Type: Trad, 115 ft (35 m)
FA: Perlman, Sylvester
Page Views: 1,970 total · 17/month
Shared By: Tyson Waldron on Jun 29, 2014
Admins: Aron Quiter, Lurk Er, Mike Morley, Adam Stackhouse, Salamanizer Ski, Justin Johnsen, Vicki Schwantes

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Use onX Backcountry to explore the terrain in 3D, view recent satellite imagery, and more. Now available in onX Backcountry Mobile apps! For more information see this post.

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Perhaps the most aesthetic climb at the Center Wall, "The A Bomb" will catch any trad climber's eye. The line follows a beautiful jam crack that zigs & zags separating vivid orange granite from its dark, ominous, and water-streaked counterpart.

The A Bomb is an excellent route that tests the full gamut of requisite trad climbing skills, and should not be skipped by those that climb .10+

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The A Bomb starts up some 5.easy sinker jams and then traverses along a walk-able ledge to the main line. Sling this real long or solo it.

From here, you will find excellent fists, but eventually the crack becomes a bit of a squeeze chimney. I'm no OW climber, and thought it was physical, but technically easy. Exiting the pod felt like the crux of this section. Takes #3 to #5 with a bomber nut or .3 cam placement near the pod.

Conquering the bottom section has warmed you up for the sustained traversing hands section to follow, as the crack lasers out left about 15 feet. With only one foot available to set in the jam crack, this traverse is very pumpy, so move swiftly! Perfect #2 and #3 hands.

The crack then juts back right, & you get a much needed foot for your left resulting in a decent rest... just a jug rail to finish, right?

Well, if this was at the bottom, it might feel that way. If you are mortal, you will no doubt be feeling the last few sections. This last traversing crack, just doesn't feel quite as cozy as it should. The feet are there, but they aren't ledges, more like semi-positive smears, and the glacially-polished granite feels like it could spit you at any moment. Another pumpy section. Takes .4 to .75

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Center Wall, right end. Striking line that will be hard to miss by climbing types.

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Rack to #5. Triples in #2 or #3 would be nice to have.

Using a second #4 BD instead of #5 was quite tipped out for me (exiting the wide part of the route). I also had an old school Wild Country #5 that fit much better (more like a #4.5) A new #5 BD should fit here as well, which is why I've listed rack to #5. Double #4 works in a pinch, I just don't love seeing my pro tipped, even if it is a big honkin' #4... Double #4 and a #5 would be overkill.

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