Mountain Project: Climbing South Platte

SolArian is identified by the striking, sunlit, dihedral system on the left side of the NW face of Sheeprock. This route features face climbing, layback corners, a 100', diagonaling, finger crack traverse, and great exposure for only 3 pitches. This is one of few trad routes on Sheeprock.

Begin as for Cloak of the Wolf, on the Perch above the bivy spot on the left side of Land that Time Forgot.

P1: 5.10+, 175', shares the first pitch of the Cloak. 16 bolts, 3 bolt belay on a grassy belay ledge.

P2: 5.10, 105' classic. Lieback up the arching, right-facing dihedral (5.9) to a steep, cruxy step left into the main dihedral, protected by a bolt. Jam through a weakness in a roof above a spooky, hollow flake to a 3-bolt, hanging belay. Save a #2, #0.75, and maybe a #3 cam for the roof. be mindful of rope drag. (you cannot retreat after this point).

P3: 5.10+, 150' excellent and memorable. Continue up the finger crack above the belay (difficult to protect) to join a dihedral and A-frame roof. Pull around the roof, 5.10+, (strangely reminiscent of Fat City crack in Lumpy) where a tight, finger crack splits to the right. This is the crux of the entire route. CAUTION: be sure to place pro for your follower, the roof edge is sharp! Dance the sustained rising finger crack traverse (5.9) for about 100' to a comfortable sunny belay ledge with two bolts/gear (and a great place to take a pic of your follower!). This pitch gobbles up nuts and Aliens. Save a #1 for the final moves to the ledge.

Location

Protection

I typically bring a 1-1/2 set of stoppers, 2-3 sets of Aliens up to yellow, doubles of #0.5, #0.75, and #1 Cams. One #2, #3, and even a #3.5, are useful. 2 x 60m ropes.

Photos of SolArian

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BETA PHOTO: Looking up P2. Tom just clipped the bolt, about t...	Finishing 2nd pitch of Solarian.	Coming up the 2nd pitch of Solarian.
Ang finishing up the P3 100' finger crack.	Angela soaking up the exposure and view from the P...	Dave and Kirsten on P3. Dave is above the roof and...
Finishing up the first pitch.	Starting the second pitch.	Working up the crack on the second pitch.
Above the crux (and bolt) on pitch two.	Coming up the sweet finger crack on pitch three.	BETA PHOTO: A close-up of the crux roof and upper slab finger ...
Looking up the first pitch.	Hard but well bolted first pitch.	BETA PHOTO: Original topo.
AJ finishing the 3rd pitch. www.patrickbetts.zenf...	BETA PHOTO: Caution! The 3rd pitch roof is sharp - mind your r...	Finishing up pitch 1. www.patrickbetts.zenfolio.c...

Comments on SolArian

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By Darren Mabe
From: Flagstaff, AZ
Jun 7, 2010

Edit: to add that Ankar Gate raps are not recommended. If you do, the first rap you must keep tension to the left quite a bit to get to the next anchors. Also, some loose-ish flakes exist which is a bit spooky when pulling your ropes. For the other two raps, your ropes get caught up in the gully.

By Monty
From: Morrison, Co
Jul 12, 2010
rating: 5.10+

An excellent route with every type of climbing the platte has to offer (except offwidth, but that's fine with me). The upper finger crack is one of the best I've climbed. Great find Darren

We rapped down Ankar gate, which wasn't bad. It helps to clip a couple directional bolts for the tension traverse left from the saddle, then pull your partner over on their way down.

By Kbird
From: Lakewood, CO
Jul 12, 2010
rating: 5.10+

Really fun & varied climb, highly enjoyable! Funny, the 2nd pitch reminded me a lot of the 2nd pitch of Romulan Territory at Lumpy (but easier) and 3rd pitch fingercrack was reminiscent of Cheap Date (also at Lumpy.) The roof pull on the 3rd pitch is definitely the crux, I had a hard time with it. But the fingercrack afterwards is superb, and just keeps going with awesome exposure!!

By Phil Lauffen
From: Louyuppie
Apr 20, 2011

This looks super good. Does it get any sun?

By Darren Mabe
From: Flagstaff, AZ
Apr 20, 2011

Surprisingly, it does get quite a bit of sun in the afternoon during the summer months. Get early start when it's hot.

Highly recommended route. Enjoy!

By Jay Eggleston
From: Littleton
Jul 1, 2011
rating: 5.10+

This is an awesome route! Really good climbing with lots of variety. Thanks for putting it up, Darren. The pitch three roof is certainly the crux.

By Mark Roth
From: Boulder
Jul 2, 2011

On pitch 2: "Save a #2, #0.75, and maybe a #3 cam for the roof." I tried so hard to save them that I still had them at the belay!! Oops. #1s at the crux are good....

Also, do not bring a #4 up this! We felt so stupid dragging it up. Didn't really need a #3 either (it can get placed if you try hard, though). Would have loved to trade that weight for some water. Doubles to #1 are good and some extra small-medium nuts for pitch 3.

By Patrick Betts
Oct 16, 2012
rating: 5.10c/d

Climbed this yesterday, 10/15. Great climb. Pitch 1 was the hardest pitch, for me, out of the three. Consists of hard slab and the pitch pretty much stays in your face the entire 130 feet. We got sun on pitch 3 right around 3:30pm.

To reiterate, definitely watch your gear placements on the crux roof on pitch 3 to avoid slicing your rope - especially if your second may or may not flash the roof. We suffered a (small) core shot even though our gear placements couldn't have been much better.

We rapped the Ankar Gate anchors and had zero problems. Head down and left for the first double rope rappel, and you'll be golden.

Still a great climb!

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SolArian

5.10+

Description

Location

Protection