Bolt Ladder

All Locations > Utah > Southwest Utah > Zion NP > Angel's Landing > Prodigal Sun (5.8 5b 16 VI- 15 HVS 4c C2)

Bolt Ladder

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The view up-canyon from the upper half of the route. So many hikers! It's Hilarity ensues once they notice you.

All over the route but esp upper pitches require tri-cams!

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3.5 from 2 votes

George Haskett

Oct 12, 2019

“Bolt Ladder”

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Nearby Photos

Starting the final Aid Pitch. (Photo: Doug Davis)

You gotta love tricams... Last aid pitch placment between the bolt ladders....<br>
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The tricam is sticking half out of the pod. It took me 5 minutes to commit to it! I've done C3 in the arches which wasn't as bad as this placement!<br>
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I 3 foot reach stick would avoid it.

shot I stitched together from John's pics. John Asay Photography

Prodigal Sun Topo

Would've been worth bringing the hook

Another shot of the infamous tricam placement. Despite appearances, this is a decent piece, particularly because the placements on either side are excellent.

Tristan hanging on a hook on P8. Sep 26, 2009.

A tourist took this shot of me from the Big Bend bus stop. Pitch 5, Prodigal Sun. Oct. 2011

nice fork

Improvised ledge on top of Pitch 5.

Dave Levy leading Pitch 6. Photo by Rocco Vartanian.

Pitch 5

Prodigal Sun topo by Dave Sessions

Up high on the route with Brody

Tri Cam(lobe) on pitch 8

Dave Sessions on Prodigal Sun. (April 1999)

Moving up my fifth pitch (Arch Crack Pitch) on Prodigal Sun. October 2011

Tricams aren't the *only* option here (but probably would've been better! hah)
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We got by with a couple offset nuts and a two-lobe totem placements.

This is the loose crap you must face at the end of pitch 8!

This is the bolt ladder off the deck, I believe. The roof isn't shown here, but if you choose to bivy under the roof, watch out for the ants=( Long story.

Looking up Pitch 5. The arch roof

"Prodigal Sun" as seen on the cover of Alpinist 11

4 pitches up, pondering my first wall experience

Almost to the top of the last aid pitch

Watching the shuttle buses (and being watched by the shuttle buses) as they come and go... again and again... Prodigal Son, Zion, Oct 2008.

The 5.5 Gully after the last aid pitch. I hauled using the far end hauling system which made getting my bag and ledge up pretty casual.

Shot I stitched together from John's pics. John Asay Photography<br>
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John and Dan

Jugging lines on day 2 of Prodigal Sun

No hook needed starting the third pitch. Stand tall!

Looking up pitch 3

Looking up the last aid pitch

Angela Arp at the 6th belay.

Tony Bubb searches for the right piece to fit in the arch pitch of Prodical Son (IV, C2) in Zion National Park. Photo by Mary Ann Dornfeld, 2004.

The view up-canyon from 1/2 way up 'Prodical Son (IV, C2)' in Zion National Park. Photo by Tony Bubb, 3/2004.

Prodigal Sun. (APR 1999)

See the person in the parking lot?

Moonlight Buttress from the bivi on Prodigal Sun. (APR 1999)

Looking down the pitch 5 "Wrinkles" - my favorite section of the route

Daniel Thrasher

rivet section

Jeff Crow approaches belay on Prodigal Son, October 2003

All over the route but esp upper pitches require tri-cams! Trip Report: http://rjohnasay.blogspot.com/2012/11/zion-national-park-angles-landing.html

A few good hook placements. Fun times on Prodigal Sun.

This is the ledge at the end of pitch 3. Sleep tight!

Starting P7

The view up-canyon from the upper half of the route. So many hikers! It's Hilarity ensues once they notice you.

Bolt Ladder

All over the route but esp upper pitches require tri-cams!

Look for this hole to make a hook placement after the first pin in the pin ladder at the top of P3.

Ben Kiessel Scoping out the red pavement above the crescent roof on pitch 3.

Daniel Thrasher

Tony Bubb leads on the upper pitches of Prodical Son (IV, C2) in Zion National Park. Photo by Mary Ann Dornfeld, 2004.

View of Moonlight Buttress from portaledge on Prodigal Son, October 2003

Top of PS. Photo: Doug Davis

Looking down the sandy, loose gulley from the top tree. I fixed this to carry my loads up.

All over the route but esp upper pitches require tri-cams! Trip Report: http://rjohnasay.blogspot.com/2012/11/zion-national-park-angles-landing.html

BS topping out on Prodigal Sun

Doug reminiscing about Prodigal on our rest day ride.

In This Photo

George Haskett

Pocatello, ID

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