This dome, and the surrounding 1/4 mile including WML Dome, is closed from March 1 - June 30 for nesting peregrine falcons.
BETA PHOTO: Eric D looking down from the top as I hang half w...
Description
pitch 1-clip a bolt and stem a strenuous face (very, very tricky 5.10/10+) into a bottomless chimney past 2 bolts to alcove (18m).pitch 2 Step around right to gain main crack and belay at bolt at base of chimney (5.7, 25m).pitch 3 Climb right side of chimney past 'death block' (repeat, do not touch) and belay in 3" crack w/ one bolt (5.7, 25m).pitch 4 Climb the spectacular overhanging crack in V chimney (mostly 2", 5.10+) to belay above "Y" w/ heads and cams (35m).pitch 5 follow crack up and right, then left at bulge to sloping ledge below 2 1/4" aid bolts (5.7). pitch 6, A.0 to summit OR step right to a newer bolt and 5.10 face to summit (10m).
Location
NE face of End Dome (polar opposite of Days of Future Past). It is the obvious crack system.
Protection
Double camming units, .4 - #4 w/ extra 2", stoppers, and a ballnut can help at start.
The bolt at the end of the third pitch (the chimney) is not there anymore. It broke when I hanged on it, it must have been from the very first ascent (30+ years ago ?), a piece of history. I had set up a real belay, of course, and only fell 6 inches.
If the crux pitch is really 10+, then I should downgrade all the 10+ I've tried in my life. Including Abra.
Amazing route, my admiration for DB and MA who must have done the first ascent with mostly hexes and nuts.
I agree with Aleix, the crux pitch of Pissgums is 12 number grades harder than the crux of Abra. But I was stupid enough to climb it in shorts with no knee pad and no tape on the right hand. My blood stains should still be on the route in spots. Pissgums is thee tick in the Stronghold, IMO.
Thanks John, since there is a request: The crux pitch kicked my butt. I didn't tape my hand either, but I was following it. The kneepads did make a difference, EFR had strongly suggested them for a better "enjoyment" of the route.
Pitch 1: The hardest thing is to get off the ground... well there is no ground, but stepping over the "bottomless chimney" from the boulder and doing the first moves. Ends in a comfortable belay on gear. Pitch 2: Grungy rock, interesting moves. Comfortable belay on two bolts. Pitch 3: The most runout vertical pitch I've ever led. But it feels good, there is nowhere to fall in a squeeze chimney (!?). Half way up it narrows to the point I had to go to the lip and maybe do a couple of offwidth moves. Mostly hanging belay in a palm/fist sized crack. Pitch 4: I followed it, so ask Eric D for leader account. Gearwise, the crack is palm size all the way. Crack at belay is also palm size. Pitch 5: The belay on top of pitch 5 is on a horizontal groove-seam with a "shrub", which was definitely my best "anchor" :-) Placed many cams but didn't trust any. Must have been amazing with hexes, hip belay from a groove? :-) Pitch 6: Committing move to a bolt, two friction moves and you just did Cap'm Pissgums !
If you guys think this is too much beta/talking, let me know and I'll delete this entry.