The Classic is pretty much just what it's name implies. It is also the longest, relatively easy, route on the Mountain. As a result, it tends to draw a lot of climbers, so don't be surprised if you have to queue up for this one.
P1) Start over on the left side of the Flying Buttress where it meets the wall. Climb easy ground up to a ledge, then continue in a corner until a band of rock allows a traverse right to more ledges and scramble up to a platform with a tree in the corner.
P2) The Classic Chimney - climb up blocks in the corner to gain the chimney above. Continue up to a nice belay above.
P3) Move left and climb up the crack formed by the flake against the wall, atop the flake, move up and right to gain a foot-wide ledge that runs up the wall. Tiptoe up the ledge passing a couple of small bushes to it's top, then move over to the corner, and pull over into a crack system that runs up and right across the Flying Buttress to it's far top corner.
To get to the top, take either the High Exposure Exit (5.6+) or the Beaver Cleaver (5.8+) exit. You can also work your way down off the top of the Flying Buttress from here to gain the Coke Bottle Rappels, but this is tricky. Please rope up if you do this!
Note: A lot of folks choose to start this route with the first pitch of Reunion (5.7), which is a nice left-facing corner about 20 feet right of the first Crack Lover's Variation pitch.
Location
Starts near where the left side of the Flying Buttress meets the main wall.
I loved this climb! It is a CLASSIC, and Justin and I will do it again. We decided to do a variation on the first pitch just right of Crack Lover's Variation. The third pitch is definitely the money pitch :)
By ccmski From: Prescott, AZ Oct 17, 2009 rating: 5.7
Due to the number of climbs weaving in and out of this corner, there are a number of variations of the "Classic". Arguably the finest way to climb the Classic is the 1st pitch of Reunion, the 2nd pitch of Cracklover's, the 3rd pitch of Karl's Korner, and the High Exposure exit. Anyway you role- its Classic!
I linked the third pitch with the High Exposure exit for a really nice long pitch. The HE exit is one of the most difficult 5.6 rated pitches I have done in a while. Expect something that feels like solid 5.8. The approach is long and the climbers trail is easy to lose your first time as I found out yesterday. Good climb.
The actual third pitch of The Classic route takes a crack line that diagonals across the Flying Buttress to it's far side (away from the main face). You can veer sort of left and go up the last part of Karl's Korner and then continue straight into the HEE (what it sounds like you did). See picture...
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