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Upper Refuse 
Webster's Unabridged 
Youth Challenge 

Black Crack 

5.10b PG13

   
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Type: Trad, 150 feet
Consensus: 5.10b [details]
FA: Henry Barber, Dave Masury, September, 1971
Submitted By: David Aguasca! on Apr 29, 2009

You & This Route  |  Other Opinions (1)
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Description 

If you've ever climbed Upper Refuse and looked up at the offwidth crack that looms ominously over its first pitch...wonder no longer. This route gets nearly zero traffic, on account of the hideously dirty start and finish. Ignoring these, though, the middle is splitter and houses some serious teeth, so tape up and wear long pants...taped knees might not be a bad idea, too.

You can either climb the crack, which starts with a series of flakes, or you can avoid the grunge and climb a series of ledges which deposits you in an alcove below the nicer-looking section.


Location 

Start up the Upper Refuse ramp and head into the right-facing corner.


Protection 

There's a fixed tricam, pin, and a jingus bolt.

You'll need big cams: several #5 and 6 camalots oughtta do it. Bring a couple medium size cams as well, as the topout can be protected reasonably well.

Be aware that there are sections of this with less than adequate protection.



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By Coz Teplitz
From: Watertown, MA
May 25, 2009

Jerry Handren's guidebook calls this 5.10d. Webster calls it just 5.10 (I think). Now here it's 5.10a? Which one is it?

This thing looks seriously cool - and brutal! Can't wait to get on it!

By Erik Eisele
Apr 22, 2010

It's probably 10b, though it's significantly easier than any Yosemite 5.10 offwidth.

The business takes old 4.5 or new number 5 Camalots and number 5 Friends. Three is plenty. You can walk one the whole way and essentially be on TR, dropping the other two behind you as you go. You could place a number 6 at the top, but the climbing eases up by then so you don't need to.

By Steven Cooney
Aug 22, 2011

My favorite climb on this section of the cliff. If you aren't familiar with OW it feels very hard. OW is hard to grade but this does have great grit to it in contrast to Yos OW which are just polished. Very fun! George Hurley did it in the winter expecting a nice ice flow in the back.
He ended up holstering his tools and sending in crampons! I think he was in his mid-60s at the time. No excuses now!

By burlap submariner
Jun 1, 2012

In comparison to diedre direct and piss easy this is a lighter 10 cathedral offwith, I found the rock to be grippy and lots of little edges inside and outside of the crack. Eric is right, I brought and old style 4.5 and two bd 6., I placed the 4.5 near the start of the ow and walked a 6 until I was happy moving passed it then walked the other 6 until I was comfy getting into the grooves at the top entering the gully. Such a cool route.