The Ventral Fin  5.10 A2-3

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Type:  Trad, Aid, 4 pitches, 300 feet, Grade IV Consensus:  5.10 A2-3 [details] FA:  Smoot Bros. 1982 Season:  anytime except the middle of summer Submitted By:  Stevie Nacho on Jun 28, 2009 You & This Route  |  Other Opinions (3) Your todo list: Your stars: Your rating: -none- [change] Your ticklist: [add new tick]

Jonathan cleaning the 3rd pitch.

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Description 

The cruxes to this route are following the second pitch and the lasso at the beginning of the fourth. Each pitch is fairly short, yet have great features and moves. The nailing is straightforward and cams appear every couple of placements. The third pitch gets thin, with multiple tied off blades. Every belay has new (2009) bolts along with every lead bolt.

Location 

This route is located on the right side of the fin high above Altered States Gully. Approach as for the Dorsal Fin, then do a 5.6 pitch which angles up then right for a full rope length. Some simi-climbing is needed to reach the chain anchor for The Gills. The first pitch starts to the left (west) of the chain anchor. This is the short bulge crack (8') that traverses left (west) to a bush.

Protection 

-One set of hand sized cams (Black diamond .75-3)

-Two sets of t.c.u.'s (Metolius purple, blue, yellow)

-One orange metolius cam, One red metolius cam.

-One set of HB Brass off-sets.

-Some medium stoppers.

-An assortment of blades, (we used about ten)

-An assortment of lost arrows (we used about six)

-A few beaks or Rurps (we used two beaks)

-Bunches of slings

-A copy of the topo

Photos of The Ventral Fin Slideshow

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Pitch 4

Jonathan drilling (above a ledge) on the epic 5th ...