Invisibility Lessons 

Well, I have to dissagree with Mike's description of the begiining "easy". Of course, you'll have to take my comments with a grain of salt since this was my first 9 trad lead ever, and I wouldn't have tried it except for the fact that it was my last day in J-Tree and I had just finished the 8+ to the left (Continuum). A man who my friend and climbing buddy Mike and I dubbed "Cool James" told me it was more straightforward then the 8+ and since I had lead that, I should definitely lead Invisibility Lessons. It was a little bit of that great encouragement and community that makes this place so special, and I'm glad I did it. I mean, they REALLY wanted me to do it. But I digress... The start is thin, I sort of side pulled and slightly laid back in the right facing dihedral/ crack up to the big step. It was only until my fourth attempt that I was comfortable enough to be able to get an alien in and continue up. And I guess that was kinda easy compared to the step and then thin hands/ hand crack above. I thought that feet were a bit desperate for my taste while leading at the time, but the pro an the hand jams were good. I think I jammed in a .75 cam in that crack, making it a smaller then hand crack. After about 10 or 15 feet, it opens up to hand crack and then eases considerably. I think a first time 9 trad leader (like I was) can tackle this if you feel comfortable with crack climbing, and you can get up the start. My fear of a horrible insurance plan were eased with the first cam in the beginning, which was maybe 8 or 12 feet up. I used a 1 as well as a large (3 or 4) camalot on top for the belay. Lots of options up there. And although I haven't climbed many 9's in the park, I might have to give it a 3 stars...

This is one of the nicest routes I've done in jtree, and one of the nicest moderates that I've done anywhere... excellent and fun all the way on superb rock.

My favorite 5.9 to date at JT. Lots of fun. You need to build your own anchor. Great walk off to the left. While you're in the area, definitely run over to Bird of Fire.

You need to climb about 10' off the deck to the first pro placement. The moves off the deck and the stance at the first pro placement is powerful and delicate. The next challenge is moving out right into the thin hands crack. The stance here is good and you should be able to place gear in the crack before the next series of moves. The crack angles right and opens a bit to bomber hands. A bit sustained but it's hand crack. If you want to lead a crack that has pro off the deck, go Touch and Go.

Good rock and great crack. Fun moves all the way.

A few sustained sections.

The crux of this climb is actually the left leaning tight hands. Best to place a piece high then pull into it and make a few moves to get to better hands before the next piece goes in. Then eases off to the top. Not hugely sustained but no gimme. Excellent either way, along with Touch and Go probably the best two < 5.10 cracks in the park in my opinion.

WOW WOW WOW. Absolutely grinning all the way to the top, and feeling like a hero because .75 camalot is decent hands for me and this crux protects beautifully. There are a lot of feet on the left wall that ballance you nicely to pull into the crack. I brought doubles from purple to gold, but it's that yummy green cam that you could place five times if you want to. My favorite of this grade at J-tree.

Good route, but maybe overrated. 1.5 out of 3 stars, I thought. Short, not sustained, no exposure. Overseer on Hemmingway is a much, much better line at this grade.

Nice route. I thought it was much easier than Continuum even though it is rated harder.

Good route on clean rock 3 stars out of 5. Nice hands crux in the middle gives way to easier terrain to the top. A couple of #3 camalots for the belay. Recommended

I agree with Sirius completely. It is worth doing for the move left at the roof and the 7 feet after that!

Nice line, crux is the left leaning thin hands section near the bottom, takes excellent gear at the crux (and just about anywhere else too). Bottom is a little delicate and polished. If you are going to TR this after leading, stop about 15' below the top at a good stance (4th class low angle bomber hands to the top from here) and build your anchor in the double hand cracks (takes anything from #1-#3 camalot size)...this will be much easier on your rope and easier to belay the TR than going all the way over the top. While you've got the rope hung, take a run up the .10c face route just to the right "Disappearing Act". And I agree with the other two, Overseer and Touch and Go are better routes.

I can only assume that this routes name stems from the fact that there ARE small footholds out left which were initially "invisible" to me at first. Great route which seemed harder than 9 to me until this discovery.