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Chianti 

5.8+

   

FA: ???
Type: Trad
Consensus: 5.8+ [details]
Length: 2 pitches
Views: 1,849 page views

Submitted By: Matt Bauman on Jan 1, 2001


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Ben Mottinger making the start of Pitch 2 more dif...


Description 

Just right of Break on Through's large dihedral is a steep crack system that leads to a large roof. This is actually a better pitch than Break on Through's 1st pitch but it doesn't look that great from the base.

Take the thin crack straight up to roof, turn roof around left side and cruise to tree. 2nd pitch moves up thru rotten band and takes the right crack/corner system (left is Break on Through) up the headwall. Very steep crux but great pro and jams take you to the large ledge with 2 bolts at the far right.


Protection 

Small cams (Aliens, TCUs) to medium....stoppers work nice too. Tree anchor for 1st pitch (same as Break on Through) and 2 bolt anchor for 2nd (rappel anchor).



Add Photo Photos of Chianti
Eds.  Note, this rappel may be a rope stretcher with a short downclimb with a 50m rope.  Consider 2 ropes or a 60m rope.

BETA PHOTO: Eds. Note, this rappel may be a rope stretcher wi...

Pitch 1 smiles...

Pitch 1 smiles...

Pitch 2 - Mmmm...mmmm...good.

Pitch 2 - Mmmm...mmmm...good.

Toward the top of the first pitch

Toward the top of the first pitch

Rick, starting the first pitch of Chianti.

Rick, starting the first pitch of Chianti.

Rick, past the crux of pitch 1.

Rick, past the crux of pitch 1.

Last Crux Move up the steep crack on Chianti

Last Crux Move up the steep crack on Chianti

Janet Conner stemming the crux slot on the first pitch.

Janet Conner stemming the crux slot on the first p...

Bruno Hache cranking up to the hand crack on the second pitch.

Bruno Hache cranking up to the hand crack on the s...

Jason negotiates his way past a bush on this stellar route.

Jason negotiates his way past a bush on this stell...

Mike G starting the first pitch of Chianti.

Mike G starting the first pitch of Chianti.

Mike G short roped on Chianti. PS, make sure your rope is actually 60m.

Mike G short roped on Chianti. PS, make sure your ...


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Comments displayed oldest to newestSkip Ahead to the Most Recent Dated Apr 28, 2008
By Anonymous Coward
Jun 8, 2001

Super fun route. The 8+ rating seems right on. Both pitches are great, though the second is very short. If you use long runners to reduce drag, I think you could do it in one pitch with a 60 meter rope.

Josh Hemann

By Anonymous Coward
Feb 5, 2002

This is a great climb! The first move is the hardest part of the climb, but the entire thing eats up pro. The second pitch might look difficult but it too eats up pro (up to a #2 camalot) and has huge holds. Climbable all year-round.

By Holly Barnard
Apr 15, 2002

Excellent route. Follwed it on 4/13/02. We did it as one pitch with a 60m rope and had about 10ft to spare. My partner set up a gear anchor left of the bolts on top, so that probably allowed for the little extra rope we had. If you wanted to ensure that you had enough rope you could scrabble up together and belay from the ledge directly below where the business really starts instead of from the ground (I belayed from the ground).

By Michael Komarnitsky
Founding Father
May 8, 2002

Do the second pitch! I looks gnarly from the ground, and even a little bit from the belay. However, the route opens up for you and you can get gear in everywhere. One gear beta idea: about a #4-5 stopper goes in the seam on the right end of the flake above the small tree. Basically you're still standing on easy ground, but you stretch up and place it. This is your pro until you get the bomber finger lock to place a .75 up in the crack.

By tobias
Jul 10, 2002

Nice route-- a cruiser with positive holds throughout. I'm curious what the hell the bolted climb is below the 2-bolt rap anchor. It's positioned directly above Washington Irving, about 7 bolts. Seems like solid 5.12...(?) I got pumped quick on top rope. It follows a nice handcrack up to the left past the first bolt, briefly onto a ledge, then out right again onto the face. There are some decent side-pull holds for both hands, but purchase for the feets peters out... Anybody know it? thanks.

By Ernie Port
From: Boulder, Colorado
Sep 16, 2002

Tobias,I believe your asking about Atom Smasher .12d on the face above W/I. Used those anchors you described recently to rap off P2 of Chianti. They're placed very close to the edge, and I was concerned about slipping & shocking the bolts as I gingerly stepped out onto the face. Cool rap though.

By Tony Bubb
From: Boulder, CO
Oct 22, 2002
rating: 5.8+

You can do this as a single pitch route with a 70M, and probably with a 60M if you start the belay from up on the ledge. I did it with a party of 3 with a 70M and the 3rd on a 60M from the ledge this weekend. Watch for rope drag though- I arranged my rope carefully and was OK, my second back-clipped a second rope for the 3rd and did not run it right- she claimed to have "40 pounds of drag."

I like the climb, but I think I've done many better climbs near this grade. Gambit, Long John, Ruper, Yellow Spur, etc...

5.8+ seems right.

By James Balasalle
Apr 15, 2003
rating: 5.8+

I agree. A great route. Not too long and any easy rap descent. Could be done at the end of the day, or as a "warm-up" for other climbs in the area. I thought the first few moves of the first pitch were thought-provoking but the whole pitch was pretty straightforward. The second pitch looks pretty henious from the belay, but isn't so bad once you get up to it. The crux is pretty short and well protected... I placed a nut at the bottom and a cam (#1 friend maybe??) in the great finger crack. You could get a bigger piece near the top, but I couldn't find a good rest, so I just topped out.

By Anonymous Coward
May 23, 2004

I saw the two tape Xs for proposed bolts at the top of Pitch 1. Has this been decided and someone needs to clean up the tape?

1. Seems like wrong place for belaying a 2nd.2. *May* turn the first pitch into *another* top rope in this area.3. Plenty of good pro just above the little tree, which made for a great belay anchor.4. If the goal is to save the tree from people using it to rap...then they need their head examined...it is 90% dead already.5. If one really needs to bail, use the other dying tree on Break On Through...at least that one has slings.

Seems like a bad placement that would change the climb greatly.

What's the Link again to the bolting Committee?

L8R

By Bob D'Antonio
From: Superior, CO
May 23, 2004

Quote: If the goal is to save the tree from people using it to rap...then they need their head examined...it is 90% dead already.

No, maybe the goal is to save someone from dying! Eldorado is full of gross-looking slings around sick-looking little trees. Pine trees have very shallow roots in even the best of conditions. Save the trees and maybe a life, add a bolt anchor.

By Anonymous Coward
May 23, 2004

The tree is a lost cause, bolt anchor should be in the correct position if anywhere. This climb could be made much safer. Like the moves off the ledge, etc. But then it wouldn't be this climb? I don't see a need to rap from that position but we topped out. Probably would be a bad toprope, with all the drag on the slab, but it would be done.

By The Nutter
May 23, 2004

I call total bullshit on adding bolts to the top of P1. "Saving a life" shouldn't even enter into this discussion. About a yr. or so ago, I was doing P1 of BoT as a warm-down pitch, thinking the tree was still slung. It wasn't and I realized why. I sucked it-up and left 2 bomber nuts off to the left on BoT. The moral of the story is that if you're in danger, you can leave gear and if you're not, you can finish the climb.

By Anonymous Coward
May 24, 2004

Looks like it is time to clean up the tape on Chianti:

April 22, 1997 MeetingHeld at Boulder Rock Club Baseline, 7pm.

#65 Route: new anchors above Chianti 5.8+ 1st pitch, West RidgeHardware: 2 bolts to save treeApplicant: ACEFHRC: not recommended Reason: natural anchors present, most do not use tree

By Matt Chan
Aug 23, 2004
rating: 5.8

I too am glad to see that the FHRC removed the application to bolt an anchor on P1. Save the tree by belaying ten feet higher at a much larger tree with a nice ledge. Not sure if you can rap to the ground from this tree, but the second pitch is worth doing anyway. Rap from the top of P2 off the Atom Smasher anchors down to the Washington Irving anchors.

By Jason Shatek
Oct 18, 2004
rating: 5.8+

Wow, what a climb. I am a new 5.8 leader and this is easily one of the best climbs I have ever done! Larry and I did this climb last saturday. The cruxes take some thought, but all the moves are there, and the difficulty is not sustained. This very vertical route offers excellent protection and hand holds along with a variety of terrain. The route was an Alien sucker, it sucked the Aliens right off my rack and into bomber placements. I felt the crux was getting onto the repel bolts after the second pitch. I don't know what it was, but I was really creeped out trying to go over the edge and weight the bolted anchors. The anchors are in good shape, I just couldn't weight the anchors until I stepped over the edge. Seriously though, one of the best climbs I have ever done, I highly recommend it!

By Larry Pedigo
Dec 17, 2004

I agree that this climb doesn't look like much from the ground. But, oh man, is it a brilliant and fun line! Both pitches offer great climbing with excellent protection. When you pull past the crux section on the second pitch, after a five or so feet, look to the right for the bolts. They're by the ledge. I almost inadvertently bypassed them.

By Danny Inman
From: Westminster
Sep 11, 2006

A worthy route.

By lauren di scipio
Dec 25, 2006

Super fun climb. This is the route where me and Jimmy M saw Garrett and let him "play through" because he wasn't dressed warm enough for the morning...ask Boulos.

By Mark Cushman
From: Erie, CO
Mar 12, 2008

Along with others here, I found the bottom to be the crux of the entire route. P2 was short and fun, and I could get gear above my head the whole way. Great route!

By Matt Richardson
Administrator
From: Fort Collins, CO
Apr 28, 2008
rating: 5.8+

Did this last weekend as a warmup, and what an excellent route! I think you will find the crux depends on your strength - if you excel at more gymnastic movement, then the beginning of the second pitch which requires some crack technique will be it; if you cruise crack, then the bottom of the first pitch will probably make you think. The first pitch is nice and long - about 35 m to the tree shared with Break on Through. The second pitch is no longer than 20 m.

There is an alternate descent if you find the anchors off of Atom Smasher to be a little spooky - you can down climb off the back of the ridge to a nice cleared area and then walk about 20' south to a horn just a ways uphill. Although difficult to see, the horn is slung with webbing and a steel cable replete with rap rings. From here you have a quick rap to the top of Washington Irving.

If you are using the anchors above Atom Smasher, I would suggest bringing some extra cord - the webbing was looking a bit threadbare with at least one of the cords showing the core.