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Warpaint

5.10c PG13, Trad, 680 ft (206 m), 5 pitches, Grade III,  Avg: 3.8 from 186 votes
FA: Eric Rhicard, Bob Kerry 1989
Arizona > Southern Arizona > Cochise Stronghold > W Stronghold > Westworld Dome

Description

This route was the best Christmas present I ever got.


Imagine climbing a steep sunny granite slab on near-perfect rock for almost 700 feet of edging and smearing. Imagine being surrounded by a sea of granite domes and trees in 65 degree weather in the middle of winter. Imagine watching Cotimundi's eating berries while approaching the base of the route and then rapping off in a beautiful Southwest desert sunset. Imagine all of that, or maybe just go climb this route and experience it instead.

Originally put up with a different first pitch, a grungy crack system around the buttress to the left of where it starts now.. The entire route had only 12 bolts on it. The first pitch as it is now was done ground up and all of the bolts were drilled without hooks or falls second time up the route. Third pitch was originally climbed a bit farther right for about 40 feet where it joined the pitch as it is now. Bolts were added to anchors and the big runout sections. At one point on the 4th ascent and on last pitch with not enough bolts holes were drilled and friends put them in on the fifth ascent.


Find this route by hiking to the base of Westworld Dome and skirting in to the base of a massive buttress, perhaps 160 feet tall and 10-15 degrees off of vertical, left of center. This is the beginning of the climb and it sports a line of bolts.


P1: 5.10c, 160'. Follow a line of bolts past the first crux, perhaps 1/3 of the way up the slab. This is runout at the top and the easiest line runs slightly left of center above the last bolt. If I recall correctly, this runout can be mitigated with a stopper placement if you desire to do so. You'll end on a ledge where some gear or a cordalette will make a good belay. This pitch sets the tone for the rest of the route.


P2: 5.8+, 60'. Look back and left to see a small corner with a crack. Climb up this, protecting with 1.5 to 2.5" gear to reach a bolted belay after 60 feet or so. This pitch is the only "easy" pitch along the route, and is out of character with the majority of the climbing.


P3: 5.10c, 150'. Climb up another line of bolts arcing slightly right for a short distance and continue 2/3 of the way up the pitch to the crux where the holds are incredibly sloper and small, but still good. Finish the pitch at another bolted belay. This pitch, like the first, is a classic on it's own merit.


P4: 5.10b, 160'. Climb up and right from the belay to reach the next solid section of wall. After a little more 5.10b slabbing you'll reach a section with larger and more positive holds, these end soon enough though and you'll move up and left again to reach a blunt rib of rock onto more thin 5.10 face moves. Another classic pitch.


P5: 5.10c, 150'. Tired? Are your tips sore? You can ease back to 5.10a or lower climbing now... almost! Step up and right off of this belay and make a right-hand sequence (10c) though a set of sharp, crystaline pockets to reach the final crimpers before the angle eases off. From there continue to move up and right to near the massive corner overhead. You can even move right far enough to get a stem or two for rest. Finish the route to another set of bolts before rapping off.


Rap the route with two (2) 60 meter ropes. 50M ropes might work, but I have not verified this.

Protection

2 ropes to rap the route. I suggest 60M ropes, but 50's will work according to some pals.

Take perhaps a dozen or more draws, a few medium nuts or small tricams, and 1 set cams from 1-2.5". The pitch might be climbed with nothing more than bolts, but plan on severe 5.8-5.9 runouts without gear. I placed about 5 pieces of gear in all, but did run it out in the non-bolted areas. Take a cordalette for the belays.

I rated the route PG-13 because this route may be bolted well (bolts upgraded recently), but you'd still not want to take repeated falls on it. The bolts are reasonable spaced and the rock would likely leave cheese-grater dreams with anyone so brash as to siege the wall.

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

A sleepy dragon???
[Hide Photo] A sleepy dragon???
steven phillips, pitch one of warpaint
[Hide Photo] steven phillips, pitch one of warpaint
Tatiana doing her best Elsie the Cow impersonation
[Hide Photo] Tatiana doing her best Elsie the Cow impersonation
tops a little run out.. But very easy
[Hide Photo] tops a little run out.. But very easy
Final rap off Warpaint
[Hide Photo] Final rap off Warpaint
one of the SHARP pockets on the last pitch. ouch!
[Hide Photo] one of the SHARP pockets on the last pitch. ouch!
On the top of the first pitch
[Hide Photo] On the top of the first pitch
headed up pitch-3
[Hide Photo] headed up pitch-3
Looks easy but the sharp little pockets on pitch 5  might hurt a bit
[Hide Photo] Looks easy but the sharp little pockets on pitch 5 might hurt a bit
My advice is that if Warpaint is wet, and it's drizzling, to come back another day.
[Hide Photo] My advice is that if Warpaint is wet, and it's drizzling, to come back another day.
Short pitch 2, Jay leading.<br>
<br>
Crappy iPhone photo.  Yeah, we were too lazy to move the belay.  Meh.
[Hide Photo] Short pitch 2, Jay leading. Crappy iPhone photo. Yeah, we were too lazy to move the belay. Meh.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

George Bell
Boulder, CO
 
[Hide Comment] Agreed, this is a really fun route! If you can do pitch 1, you should be able to finish off the route, I thought it was harder than any of the later pitches. We also rapped the route with two 50m ropes no problem. Jan 6, 2003
[Hide Comment] An excellent public service project would be to upgrade the majority of bolts on this route, especially the rappel bolts. Many of the 5/16th buttonheads have blown out the lips of the holes behind the hangers and are spinners. I found the rappels especially badly rigged, with pound-shut links unable to lay flat in the chains, and thus producing a solid outward torque on the double bolt anchors. Rapping with a party of three past the hanging stance was just plain frightening. At a minimum, a Fixe rapide should be added to each belay, although I would suggest total replacement of the anchors (a lot of work but better than a mini Dolt Tower accident). The lead bolts should be evaluated and replaced on a "need" basis, or err on the side of caution and replace the ones that protect the longest runouts. Larry Coats, Flagstaff. Jan 22, 2003
Larry Earley
Los Alamos, NM
[Hide Comment] Climbed this route in November of 2001. The bolts looked ok then. The anchors had one buttonhead bolt and one bolt with a nut. My partner who is a great friction climber lead P1 which was 10c. Don't slide on that really rough grit granite. We climbed Paleface (5.9) the day before to warm up on friction. P3 is mostly 9+ with a few thin moves to anchor. P4 starts with a thin friction section but could be really hard in middle for short people. We were both 6 feet tall so no problem. The start of P5 is 10c for three moves then it eases off slowly to 5.7 near top. This route was awesome. This climb is a classic. Better than Prince of Darkness at Red Rocks. Never saw a soul out climbing on a perfect November weekend. May 2, 2003
barak shemai
  5.10c
[Hide Comment] great sustained climbing, I agree with many others that most of the buttonheads need to be replaced, particularly ones protecting runout sections.

In my opinion, suspect protection does not add to the thrill of a route. If someone out there wants some help replacing these bolts, I would be more than willing to spend a weekend helpin out! Dec 15, 2003
Wes Turner
az / pa
  5.10c
[Hide Comment] --stellar climb!!didn't use gear on any pitches other than the 2nd... but there are a couple places where gear would have made the runouts non-existant.ex.. p3 in low angle crack --start of p5... have those tips in shape for pulling on crystal pockets(.10c) and move right from 1st bolt. be aware of chains (up and head height) at top of P5 easy to climb past them--rack small to medium with nuts and lots of quicks...rap back down the route w/ double ropes...and take the top of second pitch to the ground May 15, 2004
eMurdock
Tucson, Arizona
[Hide Comment] Eric Rhichard did the first ascent. I think he was with Bob Kerry. He put the route up with only a couple bolts and added many of the bolts on rappel as a public service. Thanks for thinking of us Eric. May 22, 2004
[Hide Comment] as of december 05 there are no more POS bolts on the route. most are high quality new style bolts. a few are older style (unfamiliar with the design of these ones, they have a large domed head- some sort of pound in expansion perhaps?). but there are no manky, rusted, or quarter inchers. Dec 12, 2005
Manny Rangel
PAYSON
 
[Hide Comment] Awesome route. I fell and fell on the first pitch. I finally made it. The rest of the route was a cruise, except for the wind up high, it made it a bit of drag. I hugged the arete for a long time waiting for it to die down. Mar 10, 2006
1Eric Rhicard
Tucson
 
[Hide Comment] Here is a bit more info on Warpaint. The original route was done with a dozen bolts. The original first pitch climbed a grungy crack system 70ft. to the left of where the route now starts. The second pitch continued straight up from the crack/corner to the ledge halfway up the 3rd pitch, moved left to the route as it is now and belayed in the same place. From here to the top the route is as we did it during the FA. Afterward we drove to the east side for the beanfest. May 12, 2006
lamina
 
[Hide Comment] My all-time favorite route, so far. Awesome climb and view!
Eric, thanks for putting up the route.
Mary, thanks for telling me about this climb and climbed it with me. Sep 27, 2007
rpc
Portland, OR
 
[Hide Comment] A GREAT route. I thought that the shallow pocket pulling at start of final pitch was harder than anything else on the route. Don't recall any runouts on it? Oct 26, 2007
Aaron Miller
Santa Fe, NM
 
[Hide Comment] Slab on first pitch was hard. Did steep chickenhead variation that heads right halfway up pitch 5. There were 3 bolts, no harder than 5.10. Belay at top from large sharp chickenheads. Fun.

Im glad to hear that those buttonheads are solid out here. There are a few places where you depend on them for bodily safety. Feb 17, 2009
1Eric Rhicard
Tucson
 
[Hide Comment] Did another variation to the 5th pitch today. After climbing past the crystal pockets and before you start heading up move right into the alcove and turn slightly chossy roof on jugs to the left. Continue up the crack and follow it out left joining the other variation just above the 3rd bolt. I did it with one Blue Camalot, and a light rack which included stoppers and cams to green camalot. A yellow and a red can be taken too but the gear is bomber at the 5.9 crux. Still prefer the middle of the three. Apr 20, 2009
[Hide Comment] Eric, this route is amazing! I'm so glad you put it up! Oct 11, 2009
Meghan
Sierra Vista, AZ
 
[Hide Comment] If you do Warpaint soon after 10/10/09, then you may want to bring a wrench with you. There are several spinners at the top two sets of anchors (otherwise in great shape-- almost new-- but somebody needs to tighten the nuts). I would have done it, but I didn't have a wrench. GREAT route!! :-) Thanks as usual EFR!!! Oct 13, 2009
John Hayes
Bend, OR
  5.10c/d PG13
[Hide Comment] I did the second ascent (I believe) with Bob Kerry after he and Eric put up this route. It is brilliant...thanks Eric! Jan 9, 2010
jeff haskell
Pretoria, ZA
[Hide Comment] I am 95% sure a single 70m rope gets you down. We used it for the first two raps- the first reaches easily, the second with just a few feet to spare. The third also appeared it would barely make it according to the mark on my rope. From here (top of P2) one would continue straight down to an anchor on the overhung wall below. (This is NOT part of Warpaint and is not visible from above.) One more rap would reach the ground in the large cave. Feb 23, 2010
[Hide Comment] The sleepy dragon is actually "Elsie the Cow" Oct 9, 2010
Sasquach Broom
Grand Junction, CO
 
[Hide Comment] did this route yesterday and my calves are ON FIRE!

We did the bolted arete variation at the top of pitch 5 which I thought was super fun! I went straight up from the arete and I built and anchor w/ chicken heads on the top of the dome. From here go down to a ramp to find the rap anchors. Oct 19, 2010
Greg D
Here
 
[Hide Comment] We rapped with one 70m rope no problem. On a few of the upper raps there wasn't a lot of rope to spare so watch your rope ends, of course. From on top of the 5.8 pitch you can get all the way to the top of a large boulder on the ground with just enough rope. But it requires a bit of a scary push off the wall followed by a quick zip down to land on top of the boulder thirty feet above the ground with little rope to spare. Don't worry. You don't need to do this if you don't want to. There are two other rap stations mid way down this face that are not visible until you get close to them. Nov 27, 2010
Bob Graham
Portland, OR
 
[Hide Comment] amazing climb, just did it a couple of days ago, the wind was a bit tough but the climbing is excellent! Jan 10, 2011
[Hide Comment] Hands down, my favorite route in Cochise... and I HATE slab.

The first pitch is the only pitch that has any seriously featureless slab. It's very well bolted. The difficult sections are well protected and short.

The rest of the route has some AWESOME face climbing. May 6, 2011
John Wu
Tucson, Arizona
  5.10c
[Hide Comment] Great route with a distinct crux at every pitch except P2. Every crux is well protected and any runout is on easier terrain and can be tamed with gear. We used a single rack BD C4 .4-3. No cordelette required as there are bolts at the top of P1, just move the belay for P2. 70m made the raps easy. Mar 23, 2012
[Hide Comment] My favorite 5.10! Each 5.10 pitch has different fun climbing.

A must do on all of my return trips! Apr 6, 2012
chris tregge
Madison WI
  5.10c
[Hide Comment] Thanks Eric. This instantly became an all time favorite climb for me. The position, movement, and aesthetics were nothing short of amazing. Oct 10, 2012
[Hide Comment] Great climb on some of the highest quality rock I've been on in the stronghold. Makes me wonder why people have hate in their heart for slab. Dec 11, 2012
Geir www.ToofastTopos.com
Tucson/DMR
  5.10+
[Hide Comment] A topo for this fine route can be downloaded from this address:

toofasttopos.com/free/ Mar 25, 2014
BFK
TBD
 
[Hide Comment] Anyone have any info on the sport route at the base of the final warpaint rap? See the pic I posted for reference. Felt 11+, possibly 12a but I was pretty worked when I tried it. Mar 2, 2015
walmongr
Gilbert AZ
  5.10c PG13
[Hide Comment] Can this route be rapped with a single 70M?

Thanks! Apr 6, 2016
walmongr
Gilbert AZ
  5.10c PG13
[Hide Comment] Did this yesterday. What a great route!!! We ended up using 2-60's easy to manage the tag line, as all but the top of 3 had good stances to coil the rope. Thanks for all the new bolts and rap chains makes it fun when the anchors are safe! I thought the third was the crux it gets thin and a little water polished and slick. Apr 8, 2016
[Hide Comment] Did this again yesterday, confirming that you can rap the route with a 70. First rap (5->4) is close but fine, just watch your ends. The last rap (p2 to ground) is shown as 140' in Geir's book, but you can still do this with a 70 by either a) rapping onto the boulder at the base (I've done this, pretty dicey - involves pushing off the wall while rapping off the ends, not recommended) or b) rapping from P2 to the top of the EFR/Jimbo project route (left of Fat Apache), then to ground. Hope that makes sense, it's pretty straightforward and hard to miss when you're doing it.

Also, would definitely recommend the alternate finish that busts right onto the face instead of continuing up the easy slab. It's consistent with the grade (10b/c?) and the rock is a lot higher quality than it might first look. Build an anchor on the summit, lots of heads/horns to sling and you could place some pieces. Nov 27, 2016
Nick Henscheid
Tucson, AZ
  5.10c
[Hide Comment] I was intimidated by this route for a long time, having heard from many strong friends that it's a sandbag. It isn't, really - it's perfect, and you should go do it immediately. The best part is: if you can free to the second bolt, you can free the entire route. 98% is just joyous 10a, similar to (but better than) Peacemaker. The cruxes are puzzling but they all go...just breathe & believe! Dec 20, 2016
Neil Kauffman
Bishop, CA
 
[Hide Comment] Is there a route above Warpaint that allows for topping out Westworld Dome? Seems like a cool way to finish it off. Jan 11, 2017
[Hide Comment] Hmmmm.....
Not too long after this was put up, I led this route....twice, finding it sustained but very doable.
Doing it yesterday with my friend John Hayes, coming mostly off the couch, we got modestly (or immodestly) spanked.
Suggestion: bring slippers, not edging shoes. You'll want every bit of friction contact you can get. Mar 14, 2017
Alan Bowman
Denver, CO
  5.10c PG13
[Hide Comment] A solid, fun route in a spectacular, remote setting. Did this one back in the 90's and I remember how sore my toes and hands were when we got to those pockets on the last pitch, but that is was such a fine finish, I didn't complain (too much). Also killed a tire on our rental car driving in on that long, bumpy desert road. Good times! Jun 29, 2017
Ryan Petronella
Salt Lake, UT
  5.11a
[Hide Comment] Stellar route, get ready for a calf workout! If the crux move on the first pitch is 5.10, then Peacemaker is 5.8. I found it to be incredibly beta intensive and hard, much harder than any single sequence on the rest of the route. Also, if you've climbed in Cochise you should be comfortable with any run-out on this climb, I don't think the PG13 rating is warranted. Go do this! Nov 13, 2017
Tim Wolfe
Salt Lake City, UT
  5.10c/d
[Hide Comment] Two cruxes: the drive in and the palming section of pitch one. Super fun. I especially liked the 3rd pitch "crack" and steep section. Apr 26, 2019
David Baltz
Albuquerque, NM
[Hide Comment] After the sore tips, the juggy arete finish on P5 is recommended. Exciting and well-protected! Dec 2, 2021
Ira OMC
Hardwick, VT , Bisbee, AZ
[Hide Comment] It's worth noting that this part of the wall is shaded until mid day, at least in late February.
Also, protection is good, old bolts have been replaced (thanks!) ... no need for the PG 13 rating these days. Feb 26, 2025