I take no credit for this photo as a friend "Karni...
Description
This route lies on the right (east)- most solid buttress of the South Face of the Echo Cove Rocks. It is approached via a few slab moves to a small ledge. Climb this line of 6 bolts on the rounded, bulging arete to the top. The crux is down low, starting off of the ledge with a huge high-step to get feet above the bulge. The handholds here are small and sharp. The route felt like 5.10c to me, but will be far harder for those far shorter. Flexibility might make up for height until such point that the good hand-hold can not be reached.
The belay up top is well set with large cams and/or hexes and small tricams. There are other possibilities too.
To descend, walk/scramble off to the climber's right (east) then south by a big "potato-chip" looking boulder, and the back West toward the base.
The start as mentioned by Tony B's discription is truly the shit. Height, flexability, bad gas, and a zit or two makes it difficult at best. Beyond that it remains tough but fun as all get out. There is a small boulder off to the right when facing your partner that can easily and safely be slung for an anchor. Pro works as well in the mid sizes in particular. I lean towards the 5.10c a bit that Tony spoke of. Either that or 5.9+ (Jtree special)
Big D and I did this on top rope yesterday. Cams, tri-cams work fine.You can place most any size somewhere as well as slinging an area or two. I have led this thing twice and for some reason had more difficulty doing it on a top rope. That makes no sense to me. But little does. The weather has been perfect. Nice that so many have left........
5.9 A0. Move off the ledge is a showstopper if you can't reach the ok pinch/sidepull. Stretch, grow a few inches, etc, or do what I did, grab that first bolt and yard through. Remainder of the climbing was generic Josh low angle face/slab.
Echo Cove - South Face
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