A Little Nukey  5.9-

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Type:  Trad, 5 pitches, 750 feet Consensus:  5.9- [details] FA:  Greg Vernon, Mike Baca and Hollan Holmes, 7/88 Season:  Spring, Summer, Fall Submitted By:  Dave Daly on Dec 14, 2007 You & This Route  |  Other Opinions (11) Your todo list: Your stars: Your rating: -none- [change] Your ticklist: [add new tick]

BETA PHOTO: To find the start of A Little Nukey (5.9), look fo...

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Description 

Pitch 1: (5.8) Follow a line of bolts (8 total) straight up shallow dishes and edges. After the 3rd bolt, the rock becomes more featured but the climbing is just a tad bit steeper. There is a 3 bolt belay (with rap rings) at the end of the pitch (50 meters). NOTE: A fourth bolt is located 2 feet above the belay and should be used for the next pitch opening moves.

Pitch 2: (5.9-, 5 bolts) Head directly above the 1st pitch belay anchors. A few move of 5.9 are encountered in between the 2nd and 3rd bolts. Continue straight up to a small black roof (4th bolt on the lip of the roof) and surmount the roof. Once over, head left and up by following the remaining 2 bolts to the belay station (3 bolts with rap rings). NOTE: There is a set of belay bolts 30 feet below ALN's 2nd pitch belay. This station is the 1st pitch belay of 'Aplodontia' (5.9R).

Pitch 3: (5.8 or 5.9, 1 bolt and pro to 1/2") One can either head straight up to a right facing corner (5.9, pro to 1/2") or head up and right, underneath a bus-sized flake. The first option takes you straight up to the 3rd pitch belay. Both options are short in distance to the belay, but this is the shorter option pitch. The second option goes to a bolt (30 feet from the belay), which protects a 5.8 move, and continues to the right facing corner of the flake. Continue up the flake (5.6, pro: 1/4 to 1"). Once at the top of the flake, head left out onto the open face for 20 more feet to the belay bolts (4 bolts with rap rings.... and an epoxy sealed carabiner?) NOTE: 3 out of 4 bolts at this belay should be considered suspect! One is an old 1/4" rusted buttonhead and the other two are spinners (3/8" buttonheads). Be sure to back up your belay!

Pitch 4: (5.9, 2 bolts with solution pockets for pro) From the belay, traverse right 15 feet along a small foot ledge to access the first bolt. Pass two bolts (5.9) and head toward a black water streak above. Twenty feet past the 2nd bolt., the climbing turns down to 5.5 or 5.6, following solution pockets (recommended Tri-Cam placements.....a few can even be threaded!!). The water streak becomes a bit steeper but good holds abound. Once over the steep section, head up and right to a 3 bolts belay or continue 60 feet further to a 4 bolt belay (rap rings) that falls directly below an easy right facing corner.

Pitch 5: Head up the right facing corner (5.6, pro to 1"), which slants left, to a pine tree with slings (rap rings). 4th class to the summit.

Descent: Walk off the east end of the dome and back down to the parking area or continue up the road, past the spillway and back to the gravel turnout.

Location 

'A Little Nukey' is not only a popular Courtright multi-pitch route but the easiest route upon the northwestern face of Power Dome. This dome is located in the Helms Creek Gorge, just below Courtright Road. Additionally, it is the first dome seen on the right when driving into the Courtright area.

There are two ways to approach this route and the dome itself:

1) Park at the PG&E road entrance (gated) just before you get to Courtright Reservoir (a gravel turnout on the side of the road, 200 yards before the reservoir). Hike down the paved road to its terminus. Leave the road and head directly toward Power Dome by going under a large tunnel aquaduct, then up a short rise. Once over the rise, head down small broken terraces to the creek. Cross over the creek on rocks to the base of Power Dome. In the early season or during peak hours, the creek may be difficult to cross. Use caution! Once across, locate a ramp next to the base and head up to the top of the ramp (level at the top). 'A Little Nukey' starts near the top of this ramp.

2) The second choice is to drive past the reservoir spillway/dam and park near the north side of the dome (small turnout on the right side at the left hand turn). From here, head toward the dome directly and then down toward slabs above the creek, requiring assiduous route finding. Initially, one needs to drop midway down to the dome and then traverse a series of ledges and dishes upon its northeastern shoulder to rap anchors (or downclimb 4th class, trending down and right). Refer to this photos: Photo #1 while heading to find the rap anchors. Once at the base, all routes can be accessed via a bit of 3rd class scrambling.

Protection 

- 60m rope
- (9) draws
- slings w/ biners
- Pro to #1 Camelot (moderate rack).

Photos of A Little Nukey Slideshow

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On the Power Dome, circa 1999. Photo: Simon Middle...	Clipping the first set of bolts on the first pitch...	BETA PHOTO: The best way to approach is to rap in to the climb...
BETA PHOTO: Photo showing the "cat walk" prior to the rap. It'...	BETA PHOTO: View of the rap route from the base of the rap. Af...	BETA PHOTO: Jill all racked up and ready to rock. This is abou...
BETA PHOTO: Topo showing A Little Nukey (5.9PG13). I would giv...	BETA PHOTO: from Rock and Ice #30	BETA PHOTO: Starting the cruisy 4th pitch
BETA PHOTO: This pulled back view makes the climb look intimid...	Pitch 1 - A Little Nukey	A Little Nukey
First Pitch of 'Little Nukey'....Rumoured to be th...	fun granite smearing	up high on the climb