Cat's Meow 

Alan: We did this new route yesterday as our final route. We had just done nine to five, a standard Table 5.9. I don't mean to be be too critical but this route is not even close to being 5.10a. If you believe it is, then tell me where the 10a crux is. I followed your route description to the letter and am hard pressed to say it is much greater than 5.8 (Maybe +). I think everyone needs to be careful about rating routes. Our mentors of the YDS never seemed to overrate. I think it would be prudent to be more consevative and not allow our newer climbers to believe that doing routes such as this give them the skills to easily climb any 10a. I don't think we should elevate climbers egos by overrating. This route is obvious case of this. I hope you are not offended. Stuart Allan.

[ED note: this route was double posted] All of these routes are a kick. This 5.10a lies two routes left of Sunset Arete. Pull up on handle bar jugs for the crux at the first bolt, then kick back for a nice romp to the top. My only beta would be to haul right around the block between bolts 3 and 4. Fun line, good stone, obvious addition, so why did it take so long?

We did this route today and It's companion Tinkletoes and enjoyed them both! As for the rating, I would call it solid 5.9.I think its just as hard as 9 to 5. We stayed left of the block not by design, but by lack of careful reading of your description.

If you go straight up between bolts 3 and 4 (not going right around the block), I think the crux is 5.10a.

david, why on Earth would you quote Hubble's guide as some kind of authority? Hubble has always named cracks that were never climbed. His first book to the Platte was called The Brown Book of Lies. No FA parties are listed usually.

Please remove your comments about Alan. He died three months ago. Your presenting yourself as a guy who likes to kick people when they're down.

Once you do, I'll remove my above comments and just leave this:

Last winter the best Himalayan climber in Golden told me this is one of his favorite climbs at Golden Cliffs.

Fun, but couldn't really say it was any harder than 9. I thought the technical crux was going over that bulge around the third bolt, where people are saying to go right. I went straight up the bolt line, thinking that was actually the easiest way, and didn't think it was harder than 9.