The Bender-Axen pitch starts about 20 feet right of the toe of the buttress where Chiboni is located. You can identify it as a nice straight up crack that peters out about 15 feet above the base. This is (IMHO) the best moderate starting pitch for the Standard Route or Black Quacker. Not as much of a thrash as the chimney or the wide crack to the left. From the base, start left of the bottom of the crack and work your way up and right to gain the crack. This is a bit polished and getting a spot from your partner until you get that first piece in the crack is a good idea. After that, just enjoyable easier crack climbing up (and a bit left at the top) to the a ledge system and big tree (with slings, usually). Very nice!!!
Protection
Small to medium pro will suffice. Might need more gear if you continue to the top via another route.
Agreed... Was my first lead ever, around 13 years ago. Nice to have the crux so close to the ground. Since there is no pro anyway, no fiddling with gear through the 5.8 part. I take most of my new climbers there for their first lead. Fun with light exposure, protects very well, and a no brainer belay.... Watch out for the ants on the ledge!
This climb is a great way to start a number of the moderate routes which climb the south face of Rap Rock. If you want to avoid the hell chimney, which I consider to be no fun at all, on Black Quacker I definitely recommend this as an alternative. The gear is great the whole way. Curve left at the top and belay at the enormous Pine tree on the ledge.
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