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Rock Garden Valley - Left Side
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Routes Sorted
L to R R to L Alpha
Beck's Bet 
Double Dogleg 
Euthyphro 
Fortune Cookie 
Lewd and Lascivious Conduct 
MZM (Maria Zink Memorial) 
Personal Space 
Pop Rocks 
Rock Candy 
Rock Dog Candy Leg 
Rock-a-Lot 
Smithereens 
Spitwad 
Split Personality 
Top of the Pops 
Yi 
Young Lust 

Rock-a-Lot 

5.7

   
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Type: Trad, 1 pitch, 90 feet
Consensus: 5.7 [details]
FA: Keith Cunning, 1979
Submitted By: Tony B on Apr 11, 2003

You & This Route  |  Other Opinions (36)
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Getting ready to clean Rock-a-Lot

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Description 

This climb ascends the left hand edge of the "shorter wall" of Rock Garden Valley that holds the more spectacular lines of Double Dogleg and Split Personality. Still the line does see some traffic and deservedly so. It is a nice and largely juggy warm up. It should be noted that "Shorter Wall" is a relative term and that the perhaps mis-named 'shorter wall' is taller than many of the walls at J-tree, with most of the lines being about 100' or so.

Start in the left hand side of the buttress, stemming a move or two up an A-shaped overhanging dihedral to a good horizontal, then heave up into a crack. Climb the crack up and to the top, passing a wide section about 1/2 way up. The climb may not be appropriate for nervous or beginning leaders unless you take some OW protection.

Up top, place a directional and head for the bolt anchors of Rock Candy (up and right) to belay. Rap with a 60M+ rope to descend.


Protection 

This climb is reasonably well protected provided you take a big piece or two. A 4.5 Camalot could be used with a #4 to Sew it up, but with just a single #4 the lead is also 'reasonable'. For climbers solid at the grade, I think most will be comfortable with no wide gear at all, as the route is not very insecure.



Photos of Rock-a-Lot Slideshow Add Photo
Ample face holds make this pretty mellow

Ample face holds make this pretty mellow

Finishing up

Finishing up

Getting some gear on Rock-a-Lot.

Getting some gear on Rock-a-Lot.

Nelson Leading Rock-A-Lot

Nelson Leading Rock-A-Lot

Rock a lot. Fine line.  Photo: Dave Rockwell.

Rock a lot. Fine line. Photo: Dave Rockwell.


Comments on Rock-a-Lot Add Comment
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By Woody Stark
May 20, 2004

A person learning to lead should not make this his/her first 5.7. The start may be a bit too much. Either way, whoever leads should place bomber pro to protect the start. It's technically easy; but if you blow it, you may be on a feeding tube forever and ever.

By Jason Shatek
Apr 7, 2005

I'm surprised this one doesn't get climbed more often. The crack is great but it has a stiff start! You just have to suck it up and do the first two or three moves. I sort of chimneyed my way up the left side till I could move over. Bring lots of big gear, I recommend doubles of cams 2,3,4. Overall a very good climb.

By Colin Parker
Administrator
From: Idyllwild, CA
May 22, 2009
rating: 5.7

I agree with Larry. This route is a lot of fun, and I personally enjoyed it more than double dogleg. I don't think you need much big gear since the off-width section is short and easy, but a #4 camelot should do fine. Lots in the #2 range though is helpful throughout.

By Nelson Day
From: Victorville, CA
Apr 24, 2012

You can stem around the off-width portion easily on this route. Good fun.

The guidebook says "lots of shade". From the pictures, you can tell this is NOT the case. The wall gets shade in the afternoon.

By Matt N
From: Santa Barbara, CA
Oct 29, 2012

Fully shaded mid-morning this past weekend.