Well protected, possibly over-bolted route, but good quality nevertheless. This is the first pitch of Astrophysics. Some neat balancy mantels are the crux (I guess). The route seems more like 9. Pull the roof on the right side and look for the last bolt just over the lip.
Protection
8 QDs to a 2-bolt anchor. The last 20 ft. are runout 5.6, where a cam could be placed, but quite easy.
To the "overbolted" comment, I mean that most of the route can be protected with stoppers and cams. There are only a few sections where placing gear would be difficult/runout. This applies to Simmer as well.
I've led this route without using the bolts, and there is only one place where I felt the pro was not great, and that was up high, under the roof, just before you get to easier ground (and good pro again). There was a so-so small cam placement below the roof, but the rock wasn't so great around the cams, and I didn't really want to test it.
Variation of Fear: Not knowing where (Read: if) that bolt was on the R side of the roof, I went left and protected the flake/crack with a couple of stoppers. You can then head left to the other set of bolted anchors, or proceed R to the intended anchors.
By Ken Trout From: Golden, CO Aug 13, 2003 rating: 5.10a
After getting reacquainted with real 5.9 face climbing out in Toulumne this year, I wonder if my toes were out of tune when we rated Bolt Cola. But, if Ken Cangi is suggesting 5.10b, I'm all for it. Close bolts really make things feel easier to me. My purpose was to just have a good warm-up for Jolt nearby, instead of having to roll the dice on Hike with Ludwig Dude.
Actually more like 1 1/2 * ; good , but really outstanding.
[Definitely] over-rated at 5.10 and would probably go at 5.8 in Shelf.
There is a bit of a run-out to the anchors (but it is pretty easy), a couple of 3/4" to 1" cams would help steady down a leader used to an "over-bolted" routes.
By George Bell From: Boulder, CO Jul 12, 2004 rating: 5.10a
This is the easiest route in this area to identify because you start by stepping off a spike of rock. You can't see the last bolt from the 6th bolt (at least we didn't), so without this knowledge we "bailed" left, where you can get some gear in. After placing another small cam you can wander up and right to the chains (looks tricky but is not), or head left for the anchor on "Shimmer".
Down low, there are several ways to get between the bolts so it's kind of hard to rate. No way is this route 5.8, though!
A number of fun moves, well protected with bolts until after the roof, then some runout, but on relatively easy ground.
By Zed From: Gotham City Nov 15, 2007 rating: 5.10a
This is a fun route. It felt like the crux was moving past the 3rd bolt. When you get to the overlap (5th bolt), where you can't see the next bolt, stay low and traverse right about ten feet, and then the bolt will come into plain view. It is the last bolt until the anchors, but the climbing above is very easy - 5.6 or so. You could also place gear behind the lieback flake if you're not comfortable running it out twenty feet on easy ground. I was not having a particularly bold day, and the runout didn't concern me at all.
Thought this was a fun route and does have some thoughtful 5.10ish moves. But not knowing where the next bolt was at the roof I headed left thinking I could protect the crack with a cam. The placement looked a little marginal, but I went for it anyways. I slipped, the piece pulled, and I went quite a ways. Pulled myself together and went back up and this time went right, much easier that way and I thought I was wimping out, but I guess that is the way the route goes! Moral of the story is: good to read the descriptions on here first, and of course I shouldn't have tried it on marginal gear. I'll be back.
By DamageVic From: Coal Creek Canyon, CO Sep 18, 2009 rating: 5.9
Climbed this yesterday- fun route, used a grey Alien in the seam/crack between the last bolt & the anchor. Enjoyed it quite a bit!
*As of 17 Sep 09 there is/was an ACTIVE wasp nest very close to the 7th/last bolt...BEWARE!**