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Routes Sorted
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Ahab 
Bluffer, The 
Captain Hook, Left 
Captain Hook, Right 
Delectable Pinnacle, Right  
El Cap Tree 
Footstool, Right, The 
Freeblast 
Gollum 
Hardly Pinnacle 
Indubious Battle 
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Mark of Art 
Masquerade/Call Me Ishmael 
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Moby Dick, Left 
Party Mix 
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Peter Pan 
Pine Line 
Pterodactyl Terrace, Left 
Pterodactyl Terrace, Right 
Reeds Leads 
Sacherer Cracker 
Salathe (pitch 1) 
Seedy Leads 
Short But Thin 
Simulkrime 
Slack ( center), The 
Slack, Left, The 
Sparkling Give-away 
TRON 
West Buttress (pitch 1&2) 
Unsorted Routes:

Ahab 

5.10a

   
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Type: Trad, 1 pitch, 155 feet
Consensus: 5.10b [details]
FA: Frank Sacherer, Jim Bridwell, 1964
Season: Fall & Spring
Submitted By: Karsten on Oct 13, 2006

You & This Route  |  Other Opinions (23)
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A dirtbag meets the squeeze.

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Description 

Ahab is a wide testpiece for the aspiring wide specialist. Begin in a corner just to the right of Moby Dick. After a short 20ft scramble you enter the meat of the climb, a chimney that narrows and squeezes all but the most petite out to the edge. Exit out top of the chimney and enter a flaring handcrack. Continue up another slot and then to the anchors.


Location 

The route is located on the west side of el cap a few hundred feet from the toe where the trails meets the face. Begin in a corner just to the right of Moby Dick.


Protection 

Bring the big boys for this one. A standard rack with cams up to #6 friend or #6 camalot.



Photos of Ahab Slideshow Add Photo
Getting schooled.

Getting schooled.

Corey Gargano photo of me in the squeeze.

Corey Gargano photo of me in the squeeze.

Another Corey shot! Thanks dude.

Another Corey shot! Thanks dude.


Comments on Ahab Add Comment
Show which comments
By Will S
From: Joshua Tree
Apr 30, 2007

A old #5 camalot will protect at about your head when you enter the squeeze and are standing on the spike feature, but you cannot walk it, it will tip out within another foot or two. A #6 friend is the ticket here. The squeeze leans and flares. Making progress requires staying toward the outside, which feels like it's going to spit you out. Crawl deeper in to rest, move back toward the lip to move.

Crux is probably the flare, and I thought .10b, but don't trivialize the climbing higher up, there is a somewhat funky face section going left just before the anchor.

By Karsten
From: Sacramento, CA
Jun 20, 2007

I agree Will, I thought it was going to be over after the squeeze but that flaring handcrack can feel overhanging at times. All this after you're spent from the bottom part makes for a long full value pitch. This is one of my proudest leads. Definately one of those climbs where the grade isn't a good indicator of the effort involved.

By David Aguasca!
From: New York
Jun 26, 2010
rating: 5.10a

I placed a #6 C4 and a #3 Big Bro in the squeeze,then a #5 C4 for the exit move.

If it was any smaller, it would probably be a grade harder! Amazing rock, though. Good friction in the squeeze (thank the creator).

Don't forget the finger-sized pieces for the exit moves on the roof. Bring them or run it out...

By Lou Hibbard
From: Eagan, MN
Oct 30, 2011

I've got a story about this route. In 1999 I hired Bill Russell (a guide)to teach me offwidth climbing. After a few easier offwidths Bill led this route. I did't have great technique but I did have tenacity. After several hangs I lowered to the ledge and started up again. I made it through the crux clean and then found a no-hands rest.In trying to recover I puked (still without weighting the rope). Then I finished the climb clean. Several years later in surfing the web I found a story someone had posted about this weenie who hired a guide and puked all over him and over the years have seen reference to that several times.
I actually became pretty good at offwidths. I was just starting to get into the 5.11 offwidth range when shoulder surgery in 2007 ended the serious climbing.
It was weird to stumble on a story about myself like that.

By Fat Dad
From: Los Angeles, CA
Mar 19, 2012

Royal Robbins used to solo this in a pair of Tretorns. We are not worthy.

By 213blc
From: THA WEST COAST
Nov 5, 2012
rating: 5.10

The headwalls of the Captain glow gold then red and finally become awash in purple.
Inch by inch, chicken wings and contortions sample new stone lands.
The stars come out.
A handjam!
Tubing commences and with it more sweet jams.
Orbs of light are seen wandering chaotically beneath the oak, bay, and pines.
A maiden inquires, "Are you guys ok?"
Oh, we're fine, just enjoying some wide! Huff, huff, huff.
"You're on Ahab...in the dark..............That's FANTASTIC!" The maiden approves.
Laughter from all involved fills the evening air.
The orbs wander off, leaving only the sound of grovel-induced breathing and random giggles from the suitors who came to learn the lessons of the Big Stone.