Sayonara 

As a member of the first ascent party (Brett Ruckman and I put up this route several days before I moved to the Bay Area.....hence the name), let me shed some light on the route description.

First off, I thought the start was near impossible (more like 5.11+), moving up and right to some adequate holds. In fact, when I first spotted the route and convinced Brett to do it with me, I had the easier, alternate, start in mind. Oh well, things happen. Anyway, the easier start goes out a finger/hand crack about 20 feet uphill from the other start and is about 5.9+. Take gear in the 1-2 Friend range to protect the first set of moves; there's no bolt. Let's not start a debate over that decision, please!

I think the opening moves on this are more like 11+.

A steep, sustained pitch with great thin edging all the way up.The 10b rating is for the easier start: go up a ramp to the left, place a 1"-2" cam, and turn the roof to the right. The difficulty of this move is height-dependent; at 6'1", I could stem right and reach good holds without much difficulty (8). This move could be 9 or 9+ for shorter climbers.

Above, step right and follow three bolts to the top on steep thin edges. The 10b crux comes at the last bolt.

The alternate start, down to the right, looked very difficult turning the roof at the first bolt (11d/12a). I recommend doing the easier start, since this keeps the entire pitch at a consistent level from bottom to top.

Ron Olsen and I replaced the tat webbing at the anchor with two 3/8" SS Rawl 5-piece bolts and added quick links and chain for rappel.

The hardware for this project was provided by the American Safe Climbing Association (www.safeclimbing.org). They appreciate your support.

You can approach this climb from the traditional start of the Third Flatiron (East Bench). The start of Sayonara is basically straight across from the East Bench but, the easiest way to get there is to climb down about 50 feet and then across the slab and through and obvious break in a long right facing dihedral. Climb back up and left to the left edge of the Third Flatiron and proceed up to the flake with the new bolt anchor just to left of the flake. All in all, about 200-250 feet of climbing (low 5th class) to get there.

Good climb! The crux for me was getting to the third bolt. I tried straight up, then left, then right, then again straight up, and suddenly I was there. The moves above may be technically harder but went easily with decent hands and a bolt near by. The bolts are pretty far apart and sporty on this and Blazing Biners, as compared with, eg, modern Boulder Canyon sport climbs.

5.10b or perhaps 10a for the route via skipping the first bolt (pulled on it). I played around on the bottom. I think it's harder than 11d- I suspect it would be called a 12 if there were no preconceptions of its difficulty.