This classic route is in dire need of an upgrade. It climbs right to left across the very smooth, very overhanging wall left of the crux (2nd) pitch of C'est La Vie and features bouldery moves on flat to sloping edges and a crux finish on an overhanging arete.
After waiting ten years to try the route, my fat ass pulled off a huge key flake right at the fourth bolt yesterday. Sincere apologies to the climbing community!
There may be some holds left, but they definitely need cleaning, if not a little glue (there was a little glue on the flake, but obviously not enough). The old Mammut ring bolts on this route could use replacing as well. They look pretty sketchy and rusty. It didn't look like anyone had been on the route in a long time.
Anyway, from the belay at the base of the 2nd pitch of C'est La Vie fire up the blank corner past a funky pin, placing a couple of RPs for safety's sake (11a). Reach a good finger lock (a stopper or TCUs goes in nicely here -- use a long sling) and lean waaayyyy left to clip the crispy fixed draw on the first bolt. Continue left via strenuous moves past more crispy draws, then move up past a curious hueco above the fourth bolt.
Protection
You'll need some trad gear for the first pitch of C'est La Vie, which takes you to the bolted belay below Desdichado. To get to Desdichado's bolts you'll also have to do the crux (desperate) of C'est La Vie. Bring RPs, a long sling and a couple of mid-ranged stoppers for the crux corner.
I would think if you can fire this route the crux of C'est La Vie isn't desperate! I once was up there when George Squibb was working on this route (maybe 10 years ago). He swarmed up the route past several bolts but could never quite finish (that day). He gave us detailed beta on the crux of C'est La Vie and we still couldn't get anywhere on it.
I have *not* done Desdichado (nor could I), but I have done C'est La Vie a few times. Before riddling out the tricky moves on CLV, I was using a side pull on the left wall of the dihedral to reach up (pretty reachy) and grab a hold on the Desdichado traverse, and then try to work into the CLV finger lock that way (it didn't work. I eventually figured out I had to stay on the slab and in the corner...)
Anyway, my point: I think its possible to get onto this route without doing the (I agree) desperate slab crux on CLV. I could certainly have clipped the first bolt of Desdichado from the holds I reached.
Another thought: no matter how good a climber you are, I can't imagine the CLV crux feeling anything but extremely edgy!
You can get on this route without doing CLV crux if you have long arms and are reasonably strong. Getting past the first clip is the hard part and there is no way I could link it. The falls onto the first bolt were clean though.
I'm curious if the broken hold has made this climb far harder than its original 5.13c rating. It would be great to hear from someone who has been on the climb recently or knows of the key flake.
I climbed on this line a couple times in 2004, and although I didn't send it, I felt the 13c grade was still applicable. I did not use the crux of C'est La Vie to gain access to the steep face, I used Tony's "long arms and reasonably strong" beta. Also, note that there are no anchors...to finish the climb in the true old school fashion you establish on the slab and take the whip.
Redgarden - S Buttress
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