Mountain Project Logo
To save paper & ink, use the [Hide] controls next to photos and comments so you only print what you need.

Dig Your Own Hole

5.5, Trad, 135 ft (41 m),  Avg: 1.9 from 7 votes
FA: first recorded ascent: Josh Pollock and Michelle Lyon, November 2017
Colorado > Golden > Lookout Mtn Rd > Tiers of Zion > C. Lower Tier > A. E Wall

Description

This is the trad version of Trenchtown, though it misses the best part of that route by breaking off before the upper pitch. While the lower moves on the easy offwidth crack are interesting enough, the rest is nothing to write home about. Still, if you are interested in a pure trad line up the Lower Tier, or you own some big cams and are itching to place them, have at it.

Begin with the jagged, offwidth crack. At its top, move left, and follow roughly the same middle section as Trenchtown, using the flake/crack to the left of the arete for pro. At any point on this lower 2/3 of the route, you could clip bolts if you wish, but moving just left and right of the bolt line offers adequate options for natural pro.

At the second anchors, engage the left-leaning crack that leaves from there. The crux is an awkward move with flaring hand/fist jams right below an old, rusty, bent piton (which you should clip for laughs). Belay at the top of the widening crack, using the smaller cracks in the wall above.

From the top, it is an awkward, brushy scramble to hiking terrain near the top of the Lower Tier. The safest option for descent is likely to walk to the top of the Lower Tier and rappel either Zion Train or Don't Rock My Boat, as the walkoff down the gullies to the east is steep and loose and threatens the access trail below.

Location

This is on the left end of the Lower Tier. To reach this and the bolted route Trenchtown, which it crosses, scramble up the gully at the east end of the platform for Irie and Burning Bush. Crest the small rise, and drop down into the next level spot along the wall. You won't miss the jagged, left-facing offwidth crack.

Protection

A standard rack to a #4 Camalot. Two #4s are useful but not necessary. The first recorded ascent party used one #4 and one #4.5, because that's what they had (and didn't want to carry them any higher on the route than the starting offwidth).

Photos [Hide ALL Photos]

The first wide crack section.
[Hide Photo] The first wide crack section.
A rope on the last pitch.
[Hide Photo] A rope on the last pitch.
The piton.
[Hide Photo] The piton.
Dig Your Own Hole, the trad version of Trenchtown.
[Hide Photo] Dig Your Own Hole, the trad version of Trenchtown.

Comments [Hide ALL Comments]

L Kap
Boulder, CO
[Hide Comment] We did not bail left at the 2nd set of anchors and instead pretty much followed the Trenchtown line all the way to the 3rd set of anchors. It was runout but easy climbing with adequate placements where you needed them, such as at the airy step to the right after the 2nd anchor. Then we rapped as for Trenchtown - no need to scramble up and over the top of the formation, which is described in the Trenchtown comments as having loose blocks. Sep 11, 2018