This 2 pitch sport route starts about 40' up and left of the Bitty Buttress route, as if starting on A's Jax, staying right, out of the unpleasant dihedral. Facing almost due south, it gets lots of sunshine and is somewhat protected from westerly winds.
Pitch 1: 5.11a, 90', 9 bolts. Start with 3 bolts on the slab/fin right of the dihedral, then stem left across the corner onto a steep wall, hitting an unusual crux at bolt 5. A nifty slab (.9-) takes you up to the anchor. This is an excellent pitch all by itself. It's probably best to follow rather than lower.
Pitch 2: 5.12a/b, 45', 6 bolts. Some 5.9 leads up to the 4th bolt where a height-dependant move is encountered (harder if under 6' tall). An interesting sequence sets up the crux toss at bolt 5. This pitch is fairly steep but not overly powerful--some thoughtful, technical movement is required to "send". Though it's a reasonable redpoint, without tic-marks or beta the onsight should deliver that special 5.12 feeling.
My first try on Return to Sender left me with the following impression. P1 is a nifty way to link up two slabs that get you to P2, which would otherwise have a rotten approach. In its own right P1 is a blast and entails some nice thin slabbing with a tough mantle in the link up. It looks like it needs some brushing, but while climbing that seemed insignificant. P2 is the meat, and I won't give anything away. It has two cruxes, as Mark indicated. The lower crux will be very height dependent. I hung off the jug at the end of the first crux and could just graze my toe on the spot used to launch the move. If you are 6' 5", it might feel 5.10, if you are 5' 7" it would feel like 5.14. There are two solutions, but the short person variation will certainly come at higher than 5.12a/b. The second crux is what it is, either you do it or you don't. It's a nifty and very technical dyno, a brief, perfect althletic moment (or perhaps several attempts at a brief, perfect athletic moment). Nice addition. Solid rock. Well protected. And it gets good early sun.
Bitty Buttress
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