instead of moving right to the horizontal crack, step left. A few more moves left and then directly up to the anchor. There's a #2 (Gold) Camalot placement, but by then the difficulties are over.  75 ft, 5.7 with 5.4-5.5 R.

P2 - Up the slab to the trees. 160 ft 5.3

Descent - From P1 a "no brainer" the dbl bolt anchor is set for rapping or TR-ing; from the top of P2 there is no fixed anchor so find a tree and rap with 2 ropes down to the P1 anchors, then 1 rope to the ground.

Alternate Descent from the top to the "Left End" Area- If you have only a single rope, AND it's a 70 m rope, from the top of P2 walk 75-100 ft to climber's-LEFT to the rap station on the 6"-diameter pine tree* at the top of B-Day Brushings. You may have to re-establish this rap station because it seems to disappear from the tree. Two single-rope-70M-raps to the ground. (* NOT the 18"-diameter pine at the top of "Pillars", the "Pillars" rap is a double rope rap.