This route is located up and around the corner from Sidewinder and is worth doing if you can be assured of not falling. It is unique in that it climbs a nice crack into a squeeze-through "tunnel", out the other side, and continues up a chimney to the top. Larger-hipped individuals will have difficulty with the squeeze (it isn't called Skinny Dip by mistake). The chimney definitely warrants an "R" rating.
Rap from 2-bolt anchor as for Invisible Touch.
Protection
Not much for the upper section. Bring nothing smaller than .75 Camalot.
The Chimney is only about 5.4; the crux is the crack and tunnel through. Alternatively, you can merely end the route once you reach the bottom of the chimney; descend east (easy). Still 5.7, and good pro, but you really don't feel like you went anywhere.
I wouldn't recommend this one to anyone with a waist size greater then 32...or a female...or if you're claustrophobic. It's still kind of a memorable experience trying to worm through that opening.
By Brian in SLC From: Salt Lake City, UT Jan 1, 2008
My bet is that Largo wasn't large-o when he did this route...dang, we're near the same size now it seems and I'll be darned if I can fit through that thing. Hips wasn't the issue, was my manly (debatable!) chest size. Too mucho!
Pain in the arse to bail from. Thank goodness for the bolted line to the right...
Now this was a real puzzle for me. I ended up somehow going through feet first and almost upside down. What a hoot! A must.....try.
By Brian in SLC From: Salt Lake City, UT Dec 12, 2008
Aha...I feel better now...(conversation from the super taco):
"John, you don't, by chance, NOT fit through Skinny Dip (Steve Canyon, J Tree) now? We're nearly the same size, but, in your younger years you musta been thinner (or "thin enough"). Cheers, -Brian in SLC ------- Funny you should mention it. I did the FA on Skinny Dip when I was in high school and still sort of skinny. Went back to it in college and I could no longer fit through the gash in Skinny Dip. Not even close. JL"
I agree that this climb should not be attempted if your waist size is larger than 32...May be it was just the way I went about it, but it is a route that can get you stuck...better be skinny to take the dip.
Love the "improbable" tunnel through. Plan on getting stuck...at least for a minute. Bailed on my helmet(just in time for the unprotected chimney)to fit, then somehow got low and stepped through the thing. A must do!
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