Touchstone Wall 

If you're a reasonably experienced aid climber, this route can be done in one day with no fixed lines. Problem is the route is very popular and usually festooned with multiple fixed lines and beginner aid climbers moving slower than molasses. Some parties rap off when the free climbing starts, for fear of getting benighted.

The OW on pitch 5 is no big deal with one #4 Camalot, this is one of the easiest pitches on the route and no actual offwifth technique is needed. It is in fact a realtively low angle hand/fist crack that opens up to 4" in a few sections (several face holds also make this easy). The pitch after that (pitch 6) I found quite scary. It starts with a flaring, unprotected 5.9 chimney. I think you can also go up a thin crack left of this which may be the way you describe.

Just when you reach the big tree and think the route is over, there is the final bizarre pitch to deal with. Be careful here! There are some long runouts and traverses on this pitch, a tired leader or even follower could slip and go for quite a tumble.

I don't quite understand why many of your rap distances are listed as 35m. We were able to do all the upper raps with a single 50m rope, so I don't think any of the upper raps are more than 25m. I would recommend doing single rope raps even if you have 2 ropes as there are tons of bushes and trees to snarl your ropes.

For our last rap the guys ahead of us let us use their ropes and double 60's just reached the ground. I believe there was at least one intermediate anchor for those with shorter ropes.

this route is great in the winter because it gets early sun that sticks around most of the day. I did this route in seven and a half hours and I am no speed climber.

Once beyond the little aid roof on this climb there seem to be many bolted anchors to choose from. Where are the most popular stopping points/best belay spots? I have been as far as the first left hand anchor after the roof. Which pitches run together well?

Thanks for the info.

WC

as of 5.1.04 the c2 fixed rurp on the pitch 2 roof is not necessary (though it is fun to look at as you reach by it). there are fixed pins traversing under the roof to a c1 reach through the roof to a tied off fixed angle. the eye of the pin is broke, though it is tied of flush w/ the rock. imo, the route is no longer c2 but probably c1/c1+. the crack above the roof is probably c1+ for about 8-10' w/ somewhat blown out placements. bring the micros and step up for a long reach to a red (#5 i think) tcu placement in a flaring pod. note: this route (as others in zion) seem to be in a constant state of flux in relation to placements, fixed gear, etc. for example, a shallow, flaring placement one day may "suddenly" become a deeper, bomber placement the next (this through no action of my own, i should add), or vice versa. also, concerning linking belays, w/ a 60m rope, one can climb from the anchors at the top of the first pitch, through the roof, past the first anchors out right, past the first anchors on the left, to the second set of anchors on the left. that would be the third set of anchors reached from the chains on pitch 1. another option, though maybe not the best, is to skip the first set of anchors, climb through the once c2 roof, to the chains on the right above the roof.additonal info: from the third set of chains found on the route (the second set on the left of the crack), a single 60m rope can be fixed to the ground.also, as of 5.1.04, all of the route appears to have been freed except for the traversing slab on p1. have fun

Some of this will echo AC's comments above.

My pard and I climbed Touchstone on 5/7/04. This route ranks as one of the very best I have ever climbed. (Moonlight still being a little better.) To make the day even better, Ron Olevsky, Jeff Lowe, and Megan (didn't catch last name) were filming a "how to aid climb" video on the upper pitches. Ron, Megan and Jeff gave us water, food, encouragement, and were far more concerned with our ascent than with their own filming. It was pretty cool to meet two climbing icons (and one up and coming icon in Megan) and find out that their hearts were huge and egos small.

Ron mentioned that he had "done some work" on the route, but we didn't talk about specifics as to what work he had done. I assumed this ment the fixed gear under the aid roof along with a couple of new bolts at belays, but that doesn't mean that I am correct. Ron has the best beta on the route and contacting him regarding the new fixed gear would give you the most accurate information.

Speaking of beta, Ron gave us some in regards to the last pitch. He suggested finishing the little sport pitch at the two pin anchor located on the summit prow. At this point instead of going up the 5.6/5.7 slab to move left, step over a little exposed spot (with a belay) and run up the gully that cuts into the summit. We took his beta and had a nice, fun, adventure scramble to the summit.

The descent down the canyon right of the route is fun and straight forward. We thought that it added the "cherry on top" to our ascent. As mentioned above, do not try and run any of the rappels together as it will probably result in a stuck rope. This descent only took us about 45min. We counted 8 rappels total:

1. short rap from two drilled angles to saddle, scramble south on worn path2. 80' rap from two drilled angles into drainage, scramble down drainage a few feet to next anchor3. 80' rap from strange tree further down drainage, scramble south a little ways to next anchor4. 80' rap from small tree to ledge with one drilled angle and an old star drive (a nice public service would be to replace this star drive)5. 40' rap from angle/star drive into main streambed6. 80' rap down streambed from tree7. very short rappel from thread anchor, scramble down streambed8. 205' rap from bolts and chains down face right of Coconut Corner

The only other suggestion I would make is throw in 4 x .75 camalots. I ran out on the 4th pitch and lowered back down to back clean a couple of cams. But, .75 camalot is my worst crack size.

Have fun on this classic.

Will

Clarification of A/C's post on 5/27/2004: the fixed RURP is still there, complete with faded shoestring. As A/C pointed out, it can be skipped entirely with a pretty easy reach from a fixed angle below the roof to the fixed angle above the roof. BUT: it's not completely obvious from below and right of that second pin that the eye is broken, and it won't necessarily be tied off already when you get there.

I had a pretty stressful moment when I made the reach, transitioned to the angle, took a step up in my aiders, and then looked down to see the eye broken and the head of the pin flexing dramatically under my (pretty small) body weight.

Morals o' the story: Don't be like me; take a hero loop with you, pay attention to the condition of the fixed gear, and read climbingmoab ahead of time instead of after you get home. :)

I am thinking about heading to Zion from 5/14 to 5/19 and was wondering if this would be a good aid solo, or if the free climbing at the top would be akward with rack,rope, and a grigri self belay. Any help with this would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

Well, I am a little late, with this but what the heck.

Touchstone would probably be a great solo. I have soloed most of the aid (and 5.11-) climbing and it was no problem. A few of the upper pitches would be akward to aid, but if you can be in french free mode you would be fine.

I really enjoyed this climb, and once through the little roof on the second pitch, it goes very quickly.

Good luck.

I did this as my first wall solo back in early spring 2002 with haul bag, portaledge, and the whole nine yards. The most memorable pitches for me was 5 or 6 where I got my bag stuck under a roof and ended up jumaring inch by inch with the haul bag on my back and the last pitch where I was doing a 5.7ish move about 40 feet up a super sandy slab, no pro, only 5 feet from the top and my right handhold broke off in my hand (Incidently I met Ron Olevsky in the parking lot the next day and he told me that the last pitch actually goes up and left,right on the edge, and on to the summit, instead of the inviting sand slab above the Pitch 8 traverse). All in all, a great little wall to learn to aid solo as it is all straightforward, no major traverses, all clean, lots of crowds though. Have at it, you will probably have the wall all to yourself for the next 3 months. Cheers, AK!

Stays dry even under melting snow. We really enjoyed this route. The fixed pin on p2 continues to make the roof pretty easy. From there you can practice top-stepped with every move! We scrambled to the summit, scrambled back to the final anchor, and rapped the route.

As of 11/26/06, there is a drilled angle missing from the first pitch of touchstone. Pretty close to the ground-- maybe the fifth or sixth angle is now an incut hole. A talon provided an easy passage for me, but any hook would do. I'm concerned that many hookers will eventually make this thing a big, nasty flared hole, and a scar on a great route. If any of y'all know how to place a good (bigger, now) drilled angle, go get to it! I must reiterate--I have never asked for anyone to place fixed gear on somebody else's route, but I don't see how anything short of a speedy repair will save the hole. Humbly yours.

Just a few quick question, My partner and I are thinking about doing Touchstone in March and I was wondering
1. How crowded will this route be and what might be a good alternative. Length is not an issue, but probably not much harder than 11+ and c2+. Have done a lot of bigger free stuff, Shunes,Iron Messiah etc, but just looking for something mellow and fun with some good aid climbing.
2. How big is the ledge at the top of the fifth pitch in real peoples terms. Never bivied except at the top a few unexpected times and we just want to give it a go and have a good time. No stressful do as many pitches as we can in a day climbing. Mellow spring break.
3. Any other suggestions or comments on Touchstone would be awesome.
4. What will the weather be like beginning to the middle of March.

Touchstone can be crowded, particuarly due to the fact that people like to practice aid climbing on the first few pitches. A great alternative, from the sound of your experience in Zion, would be Sheer Lunacy, if you've done the trade routes (Spaceshot, Moonlight, and Prodigal). Also, there's a bunch of excellent free routes in a kind of "second-tier" of classic climbs in Zion. Routes like Sunlight Buttress (which could be aided), Voice from the Dust, Bits and Pieces, Wigs in Space, Made to be Broken, and Equinox are all great routes to consider. Just check out the topos at the Visitor Center and go have yourself an adventure.

I remember the ledge at the top of pitch 5 being good size but slopey. Touchstone is a perfect wall to do as a fix and blast. 2-3 pitches of aid at the beginning and then 5.10 and under free climbing to the top. You can fix the first three pitches with two ropes and blast the next day.

The final pitch gives some people issues. You "sport" climb on drilled angles to a large ledge and then do the infamous sandy slab mantle that is poorly protected (you wouldn't want to fall here). It seems to have become popular to rap the route and it's easy enough to do so. There's a fixed anchor at the large ledge on the last pitch so if you want you can bail from there instead of doing the last slab.

Middle of March can be beautiful, sunny days or it can be cold, wet, and snowy. Just depends on the weather. Usually when it does get nasty it clears off and gets nice again shortly thereafter. But, a couple years ago I spent 22 days in Zion in March/April and was only able to do a few routes (long day routes) due to bad weather.

Thanks for the beta. I will definately consider some of those other routes. I have not really done any of the trade routes you mentioned, mainly just free routes that looked good at the time. Anyways we have no solid plans and i might get there and get all revved up about monkeyfinger again and see how many falls i can take in a two hour period. I got my ass kicked last time. thanks again
adam

I did the first few pitches in November and noticed the missing piton in the bolt ladder on the first pitch. Went back to do the whole route 3/19-20/2007 and planned on hooking the scar. Did not have to. The pin has been replaced.

FYI: Yesterday, 3/22/07, I popped on a piece above the roof (in the C2 section) and the 'broken-piton' clipped with a screamer caught me. The screamer activated and took the brunt of the force. Clipping it made me nervous, but in the end, I was relieved it was there. Great route, long day, lots of fun. I vote for the gully descent.

Better climbing than spaceshot. Also can link pitches 1&2 easily with a 70 m with minimal rope drag. skip first set of chains on right 20 ft after the roof and go to first set of anchors on left.

Great description, Craig. Thanks!