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Cap'm Pissgums 

5.10+

   

FA: Dave Baker, Mark Axen
Type: Trad
Consensus: 5.10+ [details]
Length: 6 pitches, 400 feet, Grade III
Views: 528 page views

Submitted By: rickd on May 8, 2007


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Closed to climbing, March 1 - June 30 MORE INFO >>>

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.



Add Photo Photos of Cap'm Pissgums
Looking down on the crux pitch as I hang half way up.

BETA PHOTO: Looking down on the crux pitch as I hang half way ...

Eric D starting the second pitch.

Eric D starting the second pitch.

Me about to lead the "long and unprotected" squeeze chimney. Excellent #5 placement about 15-20 meters above the belay, if you care to drag it up.

Me about to lead the "long and unprotected" squeez...

After the climb. The route is the first great crack in front (left) of Eric D.

BETA PHOTO: After the climb. The route is the first great crac...


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By Minty Alpinist
May 14, 2007

RickD - I recall you once calling this "The commensurate hardman route." Did you get any photos when you climbed this?

By jbak
From: Tucson, AZ
May 16, 2007

I think you mean "consummate".

I love this route name. I suppose I'm one of the few who remember the Cap'm.

By rickd
May 24, 2007

sorry, no camera that day.

that crux 4th pitch I'd climb every day if it was ground level.

By jbak
From: Tucson, AZ
May 29, 2007

This is from the cover of Zap #3 I think.........

By Aleix Serrat-Capdevila
Nov 5, 2007

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.

By Jimbo
Nov 5, 2007

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.

By rickd
Nov 6, 2007

....I think the 3rd corner pitch on Abra is 10c.

Pissgum's pitch is sustained but I found a combo chimney-crack technique worked well- just my style.

but as many know, I come from a long tradition of conservative ratings. (waugh said of me "everything's cake")

By jbak
From: Tucson, AZ
Nov 7, 2007

Aleix...good work...you should post some more details about how it went.

By Aleix Serrat-Capdevila
Nov 7, 2007

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.

By Christian
From: Tucson, Az
Nov 7, 2007

Bien hecho Alex! Por las fotos se ve de miedo esa ruta!