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The Scientist 

5.11a/b

   

FA: Bob D'Antonio and Vaino Kodas
New Route: Yes
Type: Trad, Sport
Consensus: 5.11a/b [details]
Length: 1 pitch, 80 feet
Views: 1,894 page views

Submitted By: Ron Olsen on Feb 22, 2003


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Boulder Falls approach closed on 3/30/09 MORE INFO >>>

Mike Amato making the reach to the slanting crack ...


Description 

This is a three star route that takes a direct line up the beautiful clean slab just left of "Rama" on the Plotinus Wall. Clip the first bolt and make a nice move up to the second bolt. Make a difficult move past the second bolt, then a another dicey move to reach the crack. Place the Aliens and move up over a small roof. Follow the line of bolts up the clean face to a two-bolt anchor. One of the best slab pitches in the canyon.


Protection 

Eight bolts, green and blue Aliens will get you to a two-bolt anchor.



Photos of The Scientist Slideshow Add Photo
Plotinus Wall, middle.

BETA PHOTO: Plotinus Wall, middle.

This high step didn't work for Paul. If you're tall enough (he isn't) you can reach a good edge with your left hand and crank onto the good foothold in the crack, thus avoiding any thin feet. But it's still very thin moving right from there to the other crack. That's how I did it the first time, but I now think it's easier to do the thin foot moves and make a less extreme step up.

This high step didn't work for Paul. If you're tal...

Ethan getting into the crux on the Scientist..

Ethan getting into the crux on the Scientist..

Unknown climber clipping the 4th bolt on the Scientist.  (I thought this was a cool shot of the route hope you don't mind I post your photo unknown climber.)

Unknown climber clipping the 4th bolt on the Scien...

(I thought this was a cool shot of the route hope you don't mind I post your photo unknown climber.)

(I thought this was a cool shot of the route hope ...


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Comments displayed oldest to newestSkip Ahead to the Most Recent Dated Oct 17, 2008
By Peter Beal
From: Boulder Colorado
Mar 17, 2003

This route is truly one of the best slab climbs in the area. Bring one thin finger-size piece for the crack or face a fairly scary but moderate stretch for the third bolt. Superb rock and excellent climbing, only slightly marred by the last ledge. A must-do.

By Tony B
From: Boulder, CO
Jul 11, 2003
rating: 5.11b

Good climb if you like small crimping. Actually, pretty good climb if you don't, but you probably won't on-sight it- because that's what kind of climb it is. I like this route, which seemed to be a cosmic premeditated revenge upon me for downgrading everything else at the cliff. You are going to 'nickle and dime' your way up the route, so take the appropriate shoes.

If you like thin climbing (Eldo climbers, think 'Gravity's Angel' or 'Prince of Darkness') and want a bolt at your chest for the crux, this is 2*'s if you don't like thin stuff, it's one.

Harder than Bobsled, Sleepless in Boulder, Tooth Fairy, etc... At 5'10" and even with a +6" ape index, I was 2" from the crux hold from the good stance, so I still had to do a significant move. I toe hooked and went sideways to hit it static with the right (wrong) hand and had to piano switch to get to the big move right. I was wearing shoes that my foot literally hangs out the side of... but I think it's hard in any shoes- maybe VERY HARD for shorter people.

If all you brought was draws and no gear- no fear. The moves above where you'd make the placement are not that hard and the distance to the next bolt is not severe. This line goes pretty mellow without any trad gear. It's still not S. I took a cam at the suggestion of a pal, but it was easier to do 5.8 move than to try to place the cam and clip it from a 5.10 stance since the bolt was just left of my feet.

By Peter Beal
From: Boulder Colorado
Jul 15, 2003

RE Tony's comment about the gear: If hanging off a jug and placing a small TCU feels like 5.10, the moves getting to the next bolt will definitely not feel like 5.8. This section isn't really s-rated climbing but feels a bit out of place considering the otherwise closely spaced bolts. I've done this route four or five times and consider placing the piece a lot more casual than going without.

By Craig Quincy
Jul 18, 2003
rating: 5.11a

Slab-a-licious! Sticking in the gear in between the 2 and 3rd bolts is half the fun and quite welcome. Watch out for the loose rocks on the ledge when pulling the rope.

By Chad Stebbins
Jul 21, 2003
rating: 5.11b

Perhaps I didn't do it as it was intended, but the fourth bolt seemed to pull me too far to the right. I moved left from the holds just over the small roof. Great climbing overall.

By Charles Vernon
From: Tucson AZ
Aug 6, 2003
rating: 5.11b

Fantastic climb, thanks Bob and Vaino. I had a raging calf-pump going by the time I reached the crack (I found the moves not only thin and balancy but difficult to decipher), and I was *very* happy to plug in a cam. I didn't think the moves to the next bolt were all that moderate! I also felt the climbing was quite similar to Gravity's Angel in Eldo--slightly harder, but fewer cruxes.

By Brian Milhaupt
From: Golden, CO
Mar 11, 2004
rating: 5.11a/b

Great route. Tricky footwork gains the crux handhold. Glad to see there aren't bolts near the crack.

By Chris Malke
Jun 2, 2004
rating: 5.11a

I think this is a great route. I really like balancy slab routes and this one definitely fits this category. I think 11a is appropriate, especially for taller people. Moving at the second bolt requires a pretty far but decent left hand crimper. I'm 5'11'' and I barely reached it. My buddy was an inch shorter and he had to add a pretty crappy foot move. Just watch it as you're going for that really big ledge just before the anchors, some loose stuff there. I ripped off a hold and took a nice 15 footer, so be careful. Otherwise, highly recommended.

By Leo Paik
Administrator
From: Westminster, Colorado
Feb 7, 2006

For the average-height or less, average-to-heavier-than-average, average-to-less-than-average climber, smearing above the good foothold, this climb will beat up your left hand fingertips and you may get some blood blisters. Ow! Bring your slippers. Nonetheless, it is an aesthetic, intriguing sport climb. Kudos to the FAists!

By SirVato
From: Toyota-rado
Jun 23, 2006
rating: 5.11a/b

Sweet Route BobD/Vaino!! I am one of those short persons, at 5'4".
I had to make a shitty left foot smear to get to the left hand crimp (it took me a couple of tries high stepping w/ the right to figure this out). Then, the move to the crack I had to let go of the rock and just teeter over 'til I could make a last second thrutch for the crack. From the ground, we thought the roof would be most difficult, but after all the slabbing down low the roof felt easy on big holds. We didn't know what this route was named or graded before we tried it. That seemed to make it much more intimidating. Before my partner went up,I said that it was probably 11a/b. Good guess I guess ;-) I think that's pretty right on!!

By Kat A
From: Bart and Lisa Ville, CO
Sep 24, 2006
rating: 5.11b

Excellent route! At 5'4", it was a deja vu reading Rich's comment above about making the crux moves if you're under 6' tall. Thanks to BobD/Vaino for this route and others at Plotinus Wall.

By geoffe077
Apr 15, 2007
rating: 5.11a

This is a classic no matter the area, it's good to see smart bolting on a route in Boulder Canyon. Toward the top there is a ledge stance which kinda takes away from this being a five star route, but the bottom 2/3 has really fun slab moves. 11a.

By Naomi Guy
Oct 17, 2008

A Fantastic route. At 5'4" I did find it a little reachy as I had to to some tic tacking to get past the 2nd bolt. I managed to hang out & figure out the short people beta before moving right into the crack, using the 'crystal nubbins' & a good left foot. A great route for the ladies!