Sundial Crack 5.8-
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| Type: | Trad, 4 pitches, 430 feet, Grade III |
| Consensus: | 5.8- [details] |
| FA: | Bob Mitchell, Will Fulton - 1972 |
| Season: | Fall/Winter/Spring (you'll roast in the summer) |
| Submitted By: | reddirt on Nov 28, 2006 |
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Moonrise on Sundial. Photo by Michael K.
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Description Although it's not a long sustained splitter crack, this is a really nice route, especially if the Nose is occupied. The crack actually runs for only ~20 ft on the 3rd pitch and is flaring, but protectable. The Lambert/Shull guide rates it 5.8, but I thought it was really mellow for the grade.
This description is meant to supplement the Lambert/Shull book. Ratings are from the book.
Start: Pretty much where the approach trail meets the rock. Relatively short approach.
P1: 5.5 80' Climb up and stay right of bulge, then move left to anchors. Either this pitch is underrated or the next pitch is overrated, as they didn't feel that different in difficulty.
P2. 5.8 100' At start, look up & right to anchors at top of 2nd pitch. Aim for those. Plenty of gear options.
P3: 5.7 120' If climbing on 50m ropes, climb more than 120' to ensure enough rope for last pitch. There are no fixed anchors for the end of this pitch.
P4: 5.6 150' Move up & left, aiming for the top of The Nose.
Descent: same raps as nose at the base of a distinct downward pointing flake. Using two 50m ropes rap to the "parking lot"-anchors are on right end if facing rock; rap to anchors between The Nose & Sundial Crack; rap to ground.
Protection (stolen from the description of The Nose): "Lots of small and medium cams, TCUs, tri-cams, etc. Make sure you bring plenty of runners and some good stiff shoes."
The first pitch takes larger gear than you'd think. I used a yellow #2 Camalot. The party before us used a blue #3.
I was glad to have multiples of .3-.75 camalot C4's, C3's, & several TCU's. The gear in the goofy belay picture is pretty typical of what's needed through the whole climb (.5 C4, .4 C4, yellow TCU, 000 C3, 0C3).
BETA PHOTO: This is the "crack" on Sundial Crack, Looking Glas...
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BETA PHOTO: Overkill hanging belay at the top of the 3rd pitch...
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I scope out placements leading the second pitch of...
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The rock turns golden in the late afternoon as Rob...
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We are beginning the 3rd pitch. Me leading off af...
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This gives a good idea of the angle of Sundial Cra...
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Sharing the second belay with a friendly party.
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Headed up Sundial
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The "Crack"
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BETA PHOTO: Sundial Crack
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The "crack"
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P2 Sundial
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| Comments on Sundial Crack |
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By jeffinatlanta
From: Smyrna, Ga.
Jan 6, 2007
rating: 5.8 PG13
| Whatever the first pitch is rated in the book, it's 5.7 in my little world of ratings. I think the crack pitch (3rd) is actually easier. |
By Floridaputz
From: Oakland Park, Florida
May 2, 2007
| I just climbed this again last weekend. I really think this is every bit as good as the nose. The exposure is better. One note of beta, the wind hits this climb directly, it can really blow. Make sure in the spring and fall you dress right. I think the 2nd pitch is solid 5.8. |
By John Matthew
Dec 24, 2008
| I'd suggest taking a #3 camalot to protect the crux mantel move at the top of the 1st pitch. I found protection on P1 to be sparse after the first 20 feet. |
By Mike Anderson
From: Dayton, OH
Jul 27, 2009
| I liked this much better than "The Nose", and I thought it was easier and significantly better protected (with the possible exception of the first pitch). |
By Joel Longo
Mar 25, 2010
| For anyone who might be climbing this for the first time, it may help to stand back far enough on the ground to see where the crack is in relation to the first belay. I neglected to do this and as a result completely missed it. The topo in the Lambert book makes it look as though pitch 2 is mostly straight up however I found out the hard way this is not the case. |
By esha
Dec 17, 2010
| the amount of gear you find on the first pitch will highly depend on the path you take. anyway you slice it, there isn't a ton of good gear. and it probably is a little harder than 5.5. much like the nose, i think the first pitch might be a tad sandbagged. |
By camhead
Apr 23, 2012
| I agree with Joel's comments on the 2nd pitch. You trend pretty hard right to get to the bolts below the crack. I did not do this, and wound up having to make a straight horizontal traverse for about 40 feet. My follower was not thrilled. |
By photocodo
From: Hendersonville, NC
Sep 2, 2012
| what a great crack, flaring but protectable. Wish it went on for 400ft. top of 2nd pitch is further right than the selected climbs suggests. |
By Mike Holley
From: Boone, NC
Sep 8, 2012
| Fantastic Route!! I would have to say my favorite out of the three classics on the nose wall! The Actual crack on the third pitch is so super fun! Enjoy!!!! |
By photocodo
From: Hendersonville, NC
Apr 23, 2013
| Led all four yesterday. second pitch has lots of pro. Great route. |
By Greg Berry
Apr 23, 2013
| The second pitch of the Sundial is my my favorite in the Nose area. If you stay on route it's several 5.8 moves one after another with great gear. Little mail slots all the way up the pitch. Clean moderate climbing on perfect granite with an awesome view. |
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