Undertow 

I was hoping to get this route in myself. This is a great line on mega jugs, and very steep for this area. Who can forget the classic shot of Robyn Erebsfield hanging by one hand and a foot blasting through this route like a toy. Since it starts at the base of the Slab it stays in the shade essentially all of the time. What makes Undertow interesting, beside the climbing, is that it went in during Boulder's controversial years when the West faces of the flatirons were on the verge of exploding with hard new lines. Undertow was an important harbinger of this potential as much as Dale Goddard's Five Year Plan was defining the possibilities. What a loss.

Front range sport climbs don't get much better. The actual count is 6 bolts to a 2 bolt anchor, with cruxes at the 3rd and 4th bolts. There is a #2 camalot placement between the 5th and 6th bolts in what looks like an old bong scar, but it looks like it wouldn't hold a fall. There is also a good #1 camalot placement to protect the moves to the anchor.

There are a couple, what look like, pin scars on this route and lots of hookable features. Does anyone know the history of this route? Was it originally an aid line?

Whoa, what a route! This has got to be one of the best sport routes in Boulder. In addition to being very overhung and therefore requiring good endurance, it has quite a crimpy and delicate crux above the 4th bolt, followed by more hard and steep moves. And in spite of all the chalked holds, many of them are not the best holds and few are really "jugs". There is a nice bolt at the belay ledge to assist with anchoring the belayer.

Getting to this route is a bit of a hike, but worth every step. Undertow offers everything that one could ask of a sport route: beautiful rock, great position, pumpy angle, interesting movement, and solid clipping stances. This and Chains of Love are two of my favorite Flatirons routes.

I agree with much of the above, this was a very memorable and fun route for me! Don't be afraid to schlep those draws up here, it's beautiful in many ways (including the climbing!)

Some knucklehead felt the need to spraypaint graffiti right next to the start of this route. WTF?

Maybe it was the convicted graffiti vandal Daniel Woods.

All six bolts replaced today with 1/2-inch stainless-steel Anchor Replacement Initiative hardware; both anchor bolts upgraded to 1/2-inch and ring-and-chain anchors, too. Thanks to Owen Silver and to Clyde (dog), who carried bolts up the hill for us!

We didn't have the right-size wrench to yank the old bolts, so will be back to do that soon and patch the holes. Thanks to the ARI, OSMP, FCC, Access Fund, and all who helped.

Went back on Sat (6/21) to try to yank the bolts again -- got only one out. The studs are frozen (rusted) shut, so I'll need to find a more-specific hex-headed wrench to finish the deed. I'll go back hopefully in the next week or two to do this. Sorry for the double-bolts...for now.

Went and bought the longest socket arm and hex-headed socket at McGuckins; sounds like Chris Beh got all but the sixth bolt out last Saturday (June 28) with it, so the work here is almost done. Thanks, Chris!